Results 11,961-11,980 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: All long-term estimates depend on the presumptions made about pay and pay increases. They should be regarded as typical rather than as definitive. Deputy Seán Fleming asked how many in the public service were on salary rates of over €50,000. He raised that issue in the context of the effect of the new pension arrangements on pensions below that rate. Obviously, any figure I give is a...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Referral to Select Committee (19 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform under Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and 82A(6)(a).

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (20 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I am very aware that public procurement can be an important source of business for local enterprises. In general, SMEs' flexibility and ability to respond speedily to requirements can be advantageous in competing for local contracts. Current guidelines from my Department require public bodies to promote participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the award of public contracts. ...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (20 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The priorities set out in the Programme for Government for the rationalisation of State Agencies states that rationalisation must be cost effective and lead to a more transparent, accountable and efficient public service. The overriding imperative is the absolute requirement to achieve major savings in all areas of expenditure and to reduce staff numbers and administrative overheads. This...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (20 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is currently undertaking the necessary preparatory work to give effect to the commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to the restoration and extension of the FOI Act. I expect to be in a position to introduce the necessary legislation to give effect to these commitments in the New Year. As early progress is expected in relation to this commitment which is being...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question, no bodies have been established or abolished by my Department since February 2011.

Written Answers — Presidential Remuneration: Presidential Remuneration (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 204 together. Under the Presidential Establishment (Amendment) Act, 1973, the personal remuneration of the President is set at the rate paid to the Chief Justice plus ten per cent. In accordance with the Act, the personal remuneration of the current President is €325,507 p.a. and is subject to the normal income tax code including the Universal Social...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The question of rationalisation and the reduction in the number of State bodies is being considered in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the overall budgetary and estimates process for 2012, and decisions on such matters will be made by the Government over the coming weeks. The priorities set out in the Programme for Government for the rationalisation of State...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The North-South Implementation Bodies were set up in 1999 under the Good Friday Agreement. There are six bodies in total, comprising Waterways Ireland, the Food Safety Promotion Board, the Trade and Business Development Body, the Special EU Programmes Body, the North/South Language Body and the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency) Five of the six bodies are...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The particular civil service grades concerned do not receive overtime payments under their terms and conditions of employment. Accordingly, no such payments were paid to these grades in 2010.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It is my view that it is best practice to have senior managers in the civil service to be involved in the selection process for Assistant Secretaries and Secretary General posts.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Secretary General is the Civil Service Head of a Government Department. The duties and responsibilities of a Secretary General are set out in the Public Service Management Act 1997. Secretaries General are responsible for managing their Department subject to the policy direction of their Minister. Their responsibilities include producing a Strategy Statement in respect of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Any matter relating to the appointment of the Secretary General of the Department of Finance to the European Court of Auditors should be addressed to the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the latest relevant sector-based information available on employees taxed under the PAYE system is derived from income tax returns filed for the income tax year 2009 and represents about 96 per cent of all returns expected at the time the data were compiled for analytical purposes. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 215 and 219 together. In response to the Deputy's question the only State Agency that comes under the remit of my Department is An Post National Lottery. An Post national Lottery is classed as a commercial semi-State company.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: In general, my Department uses the services of the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. However, it also seeks outside legal advisors in circumstances requiring legal services of a specific nature. The costs associated with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor are borne by their respective Votes. Since it's...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The notice period required in contracts of employment can vary across the Public Service. The three month notice period was introduced across the Public Service in light of the particular circumstances that we now face. It is anticipated that there could be a large increase in the number of retirements of staff in the run up to the end of the "grace period" i.e. the period during which the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has been engaged with the Department of Justice about the matter of cost management on expenditure in connection with these events, and we expect shortly to receive a report from that Department in this regard.

Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (26 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) has generated a large number of options for savings and reform measures which are now being considered by the Government in the context of framing decisions on the Budget and Estimates for 2012 and subsequent years. The Taoiseach outlined to the House last week that the Government has committed to a series of budgetary and expenditure...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (2 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Foreign travel guidelines covering, inter alia, business and economy class air travel were issued by my Department to all Government Departments/Offices on 1 July 2009. Departments/Offices were required to implement these guidelines in respect of their own local management of travel arrangements and were also requested to write to the relevant public bodies/agencies under their aegis to...