Results 17,601-17,620 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: That is because it was referenced in the particular case, but the view is that it is public moneys that cannot be spent. It would be bizarre if the Opposition and the Government could spend their moneys on election campaigns.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The principle is simple. Public moneys cannot be used, either as an individual or as a member of a party, to influence the normal flow of the democratic system, for an election, a referendum or presidential campaign.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: We debated this issue at some length on Committee Stage. These amendments seek to remove the auditing requirements for qualifying Independent Members alone. They seek that those Independent Members in receipt of the parliamentary allowance would not, like the parties, have to comply with the auditing requirements. As I said on Second Stage, and repeated on Committee Stage, in the current...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Time is tight.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: A number of passionate contributions have been made on the amendment. Most of the contributions were well beyond its scope and impact. I acknowledge Senator Bradford tabled it for debate purposes. I am very mindful of the time. I listened to Senator Wilson, who spoke as if all history started yesterday.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The bottom line is-----

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Senator can shout me down if he likes.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The notion I can change a law by this evening before I go home is simplistic nonsense. I will deal with the issues.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: What have I done?

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Bluntly, saving the economy of the country that the Senator's party put in mortal peril. This was a higher priority than looking at the expenses of Senators-----

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: -----and the Senator will excuse me for this.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I will not be bullied by anybody.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: If anybody knows me the one thing I will not be is bullied.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Fair points were made by most people who made a contribution to the debate. It is true the people voted to retain the House, and this is an important constitutional point to be acknowledged, but they did not vote to replicate the Dáil. It would be a fundamental mistake for people to state we want to mirror the Dáil now in all its functionality. This was not the result, in my...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation Office (3 Dec 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act, 2001 and the carrying out of valuations for rating purposes is his sole prerogative and the Act does not accord me as Minister any function in this regard. There are two provisions in the legislation governing the assessment of valuations, i.e. revision and revaluation. Revision of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The payment of fees for membership of professional bodies for staff in my Department are in accordance with Department of Finance Circular 23/2007: Post-Entry Education – Refund of Fees, Study Leave and Examination Leave and Department of Finance Circular 47/2001 Reimbursement of Professional Membership Fees. The provision of Section 7 of the Finance Act 2011 applies to such payments....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The arrangements governing Refund of Fees in respect of further education including third level education are set out in Department of Finance Circular 23/2007: Post-Entry Education – Refund of Fees, Study Leave and Examination Leave. The purpose of the Circular is to facilitate Departments in building appropriate skill and expertise by supporting employees’ efforts in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 imposed a Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) with effect from 1 January 2011. It affects public service pensioners (including civil servants) on pensions of €12,000 and upwards. A further reduction on public service pensions over €32,500 was imposed by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Labour Court Recommendations (3 Dec 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The issue raised by the Deputy is not in the first instance the responsibility of my Department. The particular issue in question was however previously addressed by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 576 on 6 November 2012.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Data (3 Dec 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I would refer the Deputy to Table 5 (page 22) of the 2013 Revised Estimates for Public Services publication from my Department.