Results 11,801-11,820 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Is Deputy O'Dea still fighting for the Independents?

Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Hear, hear.

Order of Business (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The presidential election will be before the budget.

Order of Business (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Yes.

Order of Business (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Several Ministers will be present.

Order of Business (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It is about looking after everyone.

Order of Business (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: We look forward to Deputy Doherty's suggestions.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Issues relating to FÁS are a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Education and Skills. My Department has received no proposal from the Department of Education and Skills in relation to a voluntary redundancy scheme in FÁS.

Written Answers — Public Service Agreements: Public Service Agreements (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 , detailed action plans have been developed across each sector of the public service to underpin the change and reform process envisaged by the Agreement. The Action Plans were first developed in October 2010 and subsequently revised in January 2011. Public service bodies in each sector were required to prepare their first detailed report on the...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: In relation to absenteeism across the public service each of the sectors has its own policy in place. In the Civil Service, the area for which I have direct responsibility, the policy for sick leave is governed by a number of Circulars which are published on the Personnel Code and available on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform website. The procedures were recently updated and...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Commission on Public Service Pensions examined the issue of compulsory membership in its Final Report on Public Service Pensions in 2000. It did not recommend any change in the rules providing for automatic membership of the spouses' and children's schemes, nor in the refund arrangements for membership contributions. Public service spouses' and children's schemes are structured on a...

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I will not be announcing the budget today. It is a matter for the Minister for Finance on a date to be determined. As the Taoiseach indicated yesterday, the full layout of the Estimates, reform agenda and budget will be determined by the Cabinet on Tuesday. The Taoiseach will give the House the full information on the process and sequencing of announcements after the Cabinet meets on...

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As I said, the contents of the budget will be announced when the Minister for Finance announces it. If the Deputy wants to know what will inform decision-making it will be the programme for Government. I invite the Deputy to read it.

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: We also have to have regard for the fiscal reality and the mess in which the previous Government left us.

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The former Minister's Government left us with €2 billion in cuts on the table. That was its legacy. We are doing our best to determine a fair Estimates process, have a comprehensive review of every line of expenditure and examine where waste can be eliminated and where we can amalgamate and change things. All of this will be laid out over a period of time between now and December....

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Some of us do not have tomorrow off, the Minister for Finance and I will be discussing the finances of the country with the Troika tomorrow.

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: No one else is thanking God the Troika is here.

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: We want our sovereign independence back. Fianna Fáil may welcome the loss of our economic sovereignty, the rest of the country does not.

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Let me deal with Deputy McDonald's point.

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, the consequences of all our decisions for every citizen are carefully in balance. We must make choices that are difficult, choices we would rather we did not have to make. We will not pretend, however, that there is some magic solution. We are committed to getting our deficit down to 8.6% of GDP next year and there will be difficult choices required to get there. Just as Sinn Féin...