Results 14,181-14,200 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: He is not interested.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162, 163, 166, 167 and 171 together. I refer to my replies to Questions No. 23619/12 of 10 May 2012, 25533/12 of 22 May 2012, 32369/12 of 4 July, 2012, 39603, 39605 and 39606/12 of 19 September 2012, 41225/12 of 27 September 2012, and 45732/12 of 23 October, 2012. The reply to Question No: 23619/12 of 10 May was an estimate in respect of the Exchequer...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Numbers (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government is committed to creating, a leaner more efficient Public Service. The data requested relating to the number of staff at each grade within the civil service by the Deputy is set out in the attached table. The data on Public Service staffing numbers which is available on my Department’s website http://databank.per.gov.ie/ demonstrates that significant progress is being...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy may be aware, only around 1% of public service pensioners are in receipt of a pension in excess of €60,000 and only a few hundred have a pension in excess of €100,000. The average public service pension is estimated at around €25,000 and many of these pensioners do not have any entitlement to the social welfare pension. I would add that there would be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Gross expenditure ceilings were set out in the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2012-2014 and currently form the basis of the 2013 Estimates discussions which are ongoing. While the individual Vote expenditure ceilings will be announced on 5 December, the updated position in regard to the overall fiscal consolidation for 2013 will be published shortly by my colleague, the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The data provided in the following table covers retired Civil Servants, seven smaller bodies and agencies whose pensions are paid on an agency basis by the Office of the Paymaster General and the VEC/IoT sector. The data relevant to the VEC/IoT sector may include spouses payments as the individual payees sub-categorisation process is ongoing in the Paymaster Generals Office. €...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government is committed to a programme of public service reform and improvement. As part of the work in this area, we are looking at classifications and listings of State agencies in order to produce more coherent and focused directories of services for citizens and the Oireachtas. Broadly the position is that there are a number of offices of State which typically are staffed by civil...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 introduced the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR). At present, the position is that the 2010 legislation provides, with effect from 1 January 2011, for an average reduction of about 4% of pension, calculated in line with the following rates and bands: Annual Public Service Pension (€) Reduction Rate First...

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am very glad to be back visiting this important Chamber. In the current fiscal and economic context, the Government's task is not an easy one. We must reduce public expenditure while maintaining the public services on which many citizens rely. This is at a time when demand for those services is greater than ever, due to the economic downturn and demographic factors. As we continue our...

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The legislation is complex because whistleblowing is very important, but we need to have an overarching public and private framework to ensure persons who bring information on wrongdoing are fully protected.

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am looking forward to the debate on that proposal and keen for the legislation to be as comprehensive as possible. We have received good feedback on the draft published and it is regarded as being among the best drafted anywhere. I am keen for us to be a model in this regard.

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Government approval for the drafting of the Bill to reform the existing freedom of information legislation and extend freedom of information provisions to all public bodies was secured at the end of July when I brought my proposals to the Government. The general scheme has been published on my Department's website and submitted to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for legal drafting....

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The people's business should be done in public; people have a right to know who is influencing public policy and making decisions in that regard. We held an interesting seminar when I published the Bills earlier this year and there was a good dialogue. I realise that many lobby groups, including the IFA and others, have concerns. Those engaged in legitimate lobbying should have nothing to...

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am humbled.

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Members for the opportunity to participate in this debate. I genuinely like to come to the Seanad because the Members hold structured debates that are often less boisterous than those in the other House. I will deal with a number of points made. On the point made by Senator Byrne - tá sé imithe-----

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am sure he is somewhere doing useful work for the State. He made some general points to which I want to refer. He rightly said that the general deficit this year is ¤14 billion. The comparable figure last year was ¤22 billion. He also said-----

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: He had a long explanation for that, which I will explain in due course, but I know the Senator is much better at speaking than listening in regard to these matters. We have had form in this matter in our interactions in Wexford County Council-----

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: -----but I will be clear in regard to it. I will give the House the exact figure. The underlying spending position at the end of October, which are the most recent figures we published, when adjusted for the shortfall on PRSI receipts as I explained at the beginning of the year, was a shortfall of ¤289 million. Social welfare is paid from the social welfare insurance and because social...

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There is a programme for Government commitment to ask the people to make the choice on Seanad abolition. I look forward to the debate on it as the people are wise in these matters. As they have rejected and accepted constitutional proposals in the past, we need to make our case, whatever our perspective on this is. It is good that we have to make our case. I ask anyone who comes into me...

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Brendan Howlin: -------that we always spent money at the end of the year rather than send it back because the budget would be cut the following year. Computers, for example, would be just bought for the sake of it.