Results 13,221-13,240 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (24 May 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The particular comments of mine to which the Deputy's question refers dealt with the potential market appetite for the assets that the Government proposes to sell under the State asset disposal programme, which I announced in February. The NewERA unit of the National Treasury Management Agency is acting as the Government's financial advisor in respect of this disposal programme and has, since...

Written Answers — Reform of Public Sector: Reform of Public Sector (24 May 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Implementation Body for the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 is currently carrying out its second annual review of the Agreement in accordance with Paragraph 1.16 of the Agreement. I expect to receive the final report of the Implementation Body next month. It will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (24 May 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The House will be aware from my announcement of 22 February that the Government has decided to pursue the sale of a number of State assets and to consider the possible sale of certain other State assets. Under this programme, separate sale processes and timelines will apply to each individual transaction, which shall, where appropriate, include the appointment of advisers. None of these...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (24 May 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The €3bn target for the amount to be raised through the State Asset Disposal Programme does not include any amount in relation to the award of the next licence to operate the National Lottery.

Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my replies to Question Nos. 40820/12, 1075/12, 1076/12 of 11 January 2012.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. The inter-departmental Steering Groups established in respect of each of the State companies listed in the asset disposals programme are taking account of, inter alia, the possible impact of pension deficits on the outcomes of the programme. However, the State is not liable for pension fund deficits arising in commercial state companies....

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 265 together. The restoration and extension of Freedom of Information (FOI) aims, in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to reverse the substantive restrictions to FOI introduced in 2003 and to extend FOI to all public bodies, including the administrative functions of the Garda Síochána (subject to security exceptions) as well as to...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I have appointed Anne Byrne and Ronan O'Brien as special advisors. The salary for both special advisors has been 83,337 and 114,000 respectively per annum since their appointment. No salary increases have been requested in respect of either appointment.

Written Answers — Property Valuations: Property Valuations (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As I informed the Deputy in a previous reply, the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Valuation Act, 2001 and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative. The statute does not accord me as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform any function in this regard. In accordance with the Act, a revaluation programme which began in...

Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Question No. 1329/12 of 11 January 2012.

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. The Implementation Body for the Public Service Agreement was established in July 2010 to oversee progress on implementation of the agreed reform and flexibility measures across all sectors of the public service and to ensure that robust and verifiable reforms are secured, which lead to sustainable savings in the cost of public service...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Both myself and my colleague the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, met with officials of the European Investment Bank in Brussels recently to discuss a range of issues. Those talks were very successful and we made good progress on many grounds. The EIB were very positive towards Ireland and made a firm commitment to continue to support Irish infrastructure projects. Following these...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As part of the Croke Park Agreement management and staff representatives have agreed to work together to deliver increased productivity and maximise efficiencies in the delivery of public services. It is estimated that the direct cost of sick leave across the public service is over €500m. The State is no longer in a financial position to be able to sustain the cost of the existing sick...

Written Answers — State Procurement Process: State Procurement Process (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am very aware that public procurement can be an important source of business for local enterprises. Current guidelines (Circular 10/10) issued by my Department require public bodies to promote participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the award of public contracts. These guidelines set out positive measures that contracting authorities are to take to promote SME involvement in...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce new legislation to protect small building subcontractors that have been denied payments from bigger companies. In this regard, my colleague Minister of State Brian Hayes is working with Senator Feargal Quinn to develop the Senator's private member's Construction Contracts Bill into a robust piece of legislation. The Bill is now...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department does not have any capital projects. My Department has a 2012 capital budget of €500,000 which is for normal expenditure on new and replacement hardware to expand and maintain the countrywide Government Network infrastructure that is used for communications by all of the public service. This budget will be drawn down as required over the course of the year.

Written Answers — Exchequer Savings: Exchequer Savings (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government recently decided to proceed with the implementation of a HR Shared Service Centre (HRSSC) for the Civil Service. The HRSSC will carry out the transactional elements of HR, freeing up staff in Departments, Offices and Agencies to focus on more strategic HR activities. It currently costs the Civil Service €85.6m annually to deliver HR services to 40 bodies. It is estimated...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I have not made any staff appointments in my Department since last March.

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter more appropriately addressed by my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under whose remit the National Museum of Ireland falls and in conjunction with whom internal industrial relations concerning that body are dealt with in the first instance.

Written Answers — Ombudsman for Children: Ombudsman for Children (6 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to extend the remit of the Ombudsman to ensure that all statutory bodies, and all bodies significantly funded from the public purse, are covered. The next steps in implementing this commitment will be the development of specific proposals relating to the extension of the remit of the Ombudsman in line with the...