Results 16,201-16,220 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There is no embargo on front-line public services. The Government has set out an ambitious public service reform plan that aims to transform the quality and cost effectiveness of public services in Ireland. As part of that plan we are undertaking a steady and managed reduction in public service numbers and there are sectoral targets to meet this. Within these targets sectoral and local...

Access to the Countryside Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Dowds should be highly commended for his work and that of his team on the Access to the Countryside Bill 2013. I commend him on the alacrity with which he managed to get legislation on the floor of the Dáil. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, and his Department, have responsibility for rural recreation in Ireland....

Trade Union Movement and Workers' Rights: Motion [Private Members] (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Multi-tasking.

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome this Bill. The Labour Party's assessment of the case for the abolition of the Seanad was first detailed in the policy statement I issued on behalf of the party, New Government, Better Government, in January 2011 as part of a comprehensive programme of Government, political and public service reforms. That recommendation reflected a long, hard look at Seanad Éireann by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Agencies Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am not aware of the existence of any possible conflict of interest or of the perception of a conflict of interest between the statutory autonomy of the Valuation Tribunal and the financial control over the Tribunal by the Commissioner of Valuation. While the Valuation Office is the respondent in all valuation appeals heard by the Tribunal, the Tribunal is independent of the Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Appointments (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Section 12 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 provides that the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) shall comprise 5 ex-Officio members, namely - An Ceann Comhairle, - the Secretary General to the Government, - the Secretary General to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, - the Chairperson of the Standards in Public Office...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Staff (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of the Public Service Circular 6/1984 - Private Secretaries and Confidential Clerical Assistants sets out instructions concerning private secretaries and confidential clerical assistants. The circular provides that the persons selected to act as Private Secretary should be drawn from the grades of Executive Officer, Higher Executive Officer or Administrative Officer. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s questions the following is a list of names of all external public relations, communications consultants and organisations used by my Department since March 2011: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Consultant's Name Cost Comments RED C Research & Marketing Limited €41,043.20 Research to obtain information and feedback from the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies Establishment (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. In response to the Deputy's questions I can confirm that there are no Semi-State organisations under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), which at present applies at a rate of 20% on that part of an affected public service pension which is above €100,000. That 20% PSPR rate is due to rise to 28% on 1 July 2013, reflecting changes made in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013. I can confirm for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question the following is a list of the number of appointments made to State Boards under my remit since March 2011: Board Name No. of Appointments made No. of Positions Advertised No. of Applications to Boards No. of Appointments drawn from Applications No. of Current Vacancies Outside Appointments Board - - - - 1 An Post Naitonal Lottery Board 4* - -...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was established in July 2011. Details of sick leave statistics from July to December 2011 and 2012 are set out in the attached table. - 2011 (July - December) 2012 Total Uncertified Sick Days 73.73 135.87 Average Uncertified Sick Days by Employees 0.26 0.41 Total Certified Sick Days 720.31 1,264.05 Average Certified Sick Days by Employees...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that no regulator is accountable to me or my Department.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his welcome. I am glad to be back. We made good progress on this matter during the Second Stage debate last week. It is not a very long or technical Bill. The Bill is intended to facilitate movement within the public service. This set of amendments Nos. 1 to 8, and 13 to 18 together, is consequent on the substantial amendment, namely, amendment No. 1. The...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: If Senator Byrne raises it in the discussion of the section, I will respond.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This has worked very well on an ad hoc basis up to now. Obviously, it is a matter of voluntary movement within the public service. As I indicated on Second Stage, we have discussed this with the unions and they are fully conversant with all of it. The legislation has been drafted to give effect to the agreement reached with the trade unions on pay and mobility. I acknowledge Senator...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am not suggesting that is the case. I am setting out the backdrop against which this sort of mobility should be provided for in statute rather than on an ad hoc basis. It made sense to bring community welfare officers into the Department of Social Protection and to restructure FÁS as Intreo while redeploying staff. While the redeployment was agreed without resistance regarding terms...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am not making a technical point. If I accepted the amendment, it would fundamentally hamstring the operation of the redeployment process. My objection is not technical but fundamental. I cannot accept the amendment for that reason. Detailed operational protocols have been negotiated with the trade union movement and set out who should be notified. The trade union movement understands...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There are two separate issues, transfers and redeployment. Mutually accepted transfers are a feature of the public service generally but people cannot transfer if there is no job to go to. I was directly involved with the trade unions and psychiatric nurses in respect of St. Senan's Psychiatric Hospital in Enniscorthy, which is now officially closed. There was a full five-year programme of...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This is a technical amendment to clarify that when a person is redeployed, the total pay in the new post must not be less than basic pay in the old post. The provision as published provides that where a person is redeployed, the basic pay in the new post will not be less than the basic pay in the old post. The text anticipates that, on assignment to the new post, allowances will always be...