Results 17,821-17,840 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (16 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Reform Plan aims to secure €20 million in enhanced service efficiencies and value-for-money from the rationalisation programme; a target that will be achieved. The bulk of the savings are derived from a reduction in the number of public servants working in the merged entities and from other administrative efficiencies. From the outset I have maintained that the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Language Issues (16 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy,  I am satisfied that my Department is in  position to conduct its business through the medium of Irish and  English as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Language Issues (16 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I published a public consultation paper, 'Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance' on 9th January  last.  This follows on from the commitments in the Programme for Government to reform and reconfigure the relationship between Ministers and their departments and civil servants. The publication of the consultation paper is intended to initiate a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Solidarity Fund (16 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The EU Solidarity Fund was established by the European Union to respond to major natural disasters within the Union and to express Union solidarity with disaster-stricken regions within Europe.  For the purposes of the Fund, a major disaster is defined as damage in a Member State estimated either at over €3bn or more than 0.6% of GNI.  In Ireland s case, this would amount to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy s question I can confirm that my Department does not provide any funding to Irish Charities.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Earcaíocht Seirbhíse Poiblí (16 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Molaim ceisteanna Uimh. 130 go 132, cuimsitheach, a fhreagairt le chéile. Ag cruinniú a tharla ar an 30 Deireadh Fómhair 2013, ghlac an Rialtas le cur chuige nua chun tacú le hinniúlacht Gaeilge sa stát seirbhís. Tugadh na socraithe nua seo isteach chun teacht in áit an chórais a bhí ann go dtí seo faoina dtugtaí marcanna breise as...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: On my recommendation, the Government has approved the nominations of former High Court Judge Daniel O'Keeffe for the post of Chairperson of the Standards in Public Office Commission and former Deputy Jim O'Keeffe as an ordinary member of the SiPOC. I have discussed the proposed appointments with the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin and the whip of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Exemptions (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The work of the Valuation Office is underpinned by the Valuation Act, 2001 which 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 is his sole prerogative. The statute does not accord me as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform any function in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the total amount spent on external reports commissioned by my Department since its inception in 2011: Name of External Report Costs Date of Commission Date or Expected Date of Publication Name of External Consultant Independent verification of savings arising under the Public Service Agreement €35,819.80 16 May 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies Numbers (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The rationalisation of State bodies is a key element of this Government's reform programme. As the Deputy is aware, in November 2011, the Government set out 2 commitments in relation to agency rationalisation: - to implement 48 measures. All of these (involving over 100 bodies) either have been fully delivered or will be delivered this year, apart from the small number where the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Update (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am happy to welcome any submissions  from the public at any time on the subject of Public Service Reform or any other area of Government policy that I am responsible for. Submissions can be sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2 or emailed to . In addition, my Department has run a number of formal public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following tables outline the amount spent on an annual basis in payments to Oracle and Accenture Consultancy firms since the formation of my Department: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Consultancy Costs paid to Oracle and Accenture Consultancy firms 2011 Company Name Amount Details Oracle €1,200.00 Yearly renewal of Oracle...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 55074/13 of 19th December 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, reformed sick leave arrangements for public service employees were the subject of a Labour Court Recommendation in July 2012 relating to the introduction of a single uniform Sick Leave Scheme. The rationale for the introduction of these arrangements was the need to reduce the unsustainable cost of sick leave for the public service overall. This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I announced on 3rd October 2013 that 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 Requirements specified in the terms of the competition for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am keenly aware that public procurement can be an important source of business for Irish small and medium enterprises (SMEs). I am also aware of the need for Departments and Offices to make every effort to contain and reduce all administrative costs to ensure the continued provision of much needed public services. In this regard, the recently established Office of Government Procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There is no embargo on recruitment to the public service. There are restrictions and there are targets to reduce, in overall terms, the numbers employed in the public service, but there has also been and will continue to be recruitment into key positions across the system - in health, in education, in some areas of the Civil Service and most recently in An...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas Members' Expenses (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: From 1 January 2013 I introduced changes to the Oireachtas expense allowance regime to require full vouching for expenditure under the Parliamentary Standard Allowance, other than for monthly expenditure in the nature of petty cash for incidental expenses per month of €100 for each Deputy and €75 for each Senator. The travel and accommodation element of that allowance, which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Erosion (21 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I can assure the Deputy that the Government places great importance on the matter of coastal erosion. This natural and ongoing process needs to be considered in a holistic way as its impact can vary greatly in different locations and over time. It only becomes a problem when it threatens human life, infrastructure and properties. It differs significantly from coastal flooding, as assets...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Government Pay Policy (22 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Government pay policy is clear that remuneration rates for public servants must be appropriately approved and sanctioned in advance of payment. Pay policy is underpinned by administrative and legislative requirements. In the majority of cases remuneration rates for public servants must be approved by the relevant line Minister, subject to my consent as Minister for Public Expenditure and...