Results 9,521-9,540 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: That model is replicated across the country. An enormous amount of focus and voluntary effort is evident as well as State support for the very things the Deputy has underlined as important. I absolutely and fundamentally agree that such importance should be afforded to domestic violence. I wish to make two points on the matter; one of the biggest difficulties is giving the capacity to...

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I would not be flippant about something as important as the matter under discussion.

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In terms of the helplines, I will discuss specifically with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the helpline to which the Deputy referred, but it is one of many helplines that are important in this area. By definition, Childline is aimed at children but what the Deputy has instanced is primarily violence against women-----

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: -----and a range of other helplines focus on that issue, including the helpline provided by the Rape Crisis Centre and others, which must all be resourced to ensure an adequate communication system is available for people who are in peril or who have been abused in order that they can reach out. The most important step for people to take is to call the Garda.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Exemptions (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation (Amendment)(N0.2) Bill 2012 was passed by the Seanad on 20th November 2014 and includes a Government amendment, accepted at Report Stage, to insert into Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 an exemption from rates for properties occupied by parties that provide early childhood care and education on a not-for-profit basis. I intend that the Bill will be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Levy (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that the Pension-Related Deduction (PRD) is an important component of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts (FEMPI). Since it was introduced in March 2009 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009, the PRD has reduced the public sector pay bill by an estimated €5.5 billion. In 2014 the PRD reduced the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Recruitment (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There is no prohibition on civil or public servants who have retired under normal circumstances on applying for a publicly advertised public service post for which they are suitably qualified. However, restrictions on further public service appointments apply to staff who opted for early retirement under the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Apprenticeship Programmes (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that the Office of Public Works has recently introduced an apprenticeship training programme the first major intake in over 10 years.  A total of 21 apprentices carpenters/Stonemasons/Stonecutters) commenced their training on 22 September.  The programme involves seven modules over four years, in conjunction with SOLAS, the new...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Redeployment (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Agreements (PSA) covering the period 2010 -16 (the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements) provide for agreed redeployment arrangements to apply in the Civil Service and Non-Commercial State Sponsored Bodies (NCSSB). Under the PSA, redeployment generally takes precedence over all other methods of filling a vacancy and supersedes any existing agreements on the deployment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Remit (11 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, a commencement order is not required to make the National Asset Management Agency subject to FOI under the Act. All the provisions, other than section 8 relating to publication schemes, came into effect on the date of enactment, that is on 14th October 2014. In accordance with Section 1(3)(b) of the FOI Act 2014, in the case of a public body...

Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I think the amount is €500,000.

Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: It is galloping up on us.

Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Martin would like to dictate.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (10 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, in February of this year, I granted the next licence to operate the National Lottery to Premier Lotteries Ireland delivering €405 million to the Irish citizen. As I announced in Budget 2014, half of the proceeds from the Lottery licence transaction were allocated to help fund a number of job rich projects across the country including the Wild Atlantic Way,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015 2017 published on Budget Day set out multiannual expenditure ceilings for Ministerial Vote Groups and Estimates of Expenditure for 2015 in respect of all Government Departments and Offices. Compared to the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) 2014, gross current expenditure for 2015 shows an increase of €429 million with capital expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (10 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I announced on Budget Day in October that I am seeking to put in place new arrangements to replace the Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotion in the Public Service from 2015 onwards.  This will be subject to the issuance of formal delegated sanction by my Department to all other Government Departments and Offices, in return for agreed commitments by them to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy (10 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am aware of the concerns which have been raised  by the Alliance of Retired Public Servants regarding the ongoing imposition of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) on the pensions of many retired public servants and have met with representatives of the Alliance. As the Deputy will be aware, I am required to review the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (9 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: That is an outrageous attack on a public servant who is not present.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (9 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I read the Deputy's statement of last week. It was outrageous.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (9 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will do no such thing. He will spin it again as he has done everything.