Results 17,061-17,080 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation Office (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Act, 2001 provides for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property. 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: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: On Budget day this year, I announced additional investment of €200m from the proceeds of the National Lottery Licence transaction. This investment will be used to progress a number of additional projects and programmes in 2014 including the project to which the Deputy refers. The precise allocation of the proceeds to the Departments concerned is being determined at present and will be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Register of Lobbyists Legislation (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Regulation of Lobbying Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC). The General Scheme has been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform for pre-legislative scrutiny and the views of the Committee will be taken into account in the drafting process. The Deputy may wish to note that under the proposals for...

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

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367, 373 and 374 together. Established Civil Servants appointed prior to 6 April 1995 are subject to a modified rate of PRSI (Class B) whereas those appointed on or after 6 April 1995 are subject to PRSI Class A rate. Officers appointed prior to 6 April 1995 do not pay an explicit employee contribution in respect of their “Main Scheme” pension...

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

Brendan Howlin: The following table provides the information requested in respect of each political staff member appointed by me. Name/Title Qualifications Salary Mr. Ronán O’Brien Special Adviser Suitably qualified for the position. €106,880 Ms. Anne Byrne Special Adviser Suitably qualified for the position. €84,706 Ms. Frances Kelly Parliamentary Assistant- Constituency...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The trees at Leinster House are regularly monitored and maintained and are in good health. Some pruning of the four trees on the Kildare Street side of Leinster house will be undertaken over the coming weeks as recommended in the most recent survey report (September 2013). There is scope to replace some of the Ash trees on the Merrion Square side of Leinster House along with remedial...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of the Ombudsman Staff (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The appointment of a new Ombudsman/Information Commissioner/Commissioner for Environmental Information by the President is dependent on approval by the Oireachtas of a resolution to that effect. The appointment may be made in the second half of this month. On the premise that such approval will be forthcoming, it is envisaged that the appointment will be made in the course of the current...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As indicated in a previous response PQ 215 of 22 October 2013, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Pending the enactment of the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 the protections currently available for persons in the private sector who are self employed / commercial agents as opposed to employees depends on the provisions of the sectoral statute under which the whistleblower makes his or her disclosure and, in particular, the definition of the term ‘employee’ contained therein....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Industrial Disputes (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. As the Deputy is aware, the issue regarding the staff of An Post National Lottery Company was referred to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). The LRC has prepared a proposal regarding the issue and these proposals have been put forward to An Post management, the An Post Group of Unions and the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together. As I announced on 3rd October 2013, Premier Lotteries Ireland Limited, a consortium comprising Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (the owner of the Camelot Group), An Post and An Post pension funds, has been selected as the preferred applicant for the next National Lottery licence. Premier Lotteries Ireland Limited met the Essential...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Programmes (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 to 75, inclusive, together. The Cohesion Policy Legislative Package for the 2014-2020 period comprises six regulations; a common provisions regulation, fund specific regulations for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), and Cohesion Fund, and regulations for European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) and European...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Since taking office the Government has shown that it is committed to the stabilisation of the public finances through ongoing and sustainable reductions in the cost of the public service, including those associated with the Oireachtas and the political expenses regime. All of us, personally and as public representatives, are well aware of the vast impact of the difficult decisions forced...

Seanad: Visit of Chinese Delegation (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I add my word of welcome to our distinguished colleagues and I hope they have an enjoyable stay in Ireland.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I was about to set out the specifics of how the reform of governance is being achieved. The extension of the Ombudsman's jurisdiction and powers through the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012, which was debated extensively in this House and came into effect last October, resulted in the most significant expansion in the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman in the 30 years since the original legislation...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Not according to the Constitution.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It exists here.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Actually, it is stronger than the one in the North.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: That is very true.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: So the Senator was not elected by Fine Gael councillors exclusively.