Results 17,001-17,020 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Political Reform (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Work is ongoing in relation to the political reform priorities included in the Programme for Government. The summary position in relation to specific elements of the government reform programme is as follows:- - The Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012 is now in force extending the Ombudsman's remit and strengthens the Ombudsman's powers; - The Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Expenditure Reviews (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Since this Government was established in 2011, a medium-term expenditure management process began with a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure exercise. This exercise was carried out by all Departments in order to identify ways of reducing expenditure in line with commitments under the Joint EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland, while minimising the impact on service delivery....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Dividends (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am aware of the legal challenge against the ESB, which is, or course, a matter for the Board and Management of the ESB. In terms of Ministerial portfolios, clarifications regarding ESB would be for my colleague, the Minister for D/CENR, in the first instance. That said, I understand that such issues were raised in regard to the distribution of the normal dividend at the AGM earlier this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Tenders (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am aware that public procurement can be an important source of business for Irish small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Current guidelines (Circular 10/10) issued by my Department require public bodies to promote participation of SMEs in the award of public contracts. The guidance also highlights practices that are to be avoided because they can unjustifiably hinder small businesses in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Increment Payments (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not available to my Department. Impact on salaries would vary at the level of the individual having regard to the pay reductions for those on salaries above €65,000, the freezing or pausing of increments to those that may be eligible for an increment in 2014 and the amount of overtime or other non core salary earned. The reductions in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 to 99, inclusive, 101, 102 and 105 together. Since this Government was established in 2011, a medium-term expenditure management process began with a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure exercise. This exercise was carried out by all Departments in order to identify ways of reducing expenditure in line with commitments under the Joint EU/IMF Programme of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Statistics (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I would refer the Deputy to the Analysis of Exchequer Pay and Pensions Bill 2007 - 2012, published by my Department. This publication presents a detailed breakdown of both gross and net pay and pension expenditure in aggregate terms, by sector and by individual Vote and is available on my Department's website at www.per.gov.ieunder the Reports tab. In addition the Deputy will be aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Data (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Government has set ambitious targets for reducing numbers in the public service. Underpinned by the additional hours and new workplace flexibilities contained in Haddington Road and supported by reform initiatives such as shared services and outsourcing the Government expects a leaner, more effective public service into the future. The transition to this improved state is challenging....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Departments and Offices should make every effort to contain and reduce all administrative costs including both insurance and procurement costs. This approach unpins the current programme of reform of public procurement is one of the major projects of key strategic importance in the Government's Public Service Reform Plan. Procurement of supplies and services accounts for around €9...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The scope and content of the Government's State Assets Disposal Programme was agreed by Government in February 2012. No additional State assets are under consideration for inclusion in the State Assets Disposal Programme at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Judicial Pay (10 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The total salaries and annual expense allowances paid to members of the judiciary in each of the Supreme, High, Circuit and District Courts in the year 2012, and an estimate of the amounts payable for 2013 are set out at Appendix 1. Members of the judiciary may receive an annual expense allowance to cover expenses which are not dealt with under the normal claim and recoupment arrangements....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (10 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Appointments Service advertised a series of Administrative Officer (AO) competitions on the 30 August 2013 with a closing date of 19 September 2013. The competitions covered five streams: Economics, Human Resources, Tax Policy, Law, and Banking and Finance. 2,672 candidates applied for the competitions. The Public Appointments Service is currently conducting a selection process...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Remuneration (10 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Government Pay Cap was introduced on 21 June 2011 on foot of a Government Decision (S180/20/10/1333) when it adopted a general policy of a €200,000 annual salary pay ceiling for new appointees to Senior Positions across the Public Service. This equalled the then Taoiseach’s annual salary of €200,000 which was reduced under the FEMPI Act 2013 to €185,350 from 1...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Budget Statement 2014 (15 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This budget and Estimates process sets out to deliver on this Government's promise to the Irish people at the last general election to fulfil our commitments under the troika programme foisted on the Irish people by the previous Government and to restore Ireland's economic sovereignty. In pursuit of this goal, the two Government parties agreed a strategy for this budget and the Estimates....

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Budget Statement 2014 (15 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Some have argued that rather than seeking consolidation of our position with international support, we should have harnessed whatever remained of our resources and, with a final throw of a dice, spent it all in an effort to reinflate our economy, regardless of the international economic environment. We tried that before, in 1977, and it led to more than a decade of hardship. As I have...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Budget Statement 2014 (15 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This is in stark contrast to the previous Government, which oversaw a litany of disastrous decisions that failed-----

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Budget Statement 2014 (15 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: -----the Irish people. Real Consolidation The progress we have made in bringing stability to the economy and meeting our fiscal targets must be viewed in the context of the increased demands on public services. Not only have we reduced spending in absolute terms, we are delivering more services with that reduced money. We have a growing population, which increased by almost 350,000 between...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Budget Statement 2014 (15 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Medical card holders have increased by 540,000, or over 40%, an increase between 2008 and 2012 from 1.35 million to the highest level of medical card ownership in our history, currently at 1.89 million. The number of people of pensionable age has increased by 65,500, or 13.5%, since 2008. Budget Reform There are few areas where reform has been more manifest than it has been in the actual...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Budget Statement 2014 (15 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Over the course of the past five years, the public service has reduced in size by almost 10%. The cost of the pay bill has fallen even further, by some 17%, and the Haddington Road agreement which I reached with the public service unions earlier this year will permit that cost to fall still further. These savings need to be protected and sustained, which means we must continue to demand...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Budget Statement 2014 (15 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: -----is due to issue by the end of this month. A total of 13,000 direct and many more indirect jobs are expected to be created by this programme. Earlier this year I announced €150 million of direct Exchequer capital and a further €250 million of PPPs. The extra Exchequer money is being invested in 28 badly needed school projects, maintaining the local road network and a...