Results 8,641-8,660 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Growth (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Between 2009 and 2014, gross voted expenditure was reduced from a peak of just over €63 billion to €54 billion. In implementing expenditure reductions the Government was conscious of the need to balance the requirement to return the public finances to stability with creating the conditions necessary for sustained economic growth and job creation. In Budget 2015, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Transport Infrastructure (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. Ministerial responsibility for the Transport, Tourism and Sport areas, rests with my colleagues Paschal Donohoe T.D Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport. Accordingly, the Deputy may think it appropriate to table a question for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in regard to the provision of infrastructure for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Policy (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As outlined in the Spring Economic Statement (SES), it is the Government's intention to hold a National Economic Dialogue in July of this year.  This dialogue will be held over two days. The precise arrangements for the dialogue are being finalised by my Department and the Department of Finance. I am committed to  ensuring that the process is as open and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cycling Facilities Funding (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. Ministerial responsibility for all tourism policy, promotion and development matters,  including the development of greenways, resides with my colleague Paschal Donohoe T.D Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport. As I have no role or function in this matter, the Deputy may think it appropriate to table a question for my colleague, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: NAMA Operations (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) is a public body as defined in Section 6 of the FOI Act 2014, other than in relation to the records of the body detailed in Schedule 1 Part 1 para (x) of the Act. In general, the FOI Act came into operation 6 months following its enactment in the case of a public body such as NAMA, that was not subject to FOI under the 1997 Act but is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Social clauses in contracts encourage suppliers to perform actions focussed on broader policy considerations.  EU law leaves the Member States the option to take social considerations into account provided the general principles of EU law, i.e. the free movement provisions and the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination, mutual recognition, proportionality and transparency, are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As I have already outlined, following consultation with my Government colleagues, I issued an invitation to the representative organisations for public servants to enter discussions with public service management. Those discussions have commenced today, and I am sure that the Deputy will understand, in the circumstances, my reluctance to seem to engage in any negotiations in public. When the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Aer Lingus Sale (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Government's Inter-Departmental Steering Group and its advisers have continued their engagement with IAG, focusing on the key issues of concern to the Government as set out in the statement by the Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport on 24thFebruary. These include: - Legally binding, permanent commitments on the Heathrow slots and term-based commitments on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware from my previous response that the information sought is not collected by my Department and would not be collected by contracting authorities as part of a procurement process. Whilst individual contracting authorities in the public and utilities sectors would hold information in relation to contracts awarded by them, they are not required to collect the details of all...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Shared Services (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The National Shared Services Office within my Department is leading shared service strategy and implementation of Shared Services projects within the overall Reform and Renewal context.  It is responsible for the delivery of Civil Service Shared Service projects and the operation of Civil Service Shared Service Centres. As part of its wider leadership role, the Office provides support to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The reform programme, as set out in the 2011 Public Service Reform Plan, and its successor the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016, adopts a whole-of-Government approach to reforming our public services across all sectors, including health, education, justice and local government, as well as the Civil Service.  The Reform and Delivery Office (RDO) in my Department monitors the progress...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (12 May 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: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Office is currently undertaking a systematic programme of revaluing, for rates purposes, all industrial and commercial properties in the State on a rating authority area basis. The purpose of revaluation is to bring more equity, fairness and transparency into the local authority rating system and to distribute the commercial rates liability more equitably between ratepayers....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Agencies (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to the Report on the Implementation of the Agency Rationalisation Programme which is published on my Department's web site.  The Report provides information on what has been achieved in reducing the number of state bodies as set out in the 2011 Public Service Reform Plan, including savings. The Report  based on information provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Remit (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government committed to extending Freedom of Information, and the Ombudsman Act, to ensure that all statutory bodies, and all bodies significantly funded from the public purse, are covered.  Following the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014 and on the basis of the enactment of the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act, 2012, this is now being achieved....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Records (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments focused on delivering greater Civil Service accountability including that of keeping a record of Ministerial involvement with an issue and resulting decisions.    The Civil Service Renewal Plan, which integrated the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Update (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Civil Service Renewal Plan was published in October last year. There are 25 major actions in this three year Plan which is focused on building on the strengths of the Civil Service and ensuring that the capacity and capability is enhanced to meet future challenges and to deliver excellent service. Since the publication of the Renewal Plan, the focus has been on ensuring that the six...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that currently the state boards and agencies under my remit have quorate and active boards.  I am not aware of any boards or agencies presently unable to function because they do not have sufficient members appointed for a quorum.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The World Economic Forum's Global Competiveness Report referred to by the Deputy is an interesting document that contains a number of comparative indices including the 'Overall Quality of Infrastructure'.  This shows Ireland's ranking as on par with other highly developed economies.  Based on this index, Ireland ranks well above average and has improved significantly...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that Wexford County Council recently announced that Duncannon Fort has been temporarily closed due to health and safety issues. I note that the Deputy asked my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht a similar question in relation to Duncannon Fort recently.  She explained that while part of the site is under her guardianship under the National...