Results 11,881-11,900 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: Can I explain it again?
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: I will try to be as expansive and as clear and open as I can be. Negotiations are taking place between the troika and our officials today and will take place between the troika and the Minister for Finance and myself tomorrow. It may be poor strategy to hold negotiations in parallel with a debate in Parliament. Nevertheless, we should answer direct questions directly. A view was expressed...
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: At the beginning and end of this debate I made that clear.
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: They can hear it as well as the Deputy can.
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: I did not say we would be selling 25% of it. No percentage has yet been agreed..
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: We will be selling a minority stake.
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: I will try to respond to the questions asked by Deputies McDonald and Wallace. On the ESB's capacity to borrow, the ESB is a flagship company which has a great record. However, it, no less than any other State company, is impaired by the impairment of the sovereign, which casts a shadow on the capacity to borrow of each State company that is part of the State apparatus. I do not wish to...
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: I thank all Deputies for their contributions. While I was in the House to hear most of them I had to leave on a couple of occasions to make some telephone calls. By and large, people know the position of Government, which has been set out from the beginning. Reference was made to the Labour Party's position. The Labour Party is part of a Coalition Government that negotiated a framework and...
- Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: Under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000, the management of personal injury and property damage claims against the State and of the underlying risks was delegated to the NTMA. When performing these functions, the NTMA is known as the State Claims Agency (SCA). In the conduct of elections under the Election Acts, Returning Officers and their staff will be indemnified...
- Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: The information requested by the Deputy in relation State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is contained in the table. Public Appointments Service Name of board member Remuneration Mr. Eddie Sullivan, ChairmanMr. Des Dowling, Assistant Secretary - Department of the Environment, Community and Local GovernmentMs Deirdre O'Keeffe, Assistant Secretary -...
- Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (13 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: The Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) process has involved input from all Departments and their agencies along with work carried out by my Department on cross-cutting issues. The Departmental submissions are a central part of the pre-budget deliberations of the Government. I am engaging with every Department and there is a universal view across the Government that this is a common...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (18 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: The Commissioner of Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters under the Valuation Act 2001 which includes the implementation of the revaluation of all commercial and industrial properties on a nationwide basis. The basis of valuation for all commercial property is net annual value, i.e. the rental value of the property. To ensure equity and uniformity, valuation revisions...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (18 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Act 2001 provides for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property and the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative. Under the 2001 Act, the basis of valuation for all commercial property is net annual value, i.e. the rental value of the property. To...
- Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (18 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: The rationalisation and amalgamation of VECs and the precise mechanics of how that will be implemented is primarily a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills. I support the whole concept of VEC rationalization. I am keen that this approach should both produce significant savings and improve services. The VEC rationalization process has fed into the overall Comprehensive Review of...
- Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (18 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: My Department is engaged in the necessary preparatory work and consultations to give effect to the commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to Freedom of Information. I hope to be in a position to introduce the necessary legislative measures to give effect to the commitments in the Programme for Government in the New Year.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: The Programme Director of the new Reform and Delivery Unit is at Assistant Secretary level. The salary scale for this post is â¬127,796 to â¬146,191 per annum. This is a TLAC appointment and the salary norms for the grade are set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Special severance gratuity payments and added years do not apply to the post.
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: The special retirement terms provided to Top-level Appointments Committee (TLAC) appointees apply to Secretaries General. The Deputy will be aware that the terms are being reviewed at present. They do not apply to Chief Executive Officers of non-commercial State agencies whose departure terms are subject to a letter dated 26 May 1998 to all Departments. That letter delegated sanction to...
- Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (18 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question my Department only records details of appointments made to State agencies that come under the remit of my Department. Details in respect of these bodies are contained in the following table. State agencies Name of Body Current Members Remuneration details in respect of board members and board chairpersons An Post National Lottery Company Mr Donal...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: It has not been possible to collate the data as requested in the time available. I will however supply the data to the Deputy as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (18 Oct 2011)
Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question, the only State Agency under the remit of my Department is An Post National Lottery. Savings of approximately â¬63,000 could be made if State agency board members annual payments were rescinded in respect of the board of that Body.