Results 7,601-7,620 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (19 Jan 2016)

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

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy (14 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Question Reference No. 44000/15  of 9 December 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Communications (14 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question 1890 numbers were introduced with the intention of reducing call costs for members of the public to Government agencies.  At that time they were implemented by a large number of public bodies.  Primarily people used landlines to contact agencies and these calls were charged at local rates.  Mobile phone usage became more prevalent and mobile...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Data (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: The reform of the procurement system across the public service is a key element of the reform programme for the public service.   Reform of Public Procurement is being carried out in a manner that recognises the importance of SMEs and is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement and the opportunities presenting. While there is no data...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: For public servants other than those who are members of the 2013-commenced Single Public Service Pension Scheme, responsibility for occupational pension terms and any maximum or compulsory retirement ages in particular sectors in general lies with the relevant employer, pension administrator or Government Department in the first instance. I understand that public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Remuneration (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: The following tables set out the current salary rates applicable to Members of the Oireachtas, together with the rates of the additional allowances payable to certain Officeholders in both Houses of the Oireachtas. Dáil Éireann Officeholder Position TD's Salary Officeholder Allowance Total Taoiseach €87,258 €98,092 €185,350 Tánaiste €87,258...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the table below outlines the names of people I have nominated to serve in positions carrying remuneration other than out of pocket expenses or commissions, industrial, assurance, Semi-State or other similar concerns and the amounts received annually in respect of each appointment since 2011.  Name Board Dates served Fees paid Eddie Sullivan (Chair)...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the table below outlines the number of annual subscriptions to external membership bodies in my Department for 2015.   Description Number of subscriptions Annual cost Association of Chartered Certified Accountants 5 €1,002.39 Chartered Accountants Ireland 1 €565.00 Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors 2 €1,602.61...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the cost to my Department of annual subscriptions to newspapers or magazines during 2015 was €22,379.  The publications received were: The Irish Times; Irish Independent; Financial Times; Irish Examiner; The Guardian; The Farmers Journal; Business and Finance.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the table below outlines the annual cost of advertising in my Department during 2015. Type of media used Description Amount Newspaper advertising Advertisements for  expressions of interest for appointments to a panel of appeal officers to review certain decisions made by the Standards in Public Office Commission in relation to the Regulation of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parental Leave (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: As part of my responsibilities as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for the terms and conditions of employment of public servants.  However, specific policies relating to parental leave in each of the sectors of the public service, other than the civil service, are dealt with by the appropriate responsible Minister. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Disability Act Employment Targets (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets a 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector. The National Disability Authority (NDA) reports annually on compliance with this target. In its latest published report for 2013, the NDA reported that the proportion of staff with disabilities in the public service exceeded the 3% target for the third...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Update (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: I note the correspondence the Deputy received from PeopleTalk in relation to public sector reform and citizen empowerment. I understand that PeopleTalk seeks to rebuild trust in public life and give citizens a say in public sector reform and I welcome any proposals that strengthen the voice of citizens, particularly at local level.   As the Deputy will be aware, rebuilding...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware from my answer to her previous PQ on this matter (ref; 33509/15), the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent centralised provider of professional recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service. The initiation of an inter-departmental or open recruitment campaign for any particular civil service grade is determined by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Management (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: A number of human resource policies applicable in the civil service provide for procedures for employees who consider themselves unfairly treated (e.g. grievance, dignity at work etc.). I understand that equivalent policies are in place on a sectorial basis throughout the public service.  If the matter of concern raised by a public servant amounts to a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Living Wage (13 Jan 2016)

Brendan Howlin: It is important that Ireland's statutory National Minimum Wage and the Living Wage concept are not conflated. The Living Wage is a voluntary societal initiative centred on the social, business and economic case to ensure that, wherever it can be afforded, employers will pay a rate of pay that provides an income that is sufficient to meet an individual's basic needs, such as housing, food,...

Presentation of Estimates: Motion (17 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I move:That, notwithstanding Standing Order 159 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business, Revised Estimates for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December 2016 be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members and be referred to Select Committees or sub-Committees, as appropriate, pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(c) and (6)(a) and 159(3)...

Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: And the Deputy’s demise.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Referendum Expenditure (17 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Marriage Equality Referendum was held on the same day, 22nd May 2015, as the Referendum on Age of Eligibility for election to the Office of President and the Bye-election in Carlow-Kilkenny. Returning Officers are required to submit their accounts  for these election events to the Minister for Finance not later than six months after the date on which the poll was taken. Final checks...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (17 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: From 2009 to 2014, through a mix of direct reductions in pay,  the moratorium on recruitment and productivity measures, the cost to the Exchequer of public service pay was reduced by €3.7 billion, or more than 21%. Pay reduction measures  under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts included the imposition of the Pension Related...