Results 16,181-16,200 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together. The closest data currently available within the Department to that sought by the Deputy indicates that the percentage of employee numbers on a whole time equivalent basis (based on a whole time equivalent figure of 292,000) on a salary range of €60,000 or more, is 18%. I do not have a breakdown of the Pension Related Deduction...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tourism Promotion (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Office of Public Works (OPW) administers a range of visitor sites in Dublin. A number of these sites, that are free of charge, do not have a guided service. As a consequence, visitor numbers are not recorded at these sites. An example of such a site is St. Stephen's Green. The following tables list those OPW visitor sites where visitor numbers are recorded and the admission and guided...

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: What does Sinn Féin do in the North?

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: They are multiples of what is available in the North.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Dividends (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The following table shows the dividends received from State owned companies in the period 2003 to 2012. Year Dublin Airport Auth. Bord Gáis Éireann Irish Aviat. Auth. Elec. Supply Board Bord na Móna Dublin Port Co. Coillte Cork Port Co. Aer Lingus* Total 2003 7,245 9,796 1,000 18,719 - - - - - 36,760 2004 6,074 9,679 1,271 63,762 - - - - -...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Expenditure (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: With effect from 1 July 2013, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 will reduce public service pensions valued above €32,500 per annum, applying to all such pensions already payable on that date or awarded up to end-August 2014. The reductions will range from about 2% near the €32,500 threshold level (subject to no pension falling below...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together. Public service trade unions are currently considering the various proposals put forward under the Haddington Road Agreement and those that need to ballot will do so over the coming weeks ahead of the implementation date of 1 July. The composition of the savings arising can only be finalised when the results of the various ballots are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The responsibility for conducting value for money reviews lies in the first instance with the spending Departments and Implementing Agencies. The role of my Department is to assist these bodies by promoting best practice in the evaluation and implementation of programme and project expenditure, including the provision of guidance which is now captured in a unified Public Spending Code. While...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The use of a social clause requiring a contractor to recruit a certain percentage of those employed on a public works construction site from the ranks of the long term unemployed will be piloted on a limited number of schools projects under the Devolved Schools Programme being administered by the National Development Finance Agency on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Expenditure Report 2013 , published 5 December 2012, included the overall aggregate expenditure ceiling for 2014 which was then split out into Departmental level current and capital expenditure ceilings. Following on from the Expenditure Report 2013, the Stability Programme Update (SPU) was published in April 2013 and included aggregate voted and non-voted expenditure ceilings for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As you are aware, a competition for the next licence to operate the National Lottery commenced in May 2013 and is due to conclude later this year. I do not wish to disclose the contents of the draft licence until the competition has been concluded and the licence has been granted to the successful bidder. The Deputy will appreciate that any requirements which might be included in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Reform of public procurement is one of the major projects of key strategic importance in the Government’s Public Service Reform Plan, which was published in November 2011. Procurement of supplies and services accounts for around €9 billion of current spending by the State per annum. This represents a very significant portion of overall spending and it is, therefore, essential...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme Expenditure (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, last Wednesday I announced the allocation of an additional €150m for new capital projects in three sectors, education, transport and social housing. The additional monies will be allocated by the relevant Departments as follows. €50m will be spent on an additional 28 school building projects which were outside and in addition to the published five year...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Senators for their presence. This is a relatively short technical Bill that amends the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. Its aim is to remove the legislative barriers to redeployment and overall mobility within the public service and to address other issues that arise on changing employer. If passed, it will facilitate greater movement across the...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Senators for their contributions on this Bill. Senator Byrne asked a number of questions. Is this wider than the Haddington Road agreement? It builds upon what has happened in recent years. We had significant redeployment of 10,000 people under the Croke Park agreement without any great hassle. That was unprecedented. There was, however, no legislative basis for that...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: -----that the core pay would be protected, but a person will not get a shift allowance if he does not work the shift. There is a formula agreed with the unions and this has been worked out in detail. Will a redeployed person retain his allowances? Yes, if he is working to another pattern that would require the same anti-social hours. If that is not the case, there is an agreed formula for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme Expenditure (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The end May Exchequer returns showed that €751m was drawn down by Departments and Offices. This is €108m (12.6%) behind the level that had been profiled in the period. However, taking account of expenditure of €63m in capital carryover, total expenditure to date amounts to €814m. A variance of between 10% and 12% is not unusual and there can be variations in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Under the next licence, the National Lottery operator will be in a position to increase significantly the level of sales of National Lottery tickets. This increase will be partly facilitated by the provision, under the National Lottery Act 2013, for the sale of tickets through interactive channels. In addition, the formula provided for in the next licence regarding returns to Good Causes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I have received a letter on behalf of an organisation which has given notice of its intention to challenge the State regarding the establishment and operation of the National Lottery on competition grounds. The Attorney General has replied stating that the organisation’s assertion is unfounded and that in the event of proceedings being issued they will be vigorously defended by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Government published the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2012 on 3rd August, 2012 as part of its legislative programme. The Bill proceeded through its second stage in Seanad Éireann on 11th October 2012. I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department are currently engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and other interested parties and I will be considering...