Results 8,921-8,940 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that my Department, and the Offices under my aegis, have little or no direct contact with members of the public. Despite this, it is a well-established policy of my Department that all officers supply their names in any dealings with the public. I would have no objection to this idea but consultations with my colleagues, staff and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sick Leave Entitlement (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together. The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme came into effect for the generality of the Public Service on 31st March 2014 and for the Education Sector on 1 September 2014.  Under the Sick Leave Scheme, public servants have access to the following paid sick leave a maximum of 92 days (3 months) on full pay in a rolling...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: International Agreements (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 265 together. The Government's priorities in returning stability to the public finances, have been to meet fiscal targets while also ensuring that economic recovery is supported and the most vulnerable in society are protected.  This approach to economic and fiscal policy, through maintaining an acceptable social safety net...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: International Agreements (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently in the process of compiling a Response to the List of Issues drawn up by the United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights in relation to the third periodic examination of Ireland under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) which is scheduled to take place in June 2015.  They...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Pensions (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The following table contains the pension amounts payable to former Officeholders in 2014. I would like to advise that, in certain cases, the pension amounts shown do not reflect the actual amount of pension in payment where an individual is 'gifting' all or part of their pension to the State, or where a pension is subject to certain provisions of the Family Law Acts.  It is the policy...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I thank both Senators for raising this issue. I undertook to reflect on the very coherent case that was made in this regard on Committee Stage. Certainly, the intent as set out by Senator Mullen coincides with the intent of the Government in this regard. While I was confident in the position I set out during the Committee Stage debate, I agreed - ar eagla na heagla and for the avoidance of...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Senator for his kind comment about my own performance. Unfortunately, he punctured it a bit by going on to say that somehow I never accept amendments. That is not my form.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is a culture that is not exercised by me, as even a cursory examination of my record will show. I come in here with an open mind. I have had good ideas in Opposition that were seldom accepted. In the 1990s, I spent some time as my party's spokesperson on justice and produced very good legislation on a Garda ombudsman and a Garda authority, all of which was voted down. I knew go...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Could I make a brief comment on amendment No. 2?

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It has indeed.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I have indicated to Senator Mullen that I believe the amendment as crafted is not acceptable because it would do more damage to the Bill. I think the Senator understands that. I have been talking to my officials about whether we could accommodate the essence of the amendment by way of regulation. I would like to make an offer to the Senator before he decides whether to call a vote on this...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I withdraw my offer.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The regulations cannot be drawn up until both Houses have enacted the Bill. The notion that we could not deal with Second Stage until I had draft regulations is impossible. That is the conditionality. I am trying to accommodate the Senator-----

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: -----but obviously the offer of accommodation has not been accepted.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am suggesting this minor technical amendment to provide clarity around the provision of section 12(4)(f). Section 12(4) of the Bill details the information lobbyists must supply in the returns to the registrar on a tri-annual basis - that is, every four months. Section 12(4)(f) states that the lobbyists must include in the returns "the name of each person who is or has been a designated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parliamentary Party Allowances (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 to 83, inclusive, together. The Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader's Allowance) is provided for under the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938 as amended, most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices)(Amendment) Act 2014.Provision for payment of the allowance to Independent TDs was...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Programmes (18 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: One of the twelve Guiding Principles of Quality Customer Service in the Civil Service is that Departments and Offices "take a proactive approach in providing information that is clear, timely and accurate" and "continue the drive for simplification of rules, regulations, forms, information leaflets and procedures".  In this context, my Department's Customer...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (18 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The most recent estimated figures available to me, from April 2014, indicate that the total membership of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme at that time, was just over 22,000.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (18 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is understood that the measure to which the Deputy's question refers is the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), which came into effect on 1 January 2011 by way of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010, and which has since been amended via the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Act 2011 and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation Office (17 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 240 together. The Valuation (Amendment)(No.2) Bill 2012 is progressing through the Oireachtas. It had its Second Stage reading in the Dáil on 12th February 2015, having been passed by the Seanad on 20th November 2014. I expect that the Bill will proceed to Dáil Committee Stage in early March.   The Government introduced...