Results 13,821-13,840 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Lobbying is one issue that we did not discuss. As the Senator will know, we have published extensive heads of a Bill to regulate lobbyists. People involved in lobbying were strongly at pains to underscore to me that the business of lobbying is perfectly legitimate and that virtually every citizen engages in it. Whether it is the Children's Rights Alliance - perhaps I should not use it as...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There are two parts to the amendment. Paragraph (a) provides for consultation with the committee of the House before making any proposal to appoint an Ombudsman in order to strengthen the Ombudsman's relationship with the Oireachtas. The Ombudsman supports the enhanced role for the Oireachtas in terms of pre-appointment scrutiny and regular reporting. The purpose of the amendment is to...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It is to give discretion to the Ombudsman rather than tie the hands of the Ombudsman that the Bill is drafted in the way it is. The effect of Senator Barrett's amendment would be that the Ombudsman, having carried out a preliminary examination, would not be able to exercise any discretion over whether to continue on to a full investigation. She would be obliged to always investigate...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Agencies Issues (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283, 299 and 300 together. 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. TheDepartment of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently considering the reviews received by Departments. In relation to critical review No.19 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act, 2001 and the making of valuations for rating purposes is his sole prerogative and the statute does not accord the Minister any function in this regard. The position is that the Valuation Act, 2001 provides for the exemption from rates of land that is developed for sport such as playing pitches....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Programme for Government Implementation (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question in the table below I have provided an update on the status of my Department's commitments under the Programme for Government. As can be seen from this update significant progress has been made in my Department. The progress identified to date clearly shows that the Government has focused its attention on the decisions and reforms needed to achieve...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Issues (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government is committed to delivering the pay saving as set out in the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support. Continued reductions in public service numbers in line with Government policy will go a considerable way towards achieving this saving. Significant progress has already been made in this regard as set in the table. Year Numbers Pay €bn 2008 320,000 17.19 2009 310,300...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Leader's Allowance Issues (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 2001 provides for each party leader to prepare a statement of expenditure for the party leader’s allowance, to have it audited by an independent auditor and furnish it with the auditor’s report to the Standards in Public Office (SIPO) Commission. Based on the accounts submitted, the Commission is required to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Grades (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Information in respect of Civil Service grades is available from my Departments website . I would, in this regard, bring the Deputy’s attention to: - Circular 28/2009 dated 22 December 2009 - Revisions of pay of Civil Servants: Application of pay adjustments in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 at and - Circular 18/2010 dated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 292 together. The Civil Service Disciplinary Code sets out the procedures for dealing with dismissals in the Civil Service. Dismissals in other areas of the Public Sector are a matter for the relevant sector. Prior to 2006, disciplinary and dismissal procedures were for the civil service as set out in Circular 1/1992. Under these procedures, it was the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 to 295, inclusive, and 303 together. Following the publication of the Second Annual Report from the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement Implementation Body in June last, together with the Taoiseach I met with the Body on 11 July. The Deputy will be aware the Body's membership includes representatives from the Public Services Committee of ICTU. We...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement is an agreement which requires staff cooperation with productivity, costs extraction and reforms to the public service covering the period to 2014. The Government has reaffirmed the key commitments under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 on pay rates and job security for serving public servants. These commitments are contingent on delivery of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Allowances (9 Oct 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 abolished for new beneficiaries, approved for new beneficiaries subject to review and/or modification, and approved for new beneficiaries, are publicly available on my Department's website (www.per.gov.ie ). Lists of allowances...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Legislation (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In July 2012 the Government approved plans to reform and extend Freedom of Information to all public bodies and I have submitted the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for its views and recommendations. The General Scheme of the consolidated Freedom of Information legislation was published on my...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Committees of Inquiry (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware I strongly support the objective of undertaking an effective and legally robust parliamentary banking inquiry. In that context, I wish to advise the Deputy that a detailed Scheme of a Bill providing a comprehensive statutory framework for Oireachtas Inquiries are currently being finalised by my Department in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. I...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: An Teanga Gaeilge (9 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Tá mo Roinn tar éis comhaontú i bprionsabal leis an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta gur trí oifigí na Roinne sin a sholáthrófar seirbhísí d’fhonn an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn saStátseirbhís agus i réimsí áirithe den tseirbhís phoiblí. Ar na seirbhísí seo beidh oiliúint agus...

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Deputies opposite have brass necks.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The previous Administration just threw money at it.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Does the Deputy just want us to spend more?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Staff Issues (10 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: With the permission of the House, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 5 together. The Government is committed to reducing the size of the public service and to creating a leaner more efficient public service. At mid-2012, public service numbers were 292,000. This is 28,000 below the peak number of 320,000 reached in 2008 and is comparable to the 2005 staffing levels. Service levels...