Results 18,161-18,180 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Programmes (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: PeoplePoint, the Civil Service Transactional HR and Pensions Shared Services Centre, is the most advanced of our Shared Services projects.  6 more Public Services Bodies transitioned to PeoplePoint earlier this month. There are now over 24,000 employees serviced by PeoplePoint across 19 Public Service Bodies.  The remainder of the 40 in scope Bodies will...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Value for Money Reviews (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The commitment for enhanced powers for the Comptroller and Auditor General is being progressed as part of the wider public service reform agenda. The Programme for Government committed to giving the Comptroller and Auditor General extra powers to carry out value-for-money (VFM) audits of State programmes.  A number of meetings have been held between my Department and the Office of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sick Pay Scheme Reform (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The new sick leave scheme is being introduced through Ministerial Regulations which are provided for in the recently enacted Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments)(Amendment) Act 2013.  The drafting of these Regulations has been a priority for my Department working closely with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel since the relevant legislation was enacted at the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that the State Property Act, 1954 deals with the vesting of State  ownership of property.  If the Deputy will provide my Department with details of the basis on which he believes it might claim ownership of this facility, I will arrange for the matter to be looked into. 

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: On 14 January, I published the Government's new Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016. The new Plan outlines the key reform initiatives that will be implemented over the next three years.  It also addresses the broader ambition for reform towards 2020.  The four key themes running through this new Reform Plan are delivery of improved outcomes; utilisation of the reform...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Recruitment (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have overarching responsibility for staffing matters in the Civil Service. Decisions on the holding of competitions to fill posts in particular grades are taken in the context of the anticipated demand for those grades as informed by a number of matters including returns submitted to my Department in Departmental...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: While staff are seconded from time to time from other Government Departments and the wider Public Service, there are currently no staff  seconded to this Department from external companies. We are currently collating information in relation to our use of external companies on a contract for service basis and will follow-up with a more detailed reply when this exercise is complete.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Following recommendations by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector in 1996, the then Government adopted new arrangements for the system of setting the remuneration of CEOs of Commercial State Bodies.  Hay Management Consultants were commissioned to review the pay of these posts based on comparison with posts of similar weight in the private sector.  In July...

Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (Resumed) (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: An obnoxious man.

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Will the Deputy talk about the Protected Disclosures Bill?

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: It would be a novelty so far if the Deputy does.

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I thank all Members who contributed. I believe this is the fourth occasion the Bill is before the House, which is because it is important legislation. I suppose events of recent times have underscored its importance and topicality but also its centrality in the reform agenda the Government is putting in place. I thank all Members for their very varied and interesting contributions, some...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I made plain in my opening remarks that several authoritative international bodies had given this matter consideration and made recommendations as to best practice in respect of whistleblowing legislation. The similarity between the recommendations of these bodies is so striking as to confirm the need for workers to be protected against unscrupulous employers. I have had ongoing dialogue...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: We have a tentative date but I need to finalise the latest amendment with the Department of Justice and Equality which I am still working on. I hope to get it before the end of March.

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Priority Questions: Sick Pay Scheme Reform (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I can be accused of many things but I am happy to answer anything anyone poses. I have no control over the questions that come in. I will go on to answer the first question that is tabled to me. The implementation of the new single sick leave scheme for the public service generally will commence next month. The effective date for the new scheme will be 31 March...

Priority Questions: Sick Pay Scheme Reform (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: We had a long discussion about this because I provided for this in legislation for the first time. We have gone through the legislative debate, including a Committee Stage debate on these matters. I accepted an amendment in terms of doing it by way of regulation in order that we would have a chance to lay it out in some terms. I think the amendment was from Deputy Fleming although it might...

Priority Questions: Sick Pay Scheme Reform (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: My experience of the Labour Court is that it is very open to submissions from anyone affected by its decisions. I have never heard a criticism of the Labour Court's openness to submissions and points of view as regards any decision it is about to make that impacts on any worker or set of workers. I would be surprised to hear of any. There are structures within the trade union movement in...

Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Deputy for her question. I expect to receive €400 million in special dividends arising from the sale of non-strategic assets by the ESB. The first of these transactions, the sale in November 2013 of the ESB's 50% shareholding in the Marchwood power plant in the UK, achieved a price that was in excess of expectations and resulted in approximately...

Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am pleased.