Results 9,381-9,400 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The proposals emanating from the mediation process in relation to the Waterford Crystal pension schemes involve a settlement of a legal action initiated by representatives of workers in Waterford Crystal against the Minister of Social Protection. The European Court of Justice had previously ruled that, in the case of the workers concerned, the State had failed to provide adequate protection...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There is a commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 to establish a Low Pay Commission (LPC) on a statutory basis as an independent body to make annual recommendations to the Government about the appropriate level of the minimum wage and related matters. The Minister for Business and Employment, Mr. Ged Nash, T.D., is currently developing proposals to implement this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Commissioners of Public Works have a statutory responsibility under the various National Monuments Acts 1930 - 2004 to undertake the care and maintenance of National Monuments in State care.Additionally, there are a number of Historic Properties under their care which are not designated National Monuments but which are important in a National context for various reasons. Some National...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Accountability (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I launched the Civil Renewal Plan along with the Taoiseach on 30th October last. The Plan outlines a vision for the Civil Service and practical changes that will create a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service, providing a world-class service to the State and to the people of Ireland. All of the actions in the Plan are to be implemented over the next three...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: My Department commenced a review of the public capital programme in April of this year in parallel with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. The purpose of the review is to assess all areas of public capital investment and to refresh the existing investment strategy and multi-annual envelopes to ensure that they are in line with emerging Government priorities and that our limited...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Section 9(10) of the Valuation Act 2001 provides that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions. Decisions with regard to the selection of rating authority areas for revaluation is his sole prerogative. Section 19(1) of the said Act empowers the Commissioner to make a Valuation Order specifying a rating authority area over which a revaluation is to be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Housing Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, on 17 October 2014, the Government supported in principle the Second Stage of the Private Member's Social Clauses in Public Procurement Bill 2013, which was put forward by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, and sees significant merit in developing a social clause framework where such clauses are applied in a targeted manner.  The Government did not oppose the Bill. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: North South Ministerial Council (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I attended the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh on Friday, 5 December 2014.  The Taoiseach led the Irish Government delegation, while the First Minister and deputy First Minister led the delegation from the Northern Ireland Executive.  The First Minister and deputy First Minister chaired the meeting. Among the matters discussed were the joint...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Civil Service Renewal Plan focuses on practical change in creating a unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service.   The Plan is based on a number of practical and specific actions aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Civil Service to deliver services in an effective and efficient manner.  Action 16 of the Plan provides for the redesign of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Meetings (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that my Department's Management Advisory Council meetings take place once a week and the minutes of those meetings including any attended by me  or the Minister of State are available on my Department's website .

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Meetings (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question all details regarding meetings of the Management Advisory Council in my Department since 2011 are currently available on our website at: .  The Agenda and minutes taken at each meeting are also available. Those that have attended include: -Mr Robert Watt (Secretary General) -All officers at Assistant Secretary level -Mr Ronan O'Brien (Special...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Redeployment (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that, since the formation of my Department in 2011, only one member of staff sought redeployment from County Waterford to County Offaly which was approved.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have received no requests to travel overseas on Government business between now and the end of 2015. While I expect to travel as part of the Government's St Patrick's Day promotion of Ireland, final arrangements have not yet been confirmed. Mr Simon Harris, T.D, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, does not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Communications (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are two Shared Services Centres in my Department (PeoplePoint and the Payroll Shared Service Centre (PSSC)) where incoming calls are recorded with a Call Recording and Retention Policy in place. Like most shared service organisations Civil Service Shared Services Centres (SSCs) have an interactive voice response (IVR) telephone...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 251 together. In relation to the procurement of legal services, I should point out that contracts for such services are not subject to the full scope of EU Public Procurement Directives. The awarding of individual contracts is a matter for each contracting authority. Therefore the onus is on the contracting authority to ensure that their public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The assessment of a tenderer's financial and economic standing is a key part of any procurement process. Establishing the appropriate suitability criteria that are relevant and appropriate to a particular contract is, of course, a matter for the contracting authority concerned. This is because the contracting authority is in the best position to gauge the appropriate levels of financial...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, on Budget day I announced my intention to seek to put in place new arrangements to replace the Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotions in the Public Service from 2015 onwards.  Arrangements for the implementation of this revised policy are now the subject of discussions between my Department and all other Government departments, with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parliamentary Party Allowances (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to his previous question on this matter question 91 of 18 September 2014 (reference 34985/14).  The total amounts paid to each qualifying independent member from 9 March 2011 to date are set out in the tables below.  Michael Fitzmaurice TD, elected to Dáil Éireann in October of this year, has not yet claimed the allowance.  I am not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am satisfied that the Protected Disclosures Act, enacted earlier this year provides detailed and comprehensive protection for all workers.  As the Deputy will be aware, the main objective of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 is to provide protection for workers who make disclosures of serious wrongdoing that come to their attention in the workplace.  The term "worker"...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am satisfied that the Protected Disclosures Act, enacted earlier this year provides detailed and comprehensive protection for all workers.  As the Deputy will be aware, the main objective of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 is to provide protection for workers who make disclosures of serious wrongdoing that come to their attention in the workplace.  The term "worker"...