Results 13,681-13,700 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 introduced a number of financial emergency measures in the public interest including the making of a pension-related deduction (PRD) from the pay of public servants (including civil servants) who are members of a public service pension scheme or who have an analogous arrangement. The deduction is calculated by reference to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The increase in State Pension age to 67, as provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011, is to take effect from 1 January 2021. Current public servants who are obliged to retire at age 65 in 2021 will be able to draw their public service occupational pension at age 65. For public servants on modified PRSI, the change in State Pension age will have no effect on their...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Tenders (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Public procurement policy is aimed at ensuring that all public sector purchasing is carried out in a manner that is legal, transparent, and secures optimal value for money for the taxpayer. The changed economic environment has meant that it is necessary to do "better for less", providing real value-for-money for the Irish taxpayer by maximising efficiency and eliminating waste. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution class applicable to Ministers and Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, Class K, does not entitle them to the full range of social insurance benefits including the State Pension and, therefore, the application of integration to their occupational pensions does not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Exchequer statement records that €2.059m was received in royalty payments from Marathon (now PSE Kinsale (Marathon’s operations in the Kinsale field were taken over by Petronas, the Malaysian state-owned petroleum concern, in 2009 and renamed PSE Kinsale)). Under the 1959 Agreement made between the State and Marathon Petroleum, the company pays royalties at the rate of 12.5%...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Valuations (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Valuation Act 2001 and the making of valuations for rating purposes is his sole prerogative. The statute does not accord me as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform any function in this regard. I am informed by the Valuation Office that the subject property referred to is a ground floor unit in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 was published on 3 August, 2012. The primary purpose of the Bill is to introduce amendments to the legislation which underpins the rateable valuation system on which commercial rates are collected. The proposed amendments to the Valuation Act 2001 are designed to accelerate the valuation process and to streamline the appeal procedures available to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Increment Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The publication of the Analysis of Exchequer Pay and Pensions Bill 2007 – 2012, has been delayed but will be published in early October. I will arrange to have a copy sent to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Adviser Pay (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As I have advised in previous PQs since I appointed Anne Byrne and Ronan O’Brien as special advisors no salary increases have been requested in respect of either appointment. However, on appointment, Ms Anne Byrne was placed on the second point of the PO Standard non-PPC scale with effect from 10 March 2011. In accordance with the 'Instructions to Personnel Officers - Ministerial...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Recruitment (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that the Deputy's question refers to the period July 2011 and up to and including July 2012. During this period 28 new recruits have been appointed to my Department, including 5 fixed-term contract staff and 7 Administrative Officers who will be seconded to different Departments in the future. Details are as follows: Grade Number Salary per annum Status Assistant...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following appointments were made to bodies under the aegis of my Department. An Post National Lottery Name of Appointee Date Appointed Mr. Donal Connell - Chairman re-appointed February 29th 2012. The position to which Mr. Connell was re-appointed by me as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform was not advertised as under the National Lottery...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Since February 2011 my Department has not set up any agencies, authorities, boards, committees, working groups, tribunals, council services, task forces, agencies or other quangos. With regard to the numbers abolished since February 2011 the only group that was abolished was the Decentralisation Implementation Group. The Decentralisation Implementation Group was disbanded in November 2011....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question no non-governmental organisations or quangos are in receipt of remuneration from my Department. Grants-in- Aid are provided to both the ESRI and the IPA and details of the amounts paid to each can be found in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which is published annually.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Job Creation Issues (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 to 505, inclusive, together. The Government is responding to the challenge of the jobs crises in Ireland right across the public policy spectrum, as encapsulated first in the jobs initiative and now in the Action Plan on Jobs. The aim is to identify those actions each area of Government can take to improve and sustain job creation. In some areas this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The total amount spent by my Department on taxis since February 2011 is €7,747.00.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Numbers (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department employs one press officer, who is a civil servant and is currently paid a gross salary of €71,359 per annum. With regard to the press officers in the office/agencies under the aegis of my Department the following is the position: Special EU Programmes Body The SEUPB currently employs a Communications Manager, and a Programme Officer (Communications). The total cost...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The total number of board appointees made by me since coming into office is as follows: Department appointees The Secretary General of my Department, Mr. Robert Watt became a Member of the Outside Appointments Board on an ex-officia basis. The position is set out in paragraph 2.1 of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour As drawn up and promulgated by the Minister for Finance on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has not incurred any costs in respect of photography since coming to office.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 511 together. The total cost of providing entertainment, food and drink for my Department since coming to office is €1,845.20, the breakdown is as follows: Ministerial Date Details Cost Lunch 18 July 2011 - 30 people Buffet lunch hosted by Minister Howlin when attending a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council Sectoral meeting....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: No money has been spent on hair and make-up by my Department.