Results 8,501-8,520 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Correspondence (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I regret the delay in issuing a final reply to your representations. Unfortunately, this occurred because the issues raised  on behalf of the organisation involved crossed a number of areas of responsibility. The question of the availability of financial assistance would be a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Referendum Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Referendums on Marriage Equality and Age of Eligibility for election to the Office of President together with the Bye-election in Carlow-Kilkenny were held on 22nd May 2015. 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 and so the final cost of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: A substantial review of the effectiveness and efficiency of Ireland's current Ethics framework has been completed by my Department, including consideration of the recommendations of the Mahon and Moriarty Tribunals and other relevant recommendations, as well as international best practice. Development of the Heads of a General Scheme for a comprehensive, reformed and modernised...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I have held no meetings in my Department in relation to the recommendations in the Moriarty Tribunal Report. However, the one recommendation in the Moriarty Tribunal Report directly relevant to my Department's area of responsibility is among the matters considered in the context of the substantial review of the effectiveness and efficiency of Ireland's current Ethics framework recently...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 300 together. The Ireland Wales Co-Operation Programme has a total value of approximately €100 million over the period 2014-2020.  It will support projects with partners in both Ireland and Wales focussing on activities across three priority areas:  - Priority Axis 1: Cross Border Innovation - Priority Axis 2: Adaptation of the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The position as set out in my response to question 12377/14 remains. I have not had any other meetings with the person nor with any senior executives within the person's media companies.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability and Growth Pact (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Spring Economic Statement (SES) and the corresponding Stability Programme Update (SPU) outlined that fiscal space of the order of €1.2 to €1.5 billion is expected to be available for Budget 2016. The fiscal projections contained in those publications are based on a technical assumption of a budgetary package of €1.2 billion in 2016 which will be split evenly between...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget Targets (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Fiscal Council noted that the provision of indicative fiscal space for the forthcoming Budget was a welcome development in terms of fiscal transparency.  Indeed, this sets the scene for the National Economic Dialogue to be held next month.  The post-2016 forecasts in the Stability Programme Update and the Spring Economic Statement reflect an increase in expenditure of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together. I refer to my reply on 9 June 2015 to Parliamentary Question No. 368.  The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Rialacháin Stocaireachta (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Mar a luaigh mé cheana, is é an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí atá freagrach as cur chun feidhme an gClár Brústocaireachta 2015.  Forálann Alt 9 den Acht go ndéanfaidh an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí an gClár Brústocaireachta a bhunú agus a choimeád ar bun. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Seirbhísi trí Ghaeilge (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Mar a luaigh mé cheana, is é an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí atá freagrach as cur chun feidhme an gClár Brústocaireachta 2015.Forálann Alt 9 den Acht go ndéanfaidh an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí an gClár Brústocaireachta a bhunú agus a choimeád ar bun.  Deireann Acht...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Redeployment (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Redeployment is designed to deal with a situation where surplus staff have been identified due to rationalisation, reorganisation, reconfiguration and restructuring of civil and public service organisations  In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am responsible for the legal and policy framework governing redeployment between public bodies.  The changes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Redeployment (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Civil Service Renewal Plan, published in October 2014, includes a commitment to expand career and mobility opportunities for staff across geographic, organisational and sectoral boundaries. The Renewal Plan contains 25 actions and it is intended that all actions will be completed within three years. Implementation has commenced with the establishment of the Civil Service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There are 14 staff in my Department who are currently on a sabbatical/career break.  The duration of leave currently availed off can be broken down as follows: Length of Leave of Absence Number of Staff 0 - 6 months 2 6 - 12 months 4 1 - 2 years 1 2 - 3 years 2 3 - 4 years 5 4 - 5 years 0 5 years plus 0 Total 14

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that the engagement of service providers by my Department operates within the parameters of value for money; where possible, every effort is 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.  The following...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Relations Contracts Data (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question, I can confirm that with the exception of the Office of Public Works, the services of a public relations firm have not been engaged by my Department since its formation in 2011.  The appointment of service providers by my Department operates within the parameters of value for money and where possible every effort is made to minimise costs.  In...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The information sought is as follows: Year Amount 2011 €0 2012 €30,750 2013 €164,608 2014 €478,514 2015 €270,801

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parliamentary Questions (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together. I can confirm that I am satisfied with the way Parliamentary Questions are replied to in my Department.  Individual sections provide me with briefings and draft responses in advance of deadlines so I can personally review each question until I am satisfied that a full and comprehensive response is being given. There have been some...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: My Department awards contracts for IT consultancy following requests for tenders advertised on the public procurement website, . These are typically awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous of the tenders received. My Department was established in June 2011. While no contracts for external IT consultants have been renegotiated since then, all new contracts have been...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies (16 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members in 2011.  Under the new arrangements, Departments now invite expressions of interest from the public on their websites for vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis. It is open to all members of the public regardless of gender, political affiliations or geographical...