Results 7,701-7,720 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (1 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the table outlines the number of staff under my remit who are classified under contracts of indefinite duration and who are receiving incremental salary payments. Organisation Number of staff Incremental salary payments Public Appointments Service 1 Yes Special  EU Programmes Body 7 Yes The Valuation Office 3 Yes I am informed by the...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That is not true in the first place.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: This has nothing to do with the amendments.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It was 40%.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: They do not have to report anything. It is the lobbyist who must report.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: This is a difficult set of amendments to which to respond because not only were many of the contributions not germane to the amendments, they were not even germane to the Bill. Senators spoke with passion, but some of the issues raised were well outside the remit of my ministry. However, I will do my best to address them. I will begin in a pedestrian manner by speaking to the amendments....

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: No, not what was foregone. However, from the date of the ending of the emergency and the certification of that, there will be full restoration. I was mindful of that when early this year I set about negotiating an orderly unwinding rather than a sudden unwinding, which would be catastrophic for the State. The cost of losing the measures that are implicit in the FEMPI suite of legislation...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: On €35,000, one currently has a deduction of €2,280. At the end of this period, it will be a deduction of €600. I can go through the entire scale but at the other end of it, for example, €165,000, which is an extraordinary pension, one will still be paying €30,280 in a pension deduction at that stage.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: On €40,000, one is currently paying €2,280 and that will fall to €1,200. On €60,000, one is currently paying €5,280 and that will fall to €3,600. It ratchets up the further one goes up the scale. I can provide the full table to the Members.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I do not have a time-line for that. What we have done is focus on what could be afforded in the time-line that I have. I do not wish to stray into even more dangerous territory but the expenditure that we have signed up for already for next year has generated some controversy, with people saying we are profligate in our spending. As it happens, I was the guest at a dinner last night of the...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I will not make any commitments-----

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That will be a matter for whoever follows me in this office. A number of Senators raised the issue of councillors. I am well beyond my competences here but councillors, like everybody else, will benefit from the PRD abatement.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is because we are moving the threshold.The threshold is going up from €15,000 to €17,500 so under this arrangement no income below €17,500 would be subject to the pension-related deduction, PRD. Since the basic rate for councillors is currently €16,250 councillors are below the €17,500 threshold and no PRD would be taken from their base allowance. Some...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Senator is opening a very large debate there, and I understand there is an informality here, but this is not a payment into a pension it is a pension-related deduction. Under the Act any public servant, including those who are not paying into a pension scheme, are captured by it. It has been tested repeatedly in the courts and I have very little flexibility in this without threatening...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That is the hourly rate. The problem is not the rate, the problem is the lack of hours which needs to be addressed.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: With regard to this legislation, and from my perspective, that is not something we can compensate for by boosting the hourly rate. To do that would dislodge the symmetry between people working full time and people working a number of hours, but I hear the point the Senator makes.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: With respect if I am completely out of order, but none of this has anything to do with the amendments we are debating. On the basis of the fact that such latitude was given to people to make the case-----

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Yes. However, with regard to the issues themselves and how they are dealt with, what is being asked in essence is that nobody above €65,000 should get a cent back, despite the solemn agreement negotiated with the trade union movement. I do not think the consequences of that have been thought through. For example, principals and deputy principals in secondary schools and some primary...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That would be a disastrous path to follow. It might sound populist but if it collapsed the possibility of staffing our public hospitals would be ruinous. That is why I oppose these amendments.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I will do my best to bring Senator Craughwell on the final leg of the journey to be with me at the end.