Results 9,861-9,880 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In 2012 the Government reviewed the position on the payment of performance related reward schemes or bonuses for Chief Executive Officers in Commercial State Companies and agreed to continue with the policy which it introduced in 2011 of requesting the State Companies concerned not to award such bonus payments in light of the serious state of the public finances. Furthermore the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware the Government recently announced a revised model for Ministerial appointments to State Boards. In future, all appointments to State Boards must be advertised openly on the State Boards portal at , which is operated by the Public Appointments Service. My officials are currently preparing overarching guidelines on appointments for approval...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, organisational size, etc. and there are legal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In relation to the pay and pension reductions imposed on public servants through the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009-2013, the  reductions were progressively structured so it is those on lower incomes who are least affected, with the highest reductions imposed on the highest paid. Significantly, the most recent pay reduction effected by the Financial...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Notwithstanding the necessary imposition of pay reductions on public servants through the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009-2013, terms and conditions including pay rates for public servants have traditionally been determined through collective bargaining processes with due regard to statutory provisions including the National Minimum Wage Act. Indeed, the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that my Department does not use the services of recruitment or employment agencies. The Department has used the services of the Public Appointments Service, "PAS" in all our recruitment requirements and related advertising. PAS has a budget allocation for this purpose. The Department would only be required to pay additional costs in cases...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that my Department does not use the services of recruitment or employment agencies. The Department has used the services of the Public Appointments Service, "PAS" in all our recruitment requirements and related advertising. PAS has a budget allocation for this purpose. The Department would only be required to pay additional costs in cases...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have overarching responsibility for recruitment to the Civil Service. 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 by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) or by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Taoiseach and I launched the Civil Service Renewal Plan on the 30th of October 2014.  This Plan outlines a vision for the Civil Service and outlines 25 actions that will bring about practical changes in four thematic areas. The objective for Government is that this plan will create a more unified, professional, responsive and open Civil Service. We want to ensure that our Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The reform of the procurement system across the public service is a key element of the reform programme for the public service.  Public Procurement savings enable public service organisations deliver much needed services within the tighter budgets that they must now operate within. The fragmented procurement arrangements across the public service have enabled suppliers to charge...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The main purpose of the EU public procurement regime is to open up the market and to ensure the free movement of supplies, services and works within the EU having regard to Treaty of Rome principles including transparency, proportionality and equal treatment. This is the rationale that shapes the detailed rules (Directives) governing the regime. Under existing public procurement rules,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Redundancies (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As I have mentioned in previous replies on this matter, before the Government decision was taken in  respect of introducing Voluntary Redundancy in the Public Service, an analysis of the likely Exchequer impacts was carried out to estimate the cost of such a scheme, the payback period for the State and its overall net present value. This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, organisational size, etc. and there are legal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Allowances Expenditure (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Following the Government Decision in September 2012 on the Review of Public Service Allowances and Premium Pay, in cases where the review found that there is no business case for payment of an allowance to new beneficiaries, no apppointee to a public service post since 31 January 2012 will receive that allowance. Given in general allowances have been...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Data (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The banking crisis in 2008 and subsequent recession had a profound impact on the public finances necessitating the implementation of significant expenditure reductions over a six year period. Gross voted expenditure has been reduced from its peak of €63.1 billion in 2009 to €54.5 billion in 2013.  This represents a reduction of approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, organisational size, etc. and there are legal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Accountability (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The report of the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance was published on 11 June 2014.  In the context of the development of a Civil Service Renewal Plan, I and my Department considered it and its recommendations.  On 30 October, the Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny, T.D., and I launched the Civil Service Renewal Plan.  This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for workforce planning and recruitment to the Civil Service. The following recruitment competitions for the Civil Service are currently in progress by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) or are scheduled to take place in 2015. Competitions in Progress A competition for Clerical Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Haddington Road Agreement came into effect on 1 July 2013 and forms the cornerstone for public serice pay policy over a three year period.  Over the first 15 months of its lifetime, the Agreement has been a key enabler in reducing the cost of the public service pay and pensions bill.  The cost reductions and productivity increases, and the reform...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Public procurement procedures require all applicants to meet certain standards when applying for public contracts.  There are requirements placed upon contractors at each stage of the procurement process. In this regard, at tender stage, applicants must sign a declaration in relation to their financial standing, their legal standing, their payment of taxes and social contributions; and...