Results 12,841-12,860 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (28 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is generally in a position to provide answers to the Deputy in relation to the competitions run by that organisation. However, due to resource constraints and the volume of work involved, it would not be possible to extract this data for reply on Tuesday 28th February. The Deputy will be provided with the relevant information in writing as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Public Service Recruitment: Public Service Recruitment (28 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: At its meeting on 11 January the Government decided to accept the resignation of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) with effect from 27 February. The Decision provided that the Minister for Finance, in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, would make arrangements for the selection of a candidate, by open competition, to be proposed to the Dáil for...

Written Answers — Exchequer Savings: Exchequer Savings (28 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 to 306, inclusive, and 308 to 311, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure exercise was carried out by all Departments in 2011 to identify means of reducing expenditure, in line with our commitments under the Joint EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland, while minimising the impact on service...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (28 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I have made it clear to the House on more than one occasion that the Government's programme of asset disposals is based on the guiding principles that there will be no fire sales; integral transmissions and distribution systems will be retained in State ownership and full value will be derived for the State. As the Deputy will be aware, the EU/ECB/IMF Troika has agreed to the retention of...

Leaders' Questions (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: For the damage done by Sinn Féin.

Leaders' Questions (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am sure it is monumental.

Leaders' Questions (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It was a theatrical pause.

Leaders' Questions (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Withdraw it.

Leaders' Questions (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, you did.

European Council: Statements (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Does Deputy O'Brien agree all Members are equal and should be told at the same time?

European Council: Statements (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Hear, hear.

European Council: Statements (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I heard about European conscription.

European Council: Statements (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome the many contributions that have been made by Deputies to today's debate. The number of interventions, and their quality, is a testament to the importance that Members of the House rightly attach to this new treaty on stability, co-ordination and governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. The Houses of the Oireachtas have been engaged in a lengthy and detailed debate on the...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I remind the Deputy there is no generally available incentivised scheme of early retirement in operation at present in the public or civil service. Many of the retirements at this time are occurring in the normal course where an individual has reached retirement age. There are also cases where individuals are availing of cost-neutral early retirement, which allows retirement earlier than...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (29 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has no function in programmes of assistance to individual groups. The Deputy should raise the matter directly with the Departments concerned, indicating the basis on which funding is being sought.

Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Deputy Maloney for raising this issue, although the impact of departmental savings is a fairly broad topic. Having listened to him, however, I now understand the focus of his commentary, which certainly merits some discussion. On taking office, one of the things I did was to have a cross-departmental review, which culminated in the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2012-14 published...

Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Contract.

Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Or not.

Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I fully agree with Deputy Maloney. Transparency and openness are the best antidotes to abuse. When things are understood to be open and accessible, people will be much more mindful of how they use resources. There must be a balance, however, because we must be able to justify the use of resources as well. It is true that Ministers are reluctant to use the Government jet, which always...

Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: We have pilots that are paid for, while Ministers are now saying: "No, I'll take commercial flights and leave that there." We need to have a different approach that is efficient, mindful of scarce resources and not wasteful. I fully agree with the Deputy in that regard. My final point concerns the management of it, and Deputy Maloney touched on cartridge-gate. It is important to give...