Results 13,941-13,960 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I would be very happy to do that as well. I am preparing legislation on the capacity of inquiries generally. There are issues of objectivity with any inquiry. It is important that people are not compromised by any utterances they make in advance regardless of the issue. I believe members of this committee are very mindful of that. A variety of issues were raised and I will be as...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I can give the Deputy that information later, although it is not an exhaustive list.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, it is a list of the allowances we have identified that do not form a significant part of core pay and which can, therefore, be addressed under the existing Croke Park agreement arrangements. However, I have asked sectoral managers to add to that list and I will keep the committee informed of how that work is progressing. I do not want them all to be referred to the Labour Court,...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I cannot do that. The Deputy will forgive me for not setting targets.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I know what they cost, but the amount is not large because the allowances do not apply to large categories, for example. I heard the distinguished broadcaster Ms Ingrid Miley talk about a boot allowance of €69 per year, but abolishing it will not contribute massively to the public finances. Allowances are included in a great amalgam, but they vary widely. I will endeavour to give as...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It will be a stand-alone office.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: An Accounting Officer will be accountable to the Houses.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: We will make that clear to them.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: With no training or expertise.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: We said that we will write.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Our only objective in this regard is to get the best value and if that is available locally, then that is excellent.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: If I may, I will conclude on the other points. I am sorry Deputy McDonald has left the meeting. Unfortunately, she always makes the same presentation, that we do not need any of these changes and it is all a matter of cutting top pay. She regards top pay as anyone earning over €100,000 a year. I explained in some detail yesterday that the number of people in the public service -...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Does the Deputy mean to say that 500 people get €30 million in increments? That is €80,000 or €60,000 each. I do not think it is €60,000 each. As an example, if they were each receiving an increment of €1,000, that is €500,000 and half that comes back, so it is less than €500,000. Would the Deputy recommend bringing in specific legislation...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: We have not all that many because we are not recruiting a large number. Those who were recruited by my Department from the private sector include the head of human resources shared services. There is also great interest from the private sector in the job of procurement officer.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: We are all being blunt today.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Chairman's final point was about modernising the Department of Health. We need a long time to address that issue-----

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: From my personal perspective, I have very great confidence in the management team in the Department of Health.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It is very difficult. The task we have given the Department of Health is to bring about fundamental transformation, to abolish the HSE, to subsume responsibility back into the Department, to create an integrated health system, to develop a system of primary care similar to the European model and to introduce universal health insurance within the next five years. At the same time, we have to...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am under a time constraint, unfortunately, as I have to be elsewhere at 11.30 a.m. I referred to the incident in question only because it had been raised by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald. My perspective, looking in at it, is that in the context of the extraordinary economic crisis facing the country, it is vital that the committee - the flagship committee of the Oireachtas in terms of its role...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: We do not go to the Government Whip; the Chairman should not worry about that.