Results 16,721-16,740 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This section was added to amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012 to assign the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council statutory responsibility for endorsing the macroeconomic forecast on which the budget and stability programme will be based. In essence, this would be an assignment carried out by the Minister for Finance. Under the new European architecture for the budget, we need to assign...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: We had a debate in the other House about the language used. In plain English, it should state "endorse or not endorse". I went back to the Parliamentary Counsel about it. Apparently, the phrase “endorse” allows the council to endorse or not to endorse. While it might sound peculiar, in legislative language, one does not include the negative.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: While this Bill is short, it provides a statutory basis for the multi-annual medium-term expenditure framework. I thank Senators for co-operating in the passage of the Bill because it is important to put the framework on a statutory basis before the end of the term and the budgetary round starts.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Some 2,000 per month.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: More insights than Fianna Fáil anyway.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Send in the next one. Deputy Dooley has failed again.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Hear, hear.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: You broke it and we are fixing it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: You do need it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: More people are working.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Valuation Office has been conducting a revaluation of all commercial and industrial properties in the Waterford rating authority areas (Waterford City Council, Waterford County Council and Dungarvan Town Council) and in the Dublin City rating authority as part of its ongoing programme to revalue all such properties in the State. This has resulted in the issue...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ 31103/13 of 26th June, 2013 in relation to the background to the Revaluation process currently underway in Waterford. The application of a moratorium to a revaluation because of local authority amalgamation considerations is not provided for under the Valuation Act, 2001, as the application of such an option would not affect the valuation process....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Office is currently undertaking a systematic programme of revaluing, for rates purposes, all industrial and commercial properties in the State. The immediate objective of the national revaluation programme is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas is conducted as soon as possible. Revaluation is conducted across all relevant properties in one or more...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Information and Communications Technology Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: My Department provides information and communications technologies (ICT) on a shared services basis to my Department and to the Department of Finance. We continue to update the use of technology in accordance with an agreed plan for both Departments and development of new ICT strategies for my Department and for the Department of Finance have been initiated. Suitable risk assessments will be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Irish Presidency completed detailed, lengthy and complex negotiations with the European Parliament, and achieved a provisional agreement on the Public Procurement Reform Package relating to: General public procurement directive (Classical Directive); Procurement in the utilities sector (Utilities Directive); and Services concessions (Concessions Directive). This is the first time that a...

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

Brendan Howlin: I understand from the details supplied that the Deputy is enquiring about whether a policy will be introduced requiring civil servants to include any element of paid sick leave in claims for damages arising as a result of the actions of a third party. I understand that this is provided for in sick leave policies in other sectors of the public service. Work is underway in my Department with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Social Impact Bonds (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Steering Committee on Social Impact Investing is progressing projects in the context of a developing a pilot phase. I understand that the assessment of projects by the Steering Committee will be finalised in the near future, following which I will be in a position to seek Government approval on the future strategic direction of Social Impact Investing in Ireland.

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

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware in 2011 the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members. Under the new arrangements, Departments now invite expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis on their websites. It is open to all members of the public regardless of gender, political affiliations or geographically location...

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

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question there are two State agencies under the aegis of my Department as follows: Economic and Social Research Institute 1. The Economic and Social Research Institute Pension Plan Employer Contribution 25% Employee Contribution 8.5% 2. The Economic and Social Research Institute Superannuation Plan Employer Contribution 15% Employee Contribution - Non-integrated...

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

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following tables outline the miles claimed for and amount of travel expenses paid to Deputy Brian Hayes and I from 2011: Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform - - - - - 2011 2012 2013 Total Mileage Claimed 17,145km 38,148km 11,457km 66,750km Travel Expenses €4,879.47 €12,836.98 €5,230.73 €22,937.18 ...