Results 13,761-13,780 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The proposed measure is one of 46 critical reviews of State bodies which are being undertaken as part of the Public Service Reform plan, published in November last year. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently considering the reviews received by Departments. In relation to critical review No.19 of the Agency Rationalisation Programme, i.e. the review of the merger of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Agencies (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In the matter of State agencies turning down requests from employees to reduce their five day contracts to 2.5 or three day contracts I wish to advise the Deputy that no such issues have been brought to my attention. The Agencies under the aegis of my Department consider all requests from staff to reduce their working hours on a case by case basis having regard to the business needs of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Allowances (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Following consideration by Government of my proposals in relation to the outcome of the review, details of classes of allowances on which Government decided will be (a) abolished for new beneficiaries, (b) approved for new beneficiaries subject to review and/or modification, and (c) approved for new beneficiaries,are publicly available on my Departments’ website (www.per.gov.ie)....

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome the opportunity to introduce this important legislation to the Seanad. While I am sure many Senators will be aware the first equivalent to a modern-day office of the Ombudsman was established in Sweden in the 18th century, the starting point for the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman in Ireland goes back to 1969 and the report of the public services organisation review...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Ombudsman is Swedish.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As Gaeilge, Ombudsman atá ann chomh maith.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It is an international term and is used everywhere else in the world. People understand what it is.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I cannot enact it. That is up to the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Jolly good fellows.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The biggest in this session.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: They are commercial semi-State agencies.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I thank all Members who participated in what was a good debate. I thank Members for the welcome I received. I enjoy coming in as the debates are more calm than some of the debates in the other House. I will not deal with all the points made because that is not possible in the time available. The legislation is part of an elaborate suite of reform legislation that I will have the privilege...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I received strong representations from one of the Ministers of State who was anxious that be done. The Higher Education Authority will be included in my amendment on Committee Stage. If Members have strong views on the issue I would be happy to hear them between now and Committee Stage where there will be a full debate.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There are two points I wish to make before getting to issues raised by Senator Barrett. There is a misunderstanding of the role of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is not a court of appeal for a regulator's decision. Landing charges at Dublin Airport cannot be appealed to the Ombudsman. The regulatory authority should be subject to a different appeals mechanism. The role of the Ombudsman is...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Seldom are some of the powers utilised and there is an extraordinary potential for the Oireachtas to do more. Let me give an instance, and one that I shall give to the Committee of Public Accounts when I appear before it. We have changed the budgetary system here at my instigation last year. We produced a three year envelope of expenditure, in terms of the ceilings for every Department, in...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: -----by Parliament saying that we want to make the budget because the blunt view is that it is my job. One cannot have it both ways. One cannot say make Parliament responsible but, like good holy men of old, not yet. We need to be proactive. I noted Senator Bradford's comment on working as if behind a pane of glass when I waited in the Visitors Gallery. He was right and many people said...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: That does not give much time for Senators to consider their amendments but I will examine the matter. I thank Senator Harte for his contribution and take his point that it is very important to ensure that the public has confidence in the way that State agencies conduct their business. The Ombudsman can play a compelling and important role in ensuring that the objective is achieved. I hope...

Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Well Willie?

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Expenditure (27 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The figures for the cost of public service pensions in 2011 are published in the Revised Estimates for 2012. Table 4A shows that the net exchequer pensions bill for 2011 is €2,216,792,000. Table 5 shows that the gross exchequer pensions bill for 2011 is €2,752,456,000.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Issues (27 Sep 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Data on pay ranges of public servants consists of estimated aggregate data across some 292,000 employees and is based on the best information available to my Department. The data included in Parliamentary Question No 39606/12 reflected updated, more detailed data received following the departure of a substantial staff cohort on the expiry of the “grace period” in February 2012....