Results 7,381-7,400 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Ireland's Stability Programme Update April 2016: Statements (27 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: Money allocated to deal with flooding, for example.

Ireland's Stability Programme Update April 2016: Statements (27 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: The reforms to the Stability and Growth Pact, implemented as part of the obscurely named two pack of EU regulations, require member states to publish, no later than 30 April each year, their national medium-term fiscal plans in accordance with their medium-term budgetary framework. These plans are a central element of the intensified surveillance at EU-level of the conduct of national fiscal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (27 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: It is estimated that the cost of the 2016 Seanad election could be around €3m, building in a contingency for the possibility of extra candidates, increased postal costs and the cost of venue hire for the count.  There has been no expenditure returned to date. The final certified accounts after an election would not normally be available until around 6 months after the holding of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Levy (27 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: On 16 June last year, I announced proposals to restore, on a phased basis, most of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) cuts which were applied to public service pensions under financial emergency legislation.  The PSPR applies at differentiated rates to the pensions of all retired public servants including members of An Garda Síochána. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Levy (26 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: A review of the public service Pension-related Deduction (PRD) was conducted last year and its application was ameliorated to reflect the improved fiscal environment. Specifically, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI)Act 2015  increases the threshold before PRD applies on a phased basisfrom €15,000 as applied up to 2015 to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (26 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: Unions representing CE Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors have sought the provision of Exchequer funding to implement a Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme dating back to 2008. In this regard the position has remained that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme to employees of private companies even if those...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Implementation (26 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: The Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) reached in 2013 provided for a range of cost-saving measures to the public payroll, including a series of deferred increments for public servants depending on salary level. For those earning between €35,000 and €65,000, section 2.19 of the Agreement provided for two three month increment pauses, i.e. increments would...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts Data (26 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) wishes to advise that this specific tender process (mini competition) is currently live and under evaluation.  Therefore the OGP cannot comment on this process at this juncture.  The mini competition is being carried out following on from a National Framework Agreement which was awarded in August 2015. The OGP confirms that the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Living Wage (26 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 2086/16 of 19 January 2016. 

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (26 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: In relation to the employment of people with disabilities in the Public Service, Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets a 3% target for such employment and this is monitored on an annual basis by the National Disability Authority (NDA).  In its latest published report for 2014, the NDA reported that the proportion of staff with disabilities in the public service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (21 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: Unions representing CE Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors have sought the provision of Exchequer funding to implement a Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme dating back to 2008. In this regard the position has remained that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme to employees of private companies even if those...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: General Elections Expenditure (20 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: Having regard to the cost of the 2011 general election €29m, it is estimated that the cost of the 2016 election could be around €29m.  The final certified accounts after an election would not normally be available until around 6 months after the holding of the election poll. To date €14m has been advanced to Returning Officers whose costs include staff costs and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (20 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: Public procurement in Ireland is governed by International, EU and National Law and National Guidelines.  The EU Treaty principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination, transparency, mutual recognition, proportionality, free movement of goods and services and the right of establishment must be observed on all tenders.  The main purpose of the EU public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (20 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: The Government is keen to explore the scope for including social clauses in public contracts were they are suited to the objective of the contract and therefore would have the greatest impact.  In this context, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is examining social clauses with a view to assessing where they can be deployed to contribute to employment or training...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (20 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: In answer to the Deputy's question the following table details all members appointed to State Boards, agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department in 2015.  There were no appointments made in 2016. Year Board Name of Board Member Region* 2015 Public Appointments Service Ms. Oonagh McPhillips Dublin 2015 Public Appointments Service Mr. Damien McCallion Connaught 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (20 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: Public expenditure has been managed in line with key fiscal targets over the last number of years with Ireland on track to be assessed as exiting the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact at the end of 2015. Managing the delivery of public services within Budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and their Department, and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (20 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: The OGP and its partner sector sourcing organisations in Health, Education, Local Government and Defence have enabled procurement savings estimated at €162m over 2013, 2014 and 2015. Additional direct and indirect benefits attributable to the new model arise from cost avoidance, reduced administration overhead and improved specifications.  Increasing the application of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Update (20 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: Public Service Reform was a key element of the Government's response to the crisis and our strategy for recovery.  The reforms we implemented over the past five years enabled us to maintain and improve public services in the face of the necessary reduction in staff numbers and budgets, at a time of increased demand for public services.  Significant progress...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (14 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: It is democracy.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts Data (14 Apr 2016)

Brendan Howlin: The Office of Government Procurement wishes to advise that this tender process is currently live and under evaluation.  Therefore the Office of Government Procurement cannot comment on this process at this juncture.