Results 13,261-13,280 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Re-employment of Retired Public Servants (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I will consider the Deputy's suggestion, but it is hard to be prescriptive for everybody, because there will be hard cases that will not be amenable to that situation. The situation does cause me concern and I have, for example, raised it directly with the Minister for Education and Skills. The notion of teachers retiring and then filling in for colleagues on sick days and maternity leave...

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The medium-term fiscal statement, published in November last year, set out the Government's economic and budgetary assessment for the four year period 2012-15, including the estimated level of fiscal consolidation that is required to bring the general Government deficit below 3% of GDP by 2015, as the Government is committed to doing. The comprehensive expenditure report, published in...

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There were a number of questions in Deputy McDonald's contribution. The target for next year is to reach a deficit of 7.5% of GDP. The quantum of money required to get to that is not defined. An estimate was published in the last fiscal review, but that needs to be refined because it takes into account inflation and growth, which are constantly under review, as well as external factors....

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I must disagree with the Deputy's last comment. It is very difficult to introduce a consolidation budget. I would be a much happier Minister if I were in Charlie McCreevy land, the good times were rolling and I could announce spending increases to rapturous applause in the House. That is not the lot that fell to me or to this unfortunate nation. We have to map our way out of a difficult...

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: -----there is no great benefit in it. I honestly believe that all Deputies are seriously thinking about the situation this country is facing. We are facing into another difficult budget - I will not gainsay that for a second. Deputies have seen the figures. The adjustments for next year are bigger than the adjustments we have imposed for this year. We need to consider all ideas in...

Political Funding (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Aside from salaries and other allowances in the nature of pay, there are three main ways that funding and resourcing of individual Deputies and political parties are provided by the taxpayer: first, amounts provided to political parties and independent representatives by way of the party leader allowance; second, payments under the Electoral Acts; and third, allowances paid to Members of each...

Political Funding (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: No.

Political Funding (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I would welcome a debate on the matter when I publish my suggestions. The Deputy is wrong on a couple of points, however. I will be reviewing all allowances, whether to political parties or to Independent Deputies.

Political Funding (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I thought he was making an assumption.

Political Funding (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The claim that Fianna Fáil Deputies are receiving multiples of what is paid to Independent Deputies is also incorrect. As an Independent, Deputy Donnelly personally receives €41,152. The first ten Fianna Fáil Deputies receive €71,000, which is less than twice that paid to Independent Deputies, the next 11 to 30 receive €57,000 each and above 30 the figure is €28,000. The idea...

Political Funding (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I have them in front of me.

Political Funding (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I do not accept the Deputy's argument. Obviously we come from very different traditions. I joined a political party to drive the agenda to which I subscribe. We debate democratically within the party and attend national conferences which provide a space for input from our membership. I do not come to this House as a sole trader. I come with a political agenda and I believe Deputies...

Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the Government has no intention of disposing of Bord Gáis Éireann. The State asset disposal programme that I announced last February refers only to Bord Gáis Éireann's energy generation and supply business. I made it clear at the time that the rest of the group, which consists of the gas transmission and distribution systems and the two gas...

Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I will attempt to allay the Deputy's fears. It is the Government's firm intention to establish a publicly-owned water utility called Irish Water. It will be retained in State ownership. That will be enshrined in legislation and, while we have no control over future Governments, as long as my party is a member of this Government no consideration will be given to the sale of Irish Water....

Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Perhaps the Deputy did not hear. We are writing it into the law of the land so it is a legal commitment. Every Parliament is sovereign so we have no control over what a future Parliament will do. As far as this Parliament and this Government is concerned, the utility will be a wholly-owned State utility. Most parties in the House and most Independents see it as the correct course. I do...

Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am pleased to report that the State asset disposal programme has made significant progress since I announced its content last February. The respective inter-departmental steering groups established at that time to prepare the assets for disposal have examined comprehensive financial reports by NewERA on Bord Gáis Energy, BGE, and Coillte and work is also proceeding on identifying the...

Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: For many years, I have known Deputy Higgins's view on State industry and private industry. He regards one as all good and the other as all bad. I do not have the same philosophical view and I believe there is room for a dynamic State sector, which we need to protect and enhance, but not everything in the State sector is, by definition, good. Neither is everything in the private sector, by...

Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I agree with much of what the Deputy said. I fundamentally disagree with the way Eircom was privatised. It was a strategic company providing a strategic service. That is why we are not selling off any of the strategic distribution lines of gas or electricity in this country. We are determined not to make those awful mistakes. I also agree with the point of Deputy Higgins in respect of...

Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: This is a tabular reply so there is a slight difficulty. I will read the response and I will endeavour to help the Deputy with any of the tabulated particulars. I do not have a spare printed copy to give the Deputy. The estimated gross monthly pay and pensions bill for the period June 2011 to April 2012, as notified by Departments and offices, in respect of public service workers, is set...

Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I can but -----