Results 7,821-7,840 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Data (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, organisational size, etc. and there are legal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I can assure the Deputy that my Department is aware of the recent Judgement of the European Court of Justice in the case to which her question refers. This, and other relevant jurisprudence of the Court, will be taken into full consideration during the detailed legal drafting of the Data Sharing and Governance Bill, which my Department intends to undertake shortly in conjunction with Advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am satisfied that appropriate processes are in place for monitoring implementation of the Government's capital investment plans consistent with the accountability framework in place relating to public expenditure.  While my Department is responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments, the management and delivery of individual...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The issue of pensions provision for the former employees of Waterford Crystal who were not of pensionable age at the time of the wind up of the company pension schemes in March 2009 is a matter for the Department of Social Protection and I understand that Department is providing an answer to a similar question today.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 78, 80 to 82, inclusive, and 84 and 85 together. The broad programme of measures delivered in the area of public expenditure and public sector reform has and undoubtedly will continue to support sustainable economic growth and improved competitiveness. For example, creating the necessary conditions to encourage growth in employment has been a key...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Housing Provision (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is important to note that any funding that might be available using the mechanisms referred to in the Deputy's question would not meet the criteria necessary to potentially qualify as 'off balance sheet' in General Government terms.  As such it would not provide any additional funding capacity for further Exchequer expenditure without equivalent...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Procurement Reform Programme has been successful in establishing new structures for procurement across the State and bringing increased levels of collaboration and consistency to public service procurement.  There are now teams in place dedicated to sourcing goods and services at a whole-of-government level in key expenditure areas such as facilities management, legal services, ICT,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: 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 of commitments around reform being delivered.  This was a view shared by the Implementation Body in their final report. As part of the measures required to repair the Government finances and meet...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In the initial stages of the capital review process, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform consulted with each individual Department  requesting submission documents outlining capital pressures over the next 6/7 years. On foot of this, Departments and agencies with sectoral responsibilities conducted their own detailed assessments of demand requirements to inform their...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In my Expenditure Statement for2015, I announced that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the civil service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills consistent with the maintenance of strict control over public service number and pay budgets. This programme commenced in late 2014, is continuing in 2015 and includes a number...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question Numbers 23828, 23829 and 23830 of 16th June regarding the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 to 2016 where I undertook to have my Department compile relevant data and write to you in relation to same. The relevant data was forwarded to the Deputy by way of letter on the 20th of July 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As I explained during the debates at Committee and Report Stages of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015 the Government will adhere in full to its commitments under the Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road Agreements. Therefore the issue of additional reductions in pay, and changes to working terms and conditions for public service workers does not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Grades (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Civil Service Renewal Plan recognises the clear need to continue to increase female participation at senior levels in the Civil Service.  To this end, the Renewal Plan contains a commitment to improve gender balance at each level by reviewing supports and policies to ensure these are impactful and measurable.  This work has commenced and is now a key project under the Plan....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question no legislation has been introduced by my Department that contained a provision to amend the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose towards another specific purpose.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy knows that is not true.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Only the third cut. The Deputy is allergic to facts.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: They will be able to avail of those terms in full.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: On Deputy Seamus Healy's point, I have made clear my undertaking to honour any agreement entered into by the Government with the trade union movement and public sector workers. We will honour the Croke Park agreement, the Haddington Road agreement and the Lansdowne Road agreement in full. Nobody will be excluded. The Deputy is correct that the Haddington Road agreement runs until the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: This legislation sends an important signal to the public service generally and acknowledges the contribution workers in that sector have made to our recovery. I expect people to be pleasantly surprised by the measures contained in the Bill because I am not sure everybody has fully understood the benefit they will receive next year. As I said, I hope to be in a position to explain the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: My predecessor did not negotiate.