Results 13,541-13,560 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I have discussed it with them as recently as today.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: They understand it.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It does not take anything from them.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Deputies again for their comments but we are trampling ground that has been well trampled in long debates on Committee Stage. Amendment No. 33, proposed by the United Left Alliance Deputies, seeks to delete section 40. That section sets out how pensions are to be increased referable to the consumer price index. If that is deleted, there is no appropriate way left in the Bill to...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: No. It must be remembered that the new regime would be included. As I have advised the House previously, it is appropriate to give effect to this in primary legislation. How it is to be done should be laid out clearly, which is done in section 40. For the avoidance of doubt, if Deputies look at the proposed section 40, there is no great discretion for the Minister not to give the...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Flanagan raised a point that is not pertinent to this particular section. We discussed this issue in some detail on Committee Stage. I am not sure what point the Deputy feels was not clarified. I have previously made clear that I value uniformed personnel, in particular, members of the Garda Síochána and prison officers. That is the reason they have unique preserved pensions...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am not unsympathetic to the point the Deputy makes, but I believe it is not practical to have a report within six months of enactment of the legislation because very few pensioners will be affected within the first six months of its enactment. The Bill makes provision for a review and we can review it at that stage. I understand the point, but the solution the Deputy is proffering to deal...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I do.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I do.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I understand, and I commend the Deputy on the ingenuity of organising a debate on an issue that would otherwise be out of order. Obviously we must have a provision whereby people who have been overpaid will pay it back - whether it is in social welfare or elsewhere. We will always try to do so in a sympathetic way and I give that undertaking to the House.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: This matter was discussed in general terms on Committee Stage. The Deputy has raised a very important point. In the formulation of his amendment the Deputy is putting forward a concept rather than a legal framework. The idea of losing the confidence of the Government being the determination of losing one's pension would be a very risky position. For instance, one adviser who is working...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am conscious of time so I will be brief. I understand the concept behind the amendment. I caution that people should not rush to judgment on any matter but particularly if there are to be investigations in which Members may be involved. Anybody who might be subject to inquiry in the future will look very carefully at what is being said by Members who might act in, or sit on, such...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Regarding legislation initiated by me since coming into office five Bills have completed the legislative process. In the case of one Bill amendments proposed by members of the opposition were accepted. No opposition amendments were proposed to one Bill. Four of the Bills completed were exempt from the requirements to do Poverty Impact Assessments and Regulatory Impact Analyses and while in...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) is a tool used by Departments to assess the costs, benefits and qualitative impacts of regulatory proposals. The use of this tool has been mandatory in relation to proposals for primary legislation as well as significant secondary and EU regulations since 2005, although, in general the practice to date has been that RIAs were only published once a Bill or...

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (12 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The rules on awarding public contracts have provisions which allow the specification of social criteria, such as the requirement for employment of long term unemployed, as a condition in the performance of the contract. Any such provision must be compatible with EU law, i.e. they must be made known to all interested parties and must not restrict participation by contractors from other Member...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (12 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The data available to my Department will be sent to the Deputy next week. Data which is not yet available will be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is to hand.

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (12 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government decided in March this year to set up the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES). An Administrative Officer (Economist) competition was run by the Public Appointments Service. To date, 15 staff have been recruited from this competition to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. After a period of training and development, some of these recruits will...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am very glad to be back in Seanad Éireann. Since coming into office, this Government has repeatedly shown that it is committed to reform. We are determined to change crucial aspects of Government and public administration, with the long-term interests of the public in mind. In this context, I am today proposing this Bill, which provides for far-reaching reforms of public service...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The people can elect whoever they like. We cannot tell who people will elect.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The whole Bill applies to new entrants.