Results 16,341-16,360 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme Issues (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The stimulus package announced in July 2012 included investment of €1.4 billion in a new public private partnership, PPP, programme. This investment is additional to the direct investment by the Exchequer in infrastructure which was outlined in the medium-term Exchequer framework published in November 2011. Earlier this month, and as a follow on to last year's package, I announced an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme Issues (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I have given figures to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme Issues (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I gave figures to the Deputy, namely, 13,000 jobs in respect of public private partnerships, PPPs, and 3,000 jobs from the stimulus package I announced last week.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme Issues (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, it is new money.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme Issues (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Let me be clear. The Government made decisions back in 2011 in respect of the capital plan to reduce the quantum of money in order to lessen the reduction in current expenditure. For example, rather than taking a further €1.5 billion out of social welfare this year, as Fianna Fáil had planned, the Government took additional money of approximately half a billion euro out of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme Issues (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy has a point, which is the reason the Government did look afresh. The Deputy is correct, in that there is a predilection to look at the traditional projects. While roads, hospitals and schools fall into that category, they are needed. For example, the next project I wish to advance before the end of the year on the road side will be the N17-N18 in the west. That is an important...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 was enacted on 5 June 2013. The primary purpose of the legislation is to implement the proposed pay reduction for public servants earning salaries of €65,000 and the parallel reduction in public service pensions of more than €32,500. Contingency measures that may be deployed to secure the necessary reductions in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I fundamentally disagree with the Deputy. The reverse is the case. This process has been honest with workers from the start. We laid out the requirements of the State in terms of the pay bill, as everybody knows, the condition of the public finances and the view of Government that we needed to make a further contribution to solving the deficit hole through reducing the pay and pensions...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I agree.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: What is true is that the only employees getting a direct pay cut are those earning in excess of €65,000, and the Deputy knows that full well. It is interesting that the Deputy has now moved away from groups she was highlighting on the last occasion - who have now, by and large, accepted the Haddington Road agreement - to the CPSU.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Its members are currently being balloted and, unlike the Deputy, I do not want to involve myself in their ballot. I agree that everybody in the public service is affected, because everybody is asked to make some contribution, but those represented by the CPSU are minimally affected. Their core pay is not touched at all. They do not do overtime, by and large, and they have been asked to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Under the next national lottery licence, annual contributions for good causes will be set at 65% of gross gaming revenues. Gross gaming revenues are defined as the level of sales less the amount deducted for prizes. The current licence does not have a specific formula in place under legislation for good causes. The level of contribution is the amount remaining when prizes and costs are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: No. The Deputy makes a number of valid and fair points. This is a balance that I and the Government have sought to strike in terms of maximising the up-front payment without damaging the constant annual flow of money for good causes. It is our estimate that we can increase the volume and flow of money for good causes. All of these are theoretical until we see the structure of the new...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I have done that in another question and I am looking for it now. It is not a direct comparison, because things will be different over time.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Is that where it is? Unfortunately I did not bring Question No. 22 with me, I did not expect to reach it. I might have it in my own notes. If we applied it precisely to the revenue declared for last year, when the good causes contribution was €225 million, it would have been of the order of €214 million. Given the nature of the gaming, my advice is that this is a much more...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: For last year, yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I fully accept what the Deputy is saying. I do not want to be prescriptive about this but I must strike a balance. I do not want to grow the national lottery at the expense of those who might spending money they should not be spending. There are checks and balances all the way. I am advised that it is possible under this structure in a way that does not impact negatively on people who...

Other Questions: Office of Public Works Projects (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy is aware Dublin City Council is planning to develop a cultural quarter in the environs of Parnell Square. The Commissioners of Public Works have engaged with Dublin City Council on property asset transfers to facilitate this specific development. Any further information required on this key cultural project is a matter for Dublin City Council.

Other Questions: Office of Public Works Projects (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The OPW has no more involvement than the involvement I have outlined. I have seen the presentation and it is an exciting project for that part of the city. Whether it might be subject to other funding would fall within the general capital expenditure plan and if it made sense, perhaps on a co-funded basis if philanthropic money is available, it would be eligible to be considered for funding...

Other Questions: Office of Public Works Projects (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The capital budget of the OPW is quite rigid, with a large chunk of it now going to flood maintenance. It might be a cultural project to be supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, or an environmental project supported by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I am writing to every Department to look for projects that might qualify for...