Results 18,081-18,100 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (12 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following is a list of bodies under my remit which I am responsible for answering Parliamentary Questions pursuant to Standing Order 34: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Office of Public Works; Office of the Ombudsman; Office of the Information Commissioner; Commissioner for Environmental Information; Standards in Public Office...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Appointments (12 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that I have the authority to appoint Board members to An Post National Lottery and the Public Appointments Service. The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 states that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (in consultation with Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Functions (12 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have not conferred any new powers or functions on local authorities by legislation since my Department was established in 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (12 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government published the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2012 on 3rd August, 2012 as part of its legislative programme. The Bill proceeded through its second stage in Seanad Éireann on 11th October 2012. The primary purpose of the Bill is to accelerate the national programme of revaluing every commercial and industrial property in the country which is being undertaken by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (13 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 127 together. Under EU rules on public procurement public works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised on the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Regulator Establishment (13 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The €552,000 figure is a provisional estimate of the once-off potential costs associated with the establishment of the Regulator's office.  It relates to the costs for staffing, accommodation, development of an IT system, office furniture and other start-up costs. No monies have been spent to date. Details of spending will be furnished to the Oireachtas as is normal. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (13 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Three payments totalling €693,750 (excluding VAT) have been made to Davy Corporate Finance to date under a contract to provide financial and commercial advice regarding the National Lottery licence competition, which was agreed in October 2012 .   The total payment to Davy Corporate Finance is expected to be €1,156,250 (excluding VAT).   I expect the licence...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (13 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Since 2004, recruitment to the Civil Service has taken place under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. This legislation established the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA), the body which licences, regulates and audits recruitment processes. Recruitment processes are governed by the provisions of the Act as applied under Codes of Practice...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (13 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In October 2012, I announced the appointment, following an open competitive tendering process, of Davy Corporate Finance as financial and commercial advisers to the Department in relation to the next National Lottery licence.  Under the contract, Davy Corporate Finance is being assisted by Q-Lot, an international firm with expertise in lotteries.  Davy Corporate Finance is being...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There are 10 staff in my Department who are currently on a sabbatical/career break. The duration of leave applied for by staff can be broken down as follows: Length of Leave of Absence Number of Staff 0 - 6 months 0 6 - 12 months 1 1 - 2 years 2 2 - 3 years 3 3 - 4 years 1 4 - 5 years 2 5 years plus 1 Total 10

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was established in July 2011. Details of sick leave statistics from July to December 2011 and 2012 are set out in the following table. - 2011 (July December) 2012 Total Uncertified Sick Days 73.73 135.87 Average Uncertified Sick Days by Employees 0.26 0.41 Total Certified Sick Days 720.31 1,264.05 Average Certified Sick Days by Employees...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The North/South Pension Scheme is the default pension scheme for employees in five of the six cross-border Implementation Bodies, and also in Tourism Ireland. The Scheme's standard pension rules, known as the "Core Terms", have applied equally to covered members working in the bodies from both jurisdictions since soon after the bodies were established under 1999 legislation. The North/South...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme Expenditure (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, since July 2012 I have made a number of announcements in relation to additional capital investment as part of an infrastructure stimulus package to help support investment in infrastructure and jobs. This additional investment supplements the exchequer capital programme and is primarily focused on projects with a high employment impact and which can benefit local...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Security Checks (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that no office in my Department has been swept for electronic or any other type of surveillance or bugging equipment since the formation of this Government.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies Establishment (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: No new organisations or agencies have been established in my Department since 9 March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The new sick leave scheme for the public service is being introduced by Regulations made under the recently enacted Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments)(Amendment) Act 2013.  The legislation provides me, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with the basis to regulate for sick leave across the public service. During the passage of the Bill through the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 323 together. Under EU Directives on public procurement public works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised and award notices published on the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. The EU Thresholds for the relevant years are listed as follows. The main...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Recruitment to the civil service and a range of other public bodies is handled under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 which established a central recruitment agency, the Public Appointments Service (PAS),for this purpose. The PAS operates under licence from the Commission for Public Service Appointments and is independent in its operations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am satisfied that my Department is fully compliant with policy in this regard, including the provisions in the recent Haddington Road Agreement.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Implementation (18 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In line with the Haddington Road Agreement and in accordance with Action Plan set out in the Government's new Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016 - page 79, section 4.2.1(iii) - my Department is currently working to develop options for advancing the objective of grade restructuring as one of a number of actions to strengthen Human Resource Strategy and resourcing...