Results 18,241-18,260 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy s question I can confirm that the engagement of all service-providers by my Department is done within the parameters of value for money with every effort made to minimise costs. In line with stated Government policy, all public bodies must use a competitive process for the purchase of any goods and services, whatever the value. My Department spent €194,623 in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: On 14 January, I published the Government's new Public Service Reform Plan for 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...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners was granted sanction on 24 October 2012 to fill critical posts up to the limit of its end 2013 Employment Control Framework ceiling of 5,874 WTE, which included additional Local Property Tax (LPT)-related posts (reduced to 5,748 WTE for end 2014). It is a condition of this sanction that Revenue must refer to the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Public works contracts must be awarded on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria.  Different criteria are applied at the pre-qualification stage to those at the award stage with pre-qualification criteria designed to assess the capacity of applicants and tenderers to deliver the project in question.  Their capacity is typically assessed by criteria set out under the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under EU Directives on public procurement 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. For works contracts the threshold is €5.186 million; for supplies and service contracts awarded by Government Departments the threshold is €134,000 and for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As I am not the Minister with responsibility for issues in the aviation sector, I am not in a position to comment on negotations, if any, on matters arising in that sector.  In general however, the Trustees of the pension scheme, who are central to any solution of any funding difficulties in relation to a pension scheme, are required by law to act in the best interests of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Housing Issues (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The 2014 Estimate for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government sets out an allocation of €575.8 million for a range of social and affordable housing programmes.  In addition, a capital carryover amount of €22 million was approved for housing related expenditure. As set out in the Ministers and Secretaries Amendment Act 2013,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Housing Issues (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Extensive discussions took place with my colleagues in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in the context of the 2014 Estimates  resulting in an  allocation for 2014  of €575.8 million for  a  range of social and affordable housing programmes.   In addition, a capital carryover amount of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Update (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As set out in the Government's new Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016, Public Service Reform has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the Government's overall recovery strategy. From 2009 to 2013, there was a reduction in gross voted expenditure of 13.5%. Staff numbers have been reduced by around 32,000 or 10% since 2008 and the paybill was...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Growth Initiatives (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to my response on 22 January, 2014 to Parliamentary Question No. 91, and my response on 21 November, 2013 to Parliamentary Question No. 23.  As I outlined in those responses, I am satisfied that the Croke Park Agreement delivered on its objectives by facilitating significant cost savings amounting to €1.8 billion over its lifetime, with the vast majority...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Data (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 107 and 109 together. On the issues raised by the Deputy regarding pay bill trends over time and the scale of the numbers reductions across different Government Departments and agencies I refer the Deputy, in the first instance, to my Department's web site, at .  Here the Deputy will find comprehensive data on all Government Departments on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The scope and content of the State Assets Disposal Programme was agreed by Government in February 2012. No additional State assets are under consideration for inclusion in the State Assets Disposal Programme at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Departments and Offices should make every effort to contain and reduce all administrative costs including both insurance and procurement costs. This approach underpins the current programme of reform of public procurement and is one of the major projects of key strategic importance in the Government's Public Service Reform Plan. Procurement of supplies and services accounts for around...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Audit Issues (27 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Audit Committees are an important part of the governance framework in departments and offices and the functions and contribution of audit committees are key in providing assurance to Accounting Officers regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of departmental internal control systems and procedures. In the context of their internal audit arrangements, each Department and Office is required...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Information and Communications Technology Issues (27 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The deadline referred to in this question relates to the expiration of support for some Microsoft software systems, including Windows XP, in use across a number of Government agencies.  Responsibility for the delivery of their computing services rests with each organisation.  With regard to the product suite in question organisations have the option of upgrading to a more...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (27 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The individual transactions in the State assets disposal programme are subject to open and competitive processes that fully reflect, inter alia, the value of any  land and/or properties connected with the businesses  being disposed of and for which title is being transferred as part of the transaction.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I understand the Deputy's point and he made it forcibly on Second Stage. I have no resistance to the point. The allowance is for the party and not for the party leader. My job is to ensure the payment is accountable. The legislation contains accountability measures which make the party leader responsible. A person must be designated to be accountable and it needs to be the person who...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy has more experience than I in this area.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: He was formerly his party's-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I was not going to raise that matter.