Results 9,821-9,840 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Rehiring (18 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Since the establishment of my Department in 2011, two retired Civil Servants have been awarded temporary contracts following an open competition held by the Public Appointments Service.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Funding Applications (18 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The proceeds of the National Lottery are remitted to the Exchequer which, in turn, provides the funds for good causes.  Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services, which is published each year, gives a breakdown by Department of all the expenditure areas that are supported by the proceeds of the National Lottery. Policy issues in relation to immigration are a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Legislation (18 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Freedom of Information Act 2014 became law on 14 October 2014, the date it was signed by the President. All new FOI requests received after that date are being processed under the new Act. The €15 initial application fee was abolished from 14 October when the new FOI Act came into effect.Other than in relation to the initial application fee, all elements of the new fees...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (18 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have no current proposals to extend the grace period for public servants including teachers beyond end June 2015.

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

Brendan Howlin: As I announced on Budget Day last month, I will seek 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 manage staff...

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

Brendan Howlin: The term of the previous Chairman of the Public Appointments Service expired on 31st August 2014, and he stepped down on that date, having served two three-year terms.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Occupational Injuries Benefit (11 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that the occupational injuries scheme which applies to the generality of the Civil Service applies to employees in the Office of Public Works.  It would be inappropriate for me to comment on individual cases.  In this context, my comments will be in relation to the general Civil Service scheme for occupational injuries. Civil servants who have been classified as...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Rates (11 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Act, 2001, which came into effect on 2 May 2002, provides that all buildings used or developed for any purpose including constructions affixed thereto are rateable unless expressly exempted under Schedule 4 of the Act. Such exempt buildings would principally include those used for public worship, education and health care provided on a not-for-profit basis, and charitable...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Contracts (11 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under EU Directives contracting authorities are obliged to publish Contract Award Notices for contracts above certain thresholds in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) via the national public procurement website . The current thresholds (exclusive of VAT) are as follows works contracts - €5,186,000; supplies and services contracts of Government...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy's questions underscore the point I made earlier to Deputy McDonald on the need for a more structured debate on this exciting set of reforms, which will be transformative for the Civil Service. In regard to a spokesperson for the Civil Service, it has been determined that the Secretary General of my Department will be the official spokesperson for the Civil Service. We need...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In general, I am far happier to have permanent appointments where there is a permanent job to be filled. That is what we are going to migrate to. We certainly had difficulties in filling positions that were needed during the time there were restrictions on recruitment. Some staff were recruited on a short-term basis. I have a difficulty. I want permanent staff in PeoplePoint, but I must...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As PeoplePoint became operational in March 2013, staff have not been there for years. I take account of the point made by the Deputy that we must have some consideration for those who are doing the job on a temporary contract, some of whom have had that contract rolled over because it is only an annual contract. I do not know whether it is the Deputy's position that they should...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy used pejorative words like "slashing". The bottom line is that if every organisation of State was to do things more effectively and efficiently - which it can do - we would produce much more for less by transforming the way we provide services. I know that the Deputy would not be so backward as to think we could not modernise the Civil Service or that we should stay in a frozen...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I echo the Deputy's view on the quality of the Civil Service. I remarked at the launch of the Civil Service reform document that on the evening before the final departure of the troika, the head of the troika group told me it had never dealt with a more competent Civil Service than ours. I thought that was high praise and I passed it on. However, we need to modernise and upskill, as well as...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Deputy for his question. In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for recruitment to the Civil Service. All such recruitment is governed by the Public Service (Management and Recruitment) Act 2004. Under the Act, the method of appointment to a permanent Civil Service post is as a result of being successful in a competition run...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am not prepared to do that because there are specific cases where a bespoke skillset is required by law. The National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014 sets out such criteria in relation to the NewERA companies.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: No. In the semi-State companies, for example, NewERA is given a role in the appointment because it must devise the skillset to ensure that the best commercial persons operate on commercial semi-State boards. Where the Oireachtas, having debated it, has set a legislative framework for the appointment of individuals, I will not set that aside but this is an overarching structure that will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Civil Service Reform (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I appreciate the Deputy placing a focus on this. We might find an opportunity, perhaps at a committee, to discuss it because this is the culmination of two streams of work. The Civil Service Renewal Plan, which I launched with the Taoiseach last week, is the product of a year-long engagement involving more than 2,000 staff and stakeholders. It brings together the outcomes of two separate...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Civil Service Reform (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: On the Professor Kevin Rafter group proposal to have a single head, I spoke to him at length. The group looked at the model in Britain and in other countries, and they changed the model a couple of times. Their recommendation was to have either of two options, the first of which was a designated person involving the set up of a new entity with a new Secretary General who would be the head...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Civil Service Reform (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There were a lot of detailed questions that I will not have time to answer and we need a better forum than one which provides a minute to answer these questions. On the first question, I will have an open mind on the leadership. If the other model presents itself in 18 months' time as a better model, I will support that. The review of the discipline code will happen. It is part of what...