Results 9,041-9,060 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am glad to report a number of very positive developments in the operation of FOI that have been brought about since the new FOI Act came into force on 14 October 2014. - The upfront FOI application fee was abolished immediately following enactment.  This was accompanied by a significant re-design of the search and retrieval fees regime allowing for up to five...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: With regard to revising the public service pension related deduction, it is a progressively structured reduction to the pay of pensionable public servants ensuring that those on higher remuneration rates are impacted more adversely than those on lower pay. Given the amounts raised every year, it is therefore a critical component of the public service pay and pension...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The procurement reform programme is an important element of the Government's overall reform agenda and is tasked with delivering increased value for money, more accurate and timely data and improvement in the capacity and capability of procurement across the public service. The new model for procurement was approved by the Government in September 2012, with common goods and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As I have already said, in the event that the public service unions make a pay claim as they have indicated that they will, the Government will enter into discussions with them on successor arrangements to Haddington Road and the gradual wind down of the financial emergency (FEMPI) Acts. In this regard I have indicated that my preference is to have the first quarter...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of Assets (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The original programme of State asset disposals agreed by Government included -The sale of Bord Gais Eireann's Energy business; -The sale of some of ESB's non-strategic power generation capacity; -Consideration of the sale of some assets of Coillte, but excluding its land; and -The sale of the State's remaining shareholding in Aer Lingus, at the right time, for the right price and under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that 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 nature of the Financial Emergency Measures legislation is that the powers granted by the Oireachtas under the legislation are temporary in nature and are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In 2014, my Department carried out the second Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. The purpose of this exercise was to establish the Government's expenditure priorities for the coming years, and to then allocate expenditure ceilings across Government Departments accordingly. This process, which involved engagement with the public and other Government Departments,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As I have previously advised the House, the Moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service was introduced in 2009 in response to the severe economic and fiscal challenges faced by the country at that time. As a policy device it was very successful, reducing public service numbers by some 10%, with savings of over €3 billion.  This made a very important contribution to the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The public service Pension-related Deduction (PRD), referred to as "the pension levy" in the Deputy's question, was introduced in March 2009 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. The Exchequer yield from PRD since its inception up to 2014 is as follows. Year PRD Yield (€ million) 2009 837.419 2010 948.605 2011 960.224 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 61 to 64, inclusive, together. While Ireland is no longer subject to the Troika programme having successfully exited the EU-IMF programme of financial support in December 2013, there remain the annual deficit ceilings set out in the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP).  The Government's key budgetary target for 2015 is to bring...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that my Department commenced a review of the Public Capital Programme in 2014. The purpose of the review is to refresh the Government's existing investment strategy and set a new multi-annual capital envelope which addresses critical infrastructure needs and is in line with emerging Government priorities. As part of the Estimates process, and informed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I announced in Budget 2015 that the Moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service is to be replaced in 2015 with new arrangements giving Departments greater flexibility in managing their staffing resources.  This will be subject to Departments remaining within binding pay ceilings and meeting ongoing efficiency and reform objectives. My Department is currently engaging with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Public Service Reform was a key element of the Government's strategic response to the crisis and remains a key part of our strategy for recovery.  Reform has 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.  For example, 21% more people were in receipt...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Referendum Expenditure (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The final cost of holding the Referendum on the abolition of Seanad Éireann and the Referendum on the Court of appeal on 4th October 2013 amounted to €14.4m. The breakdown of this cost is as follows: Returning Officer Costs for taking the poll and counting of votes €10.2m Postal Costs (primarily delivery of Polling Cards) €1.4m Referendum Commission Costs...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (10 Feb 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 nature of the Financial Emergency Measures legislation is that the powers granted by the Oireachtas under the legislation are temporary in nature and are predicated on the...

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

Brendan Howlin: Higher payscales were developed under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work 1994 to 1996 which allowed civil service Departments / Offices to expend 1% of their payroll costs for purposes of achieving greater organisati onal productivity.  The 1% may be applied either by way of an enhanced payscale on the existing standard one or...

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

Brendan Howlin: An actuarial valuation was carried last year by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to estimate the accrued liability in respect of Public Service occupational pensions.  A report on the actuarial exercise carried out last year is contained on the Department of Public Expenditure web site at . The key result of the exercise is that the total accrued liability in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (10 Feb 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. An actuarial valuation was carried last year by my Department to update the accrued liability in respect of Public Service occupational pensions generally.  The calculation underpinning this exercise was carried out on an...

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

Brendan Howlin: PeoplePoint is the HR and Pensions Administration Shared Service for the Civil Service.  It was established in March 2013 and currently provides services to employees across 21 Civil Service organisations.  Once all transitions are complete, PeoplePoint will provide services across 38 organisations. Wherever possible, staff already employed on a permanent basis across the Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parliamentary Party Allowances (10 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: This issue was debated extensively in both Houses last year during the various stages of the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014.  I set out the position very clearly at the time regarding the rationale underpinning the allowance and those reasons have not changed. My Department does not routinely monitor the number of members of the Houses of...