Results 10,001-10,020 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The scale of the fiscal crisis that began in 2008 led to the first permanent cut in public service pay rates in the history of the State. In total, the Exchequer pay bill has been reduced from a peak of €17.5 billion gross at the onset of the recession to €14.2 billion net of the pension-related deduction in 2013, with a further substantial reduction this year. Given the scale...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy is quite wrong when he says that all the borrowings we have had are to pay back banks. The vast bulk of the borrowings are to maintain social provision in this State - to pay for doctors, nurses and so on. It is a small cohort that is actually paying back the debt. If one disaggregates the banking debt, it is our expectation to get the significant sum of money put into the pillar...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government recently announced a revised model for ministerial appointments. 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. The new arrangements will apply to all appointments other than those where vacancies must be filled through a particular process under law or where...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to the review in 18 months' time to show it is working.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: This is a fundamental shift. There will be one access point for the general public and anyone interested in serving on a State board. It will take some time to fully populate the website but I intend every State board to set out the requirements for membership of such board as determined by the relevant Minister. To address the Deputy's questions, I note that the final determination will,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: P.J. Mara, Celia Larkin.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am a bit taken aback by the Deputy's attitude. He is therefore of the view that anybody involved in a political party is a crony and that if one offers oneself for election in the public space at either local or national level, one is somehow debarred. I regard it as an asset not a liability. It is a fundamental blow against democracy for the Deputy opposite to play the populist game and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Deputy for her questions. This is a new and groundbreaking departure which has not happened in the history of the State before. We now have a very open, accessible way for any citizen in the State to apply to be a member of a State board and for an independent evaluation of that person's suitability to be a member of a State board on the basis of the set published criteria....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: 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 13½ per cent between 2009 and 2013.  The gross voted expenditure allocation for 2014 is €53 billion.  Managing the delivery of public services within its Budgetary allocation is a key...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parliamentary Questions (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: This proposal is part of the Government's political reform programme outlined in the Programme for Government.  My Department has, in the context of its examination of this issue, had some initial discussions with the Houses of the Oireachtas on the operational issues in relation to this commitment, and the possible approaches that may be taken to its efficient...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Staff (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am satisfied that there is appropriate transparency in the appointment of the posts referred to in the Deputy's question.  The Department of the Public Service Circular 6/1984 - Private Secretaries and Confidential Clerical Assistants sets out instructions concerning private secretaries and confidential clerical assistants. The circular provides that the persons selected to act as...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015 (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is engaged in intensive discussions with the Department of Health and HSE officials regarding Budget 2015 and the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure as part of the 2015 Budget and Estimates process.  As part of the ongoing Comprehensive Review of Expenditure due to be published on Budget day, all Government Departments have been asked to review their...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Value for Money Reviews (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government committed to giving the Comptroller and Auditor General extra powers to carry out value-for-money (VFM) audits of State programmes. This commitment for enhanced powers for the Comptroller and Auditor General is being progressed as part of the wider public service reform agenda.  Any consideration of the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General must take...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Data (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: On a general point, the Deputy is probably aware that a contract of indefinite duration (CID) is similar to a permanent contract and can arise by operation of law under the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003. Under the provisions of this Act, if an employee is employed on two or more successive fixed term contracts in continuous employment for a period of four years then...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is currently undertaking a review of the public capital programme, in parallel with the comprehensive review of expenditure, which will culminate in the publication of the Government's five year investment strategy on Budget day.  The focus of the Framework will be on infrastructural investment that can aid economic growth and address urgent social requirements.  While...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Records (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) is currently undertaking a joint project within my department and the Department of Finance to develop a system that would allow records to be stored electronically.  A potential outcome from that project is the development of a standard that could be adopted by other departments and public bodies,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The focus of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is on well-managed and well-targeted public spending, through modernised, effective and accountable public services. The recently published Comptroller and Auditor General Report on the 'Accounts of the Public Service 2013' is part of the wider accountability framework for the delivery of these services. The report in question is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As I have previously advised the House, there is no embargo on recruitment in the Public Service.  To safeguard frontline and priority services, the Government has allowed for critical posts to be filled throughout the period of reduction of public service numbers.  In addition to this ongoing recruitment, special provision was made in last...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: 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 13½ per cent between 2009 and 2013.  The gross voted expenditure allocation for 2014 is €53 billion. The implementation of these expenditure adjustments has contributed...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause (9 Oct 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Social clauses in contracts place obligations on suppliers to perform actions focussed on broader policy considerations. They can be used in public procurement in cases where they are targeted at factoring into the procurement process consideration of social issues such as employment opportunities, equal opportunities and social inclusion.  In order to be compatible with EU law, they...