Results 16,481-16,500 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: No. The council can do separate forecasting. This is the area of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, whose advisers state there are two processes that are allowed under the European treaties. Ours involves the Government, or Department of Finance in this instance, preparing an economic forecast to be validated, or not, by an independent counsel. It is permissible under the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Let me explain. What I am addressing is our treaty obligations under the new two-pack and how Ireland will fulfil that obligation. I have set that out. If the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council wishes to prepare its own reports, documentation or forecasts, there is no impediment. However, it would not legally fulfil our treaty obligation. If we send the Deputy a copy of the memorandum of...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It is simply replicating the law of the land.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Obviously, there will be a debate about the true basis of the forecast. If it is not endorsed through independent validation, there will be a debate about it. In the event of the council failing to endorse the forecast, the resulting steps would be considered by the Government. According to the code of conduct of the regulations, the budget and stability programme will need to be published...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 24: In page 5, subsection (3), line 17, after “Act” to insert “(other than section 3)”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 25: In page 5, after line 19, to insert the following subsection:“(4) The Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012 and section 3 may be cited together as the Fiscal Responsibility Acts 2012 and 2013.”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 26: In page 3, line 10, after “2011” to insert “AND THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT 2012”.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together. The Term Time scheme was replaced by the Shorter Working Year scheme in 2009 which allows civil servants to balance their working arrangements with outside commitments, including the school holiday periods for children. Under the terms of the scheme special unpaid leave periods, not exceeding 13 weeks, may be available. The following...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Training (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. In response to the Deputy’s questions the following table outlines the number of staff within my Department and those under my aegis who availed of study or training leave in 2012 and the estimated number in 2013: Number of staff availing of Study/Training Leave - - - Department / Office 2012 Number of Staff 2012 Average...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together. Within the next few days, and in compliance with the duty placed on me by section 13 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009, I will lodge with both Houses of the Oireachtas my annual review and report on the public service Pension-related Deduction (PRD), which is the subject of the Deputy's questions. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013 provides for a statutory qualified privilege for the private papers of Members and official documents of the Houses. Section 104 of the Bill (as amended in the Select sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform) provides a definition of what constitutes a “private paper” within the meaning of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, the national revaluation programme aims to provide up-to-date valuations for individual properties across all economic sectors that are subject to local authority rates. The revaluation process is the mechanism whereby economic changes that take place in the property market are reflected in the valuation lists for rates purposes and in individual...

Order of Business (2 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: PPP.

Order of Business (2 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Bill has been enacted.

Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (2 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, Cork County Council made an application to the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Minor Works Scheme in 2012 for the cleaning of the Glashaboy River at Glanmire as a result of the flood event in June 2012. The application was approved and the cleaning was undertaken by the Council in October of last year. I also understand that the Council’s Local Roads...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 410 together. 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 annual salaries of €65,000 or more, and the parallel reduction in public service pensions over €32,500. Contingency...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Rehiring (2 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The number of Temporary Clerical Officers employed by my Department in the last 3 years is as follows: 2011 2012 2013 0 11 37 (includes 11 from 2012) Temporary Clerical Officers panels are established by the Public Appointments Service and assigned to Departments upon request. I am satisfied that my Department is compliant with the relevant fixed term contract arrangements. Recruitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (2 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Granard Motte is a National Monument in State Guardianship and is located on a nine-acre site near the town. The Monument consists of a huge mound of earth with a flat top and a hollow interior, which dates from before 1199 when it was used by Richard de Tuite during the Norman Conquest. It is the highest structure of its kind in Ireland. The site is important and attracts both National and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (2 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The following State owned properties in Fingal, Co. Dublin currently vacant are: 17A/17B, Main Street, Blanchardstown, which is surplus to requirements and is on the market for sale; the former Detention Centre, Kildonan Road, Finglas, which has been allocated to other State bodies; and the former Garda Station, Rush, Co. Dublin, for which the OPW is presently reviewing expressions of...