Results 10,161-10,180 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Government Expenditure (25 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 to 94, inclusive, together. The voted current and capital expenditure outturn figures for the period 2008 to 2013, and estimated expenditure figures for 2014 as published in the Revised Estimates Volume 2014, along with the year-on-year variances are set out in the table below.  Also included in respect of 2014 is the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (24 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The current position in relation to the Construction Contracts Act 2013 was outlined in my response to PQ33762/14 on 16 September 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In July 2014 my Department issued revised Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministerial Offices. In respect of the remuneration of Special Advisers to Ministers, the Guidelines provide that Special Advisers are to be placed on the Principal Officer (standard) scale and that appointments are to at the first point of the scale, except where the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to PQs 32081/14, 32197/14, 32199/14, 32210/14, 32211/14, 32213/14, 32218/14, 32219/14, 32183/14 of 17 July 2014. The position as set out in that response in relation to the matter raised, remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Accountability (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together. The Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance was established following the publication of the consultation paper on the Programme for Government commitments: 'Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance' by my Department. Its work included overseeing an extensive public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 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 of nationality, and there are legal remedies which may be used...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Construction Contracts (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The current position in relation to the Construction Contracts Act 2013 was outlined in my response to PQ 33762/14 on 16 September 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Redeployment (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Agreements covering the period 2010-16 (the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements) provide for agreed redeployment arrangements to apply in the Civil Service and in other parts of the Public Service.  Under these Agreements, redeployment generally takes precedence over all other methods of filling a vacancy. It facilitates the movement...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme Expenditure (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The table below outlines gross capital expenditure for the period to which the Deputy refers. Figures up to 2012 represent the actual outturn which includes capital carryover spent in the year. The 2013 figure is the provisional outturn and does not include carryover spend. The figure for 2014 represents the allocation as per the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2014 and does...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015 (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government is firmly committed to bringing the General Government Deficit below 3% of GDP by end 2015, and achieving this objective remains the primary fiscal objective of Budget 2015.   As the Deputy will be aware, there have been several welcome developments in the economy recently, with the labour market enjoying a sustained recovery and economic growth...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: To date my Department has received three appeals for exemption from the requirements of the One Person One Salary policy and it is the position that none of these appeals have been acceded to.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Expenditure Reviews (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The outcome of the comprehensive review of expenditure will be presented in the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017, which will be published on 14th October 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (23 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's questions the following is the position with regard to the remuneration package for each Chief Executive Officer of State or semi-State organisations under the aegis of my Department: Valuation Office The Remuneration package for the Commissioner of Valuation (CEO of the Valuation Office) is at Assistant Secretary level and is currently equivalent to the third...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I apologise to the Senator but I have previously committed to budgetary meetings at this time. However, I will watch and read his contributions with interest.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: They were. Official information held by the public sector can and should be made available but we must have regard for privacy concerns. Where exemptions exist, they correspond to those found in FOI legislation in the most regressive jurisdictions that I have looked at. In addition, many of these exemptions are not absolute but will require to be subjected to public interest tests. My FOI...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am sure not. The Senator asked me that question on my way here. I give that answer by way of illustration.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Is there?

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There are many bodies, significant charities and so on - we had some controversy about that issue - that would be delighted, as the Senator rightly said, to be completely open and subject to FOI. I understand there is a burden involved but we have to help all bodies to meet obligations as they are rolled out and I am cognisant of that. There are new provisions in the Bill to ensure FOI...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: My retort would be that one should hire a researcher. There can be discreet bespoke FOI requests that would take less than 25 hours of search and retrieval by a public servant. That is a more reasonable way of proceeding. I am also providing for the introduction of a minimum threshold of €100, five hours work, below which no search, retrieval and copying fees would be charged; that...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am delighted at being back in the Seanad and wish all Members a fruitful new parliamentary session. I am pleased to bring the Freedom of Information Bill 2013 before the Seanad today. This Bill has benefitted significantly from the detailed consideration given in its passage through the other House and I look forward to an equally constructive and productive debate in this House. In line...