Results 17,041-17,060 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Regulator Establishment (17 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It is envisaged that the Regulator of the National Lottery will be appointed and the Regulator's office established in early 2014. The functions of the Regulator and the terms on which he or she shall hold office are provided for in part 3 of the National Lottery Act 2013. The selection criteria for the appointment of the Regulator will be determined by my Department in consultation with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Programmes (17 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The SEUPB is currently involved in drafting the Operational Programme for the PEACE IV Programme in close consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland. It is anticipated that the draft Operational Programme for PEACE IV will be presented to the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commencement of Legislation (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce new legislation to protect small building subcontractors that have been denied payments from bigger companies. In this regard, Minister of State Brian Hayes worked closely with Senator Feargal Quinn to develop the Senator’s private member’s Construction...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Legislation (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that this question relates to a concern that Section 17(4) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill 2013 as published might have unintended effects on FOI requests for electronic records. An important priority in the Bill is in fact to update and modernise the legislative framework for FOI so that it supports and facilitates requests for electronic records. Subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's budget and staffing allocation reflects its strategy of delivering well managed and well-targeted public spending, delivered through modernised, effective and accountable public services. While savings have accrued due to the transfer of certain functions and pay reductions across the group, these are offset due to the significant start-up...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Child Care Services Provision (23 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In Budget 2001, the then Minister for Finance allocated €12.7m for the provision of 10-15 crèches for the children of civil servants. The allocation was part of a major initiative by the Government to improve childcare provisions and increase the number of childcare places available. The provision of childcare places was identified as an important mechanism for enabling women to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Research and Development Funding (24 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question none of the Offices or Agencies under the remit of my Department has procured the research grant management software referred to. Neither my Department nor the Offices or Agencies under my remit are familiar with the specific applications referred to in the question, but I would certainly agree that it is the case that multiple systems can often be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (24 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2012-2014 (CER) published by my Department on 5 December 2011 set out current expenditure ceilings for Departments for the period 2012 to 2014. The ceilings and savings measures contained in the CER were informed by the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) carried out in 2011. In setting out current expenditure ceilings for 2012 to 2014, the CER...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (24 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's budget and staffing allocation reflects its strategy of delivering well managed and well-targeted public spending, delivered through modernised, effective and accountable public services. While savings have accrued due to the transfer of certain functions and pay reductions across the group, these are offset due to the significant start-up...

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move the following motions: That Dáil Éireann recommends Mr. Peter Tyndall for appointment by the President to be the Ombudsman. and That Dáil Éireann recommends Mr. Peter Tyndall for appointment by the President to be the Information Commissioner.I will not require the 15 minutes allowed but will be happy to respond to any questions Deputies may have at the...

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am simply outlining his curriculum vitae to the House.

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In Mr. Tyndall I am fully satisfied that we have a well qualified, experienced and suitable nominee for appointment as our next Ombudsman and Information Commissioner. The practice in the past was for the relevant Minister to ask the Government to note the name of the proposed nominee prior to consultation with the leaders of the opposition parties and the resolution process. It was my...

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It will be introduced this term.

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Excellent.

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank all Deputies who contributed. It is important not only that the House would endorse the nomination but that it would be an all-party nomination because it strengthens the hand of the incoming Ombudsman if this is the case. I am taken by the point made by Deputies Fleming and Boyd Barrett about the process. I wanted the process to be different. I am absolutely open to a different...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Regulatory Impact Assessment Usage (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Departments have responsibility for conducting and preparing regulatory impact assessments (RIAs). The criteria for the development of RIAs are set out comprehensively in the Revised RIA Guidelines (2009), published by the Department of the Taoiseach on its website. RIAs are required to be published by Departments.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I understand the underlying issue relates to a provision known as ‘Allocation of Pension’. The Superannuation Act 1956 (section 3), and the Superannuation (Allocation of Pension) Regulations 1957 (S.I. 20 of 1957), make provision for an established Civil Servant to surrender (or allocate) part of his or her own pension to provide a pension for a nominated beneficiary....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, public service pensions are funded on a pay-as-you-go basis by the public purse which already funds a wide range of employment initiatives. Public service pensions have been reduced by the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) which was introduced in January 2011 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010. In July 2013, the rates...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Charges Review (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation act, 2001 provides for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property and the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative and I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. Under section 28 (4) of the Act, a Revision Officer of the Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Charges Review (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation act, 2001 provides for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property and the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative and I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. Under section 28 (4) of the Act, a Revision Officer of the Commissioner...