Results 8,861-8,880 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (25 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for workforce planning and recruitment to the Civil Service. In Budget 2015, I was pleased to be able to announce that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills commencing in late 2014 and continuing during...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (25 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Public Service Reform is a key element of the Government's overall strategy for recovery. The reforms delivered over the past four years have enabled us to maintain and improve public services in the face of the necessary reduction in staff numbers and budgets, at a time of increased demand for public services. A new Public Service Reform Plan was published in January 2014 and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (25 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government announced a programme of State asset disposals in February 2012, as agreed in the Programme for Government. That programme has now effectively been brought to completion, with the exception of the possible sale of the Government's remaining shareholding in Aer Lingus - which is a matter that is currently being considered by the Inter...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (25 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In answer to the Deputy's question in so far as can be determined my Department does not have any contracts with the named individual's businesses or subsidiaries.  I can confirm that the information sought by the Deputy is not collected by my Department as part of a procurement process. While my Department holds information in relation to contracts awarded by it, it is not required to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Policy (24 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In recent years this Government has implemented a programme of reforms to improve the State's budgetary architecture and to bring greater transparency and efficiency to the allocation and spending of public money.  Key elements of these reforms include the introduction of multi-annual expenditure ceilings, regular comprehensive reviews of public expenditure, and the performance...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (24 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply on the 18 February 2015 to Parliamentary Question Number 7341. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (24 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I would refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 70 of the 11th March 2015 which sets out the background to the proposed changes to the pension scheme and pension contributions for staff in North South bodies including Waterways Ireland. Pension levies to private companies do not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Requests (24 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Under the provisions of Freedom of Information legislation, the decision-making and internal review functions of requests processed within my Department are formally delegated to departmental officials at Assistant Principal Officer and Principal Officer level and their decisions on Freedom of Information requests are binding. The Secretary General of my Department has no role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Data (24 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The exact level of expenditure that relates to public procurement for 2014 is not as yet available. However, based on previous years the State spends approximately €12 billion per annum on the procurement of goods, works and services.  More exact data will be available shortly. It is not part of my Department's remit to monitor the implementation of employment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (24 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There is one remaining vacancy on the interim board of the Office of Public Procurement that is to be filled by the appointment of a suitably qualified and experienced external person. Applications for this position were sought through the Public Appointments Service and I am considering an appointment. The following areas of expertise were indicated as being of particular interest for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (24 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I have welcomed the formation of the Alliance of Retired Public Servants (ARPS) and have met with representatives of that body on a number of occasions. I am aware of the concerns raised regarding the imposition of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) and the application of the Universal Social Charge (USC) to pensions. I have indicated to ARPS that it is my...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Training (12 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy may wish to note that the development of an overarching strategy for training across the civil service, including language training, is a key action under the Civil Service Renewal Plan and as such is a key priority for my Department. The Plan includes a commitment to establish a new shared model for delivering learning and development. As part of this action it is intended to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Policy (11 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Over the last few years, this Government has delivered wide-ranging reforms to the budgetary architecture that have enhanced how we manage the public finances.  The reforms are informed by the core principle that a more open and transparent process, allowing for clearer accountability and oversight, supports the efficient use of public funds to deliver effective services for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (11 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I have introduced twenty pieces of legislation since the formation of my Department which include: 1. Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 2. Appropriation Act 2011 3. Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Act 2011 4. Statute Law Revision Act 2012 5. Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (11 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Waterways Ireland, like the other North South Implementation Bodies including Tourism Ireland, operates the North South Pension Scheme.  It is useful to make clear that the North South Pension Scheme, which is modelled on the Northern Ireland Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, was established to operate in both jurisdictions.   As such this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (10 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Public Service superannuation schemes are funded on a pay as you go basis and therefore my Department does not have the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (10 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme provides that an individual's sick leave record will be reviewed over a four-year period in order to determine how much paid sick leave they have access to.  Reviewing sick leave over a period of four years has operated as a flexible way of providing support to employees during periods of illness. The alternative approach...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (10 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service and recruitment competitions are conducted in accordance with the Commission for Public Service (CPSA) Codes of Practice. Recruitment is conducted by way of competitive, fair, merit based selection processes. In such processes,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Teachers' Remuneration (10 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There are two measures which currently underpin public service pay and pensions policy: the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts (or FEMPI) and the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA).  The HRA, in the Government's view, sets the parameters for pay policy in the public service  until July 2016.  The pay and conditions of teachers come within the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Levy (10 Mar 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply on 18 February 2015 to Parliamentary Question No. 62.  The position remains unchanged.