Results 10,421-10,440 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2015 (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: If we had followed the path recommended by the Deputy's party leader, which involved defaulting on our debts, we would be in a worse position than Argentina is in 20 years after its default. Our people would be impoverished, we would have no inward investment and it would be impossible for this country to borrow money anywhere at anything like reasonable rates of interest. It is interesting...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Equality Proofing of Budgets (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As I indicated in response to the previous question, the primary objective of recent budgets has been to restore stability to the public finances.  In this context, it has been of vital importance to every member of the Government to spread the burden of adjustment in as fair and as equitable a manner as possible to protect the most vulnerable people in society and stimulate economic...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Equality Proofing of Budgets (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I approve, read and alter all answers I deliver here. They are not prepared in some way externally. I am responsible for all answers I give here. To answer this particular question, one cannot take one budget in isolation, particularly in times of crisis; nor can one compare the three budgets we have had, which have been crisis budgets designed to rescue us from disaster, to a normal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services which is published each year gives a breakdown, by Department, of all expenditure areas supported by the proceeds of the national lottery. For approximately a decade, the total allocation for the relevant subheads has exceeded the amount available from the national lottery surplus. Therefore, these subheads are now described as being...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I looked at the subheads on foot of the question asked. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government includes an allocation of €38.6 million under subhead A.7 - private housing grants. They include the housing adaption grants for people with a disability. This scheme provides grants of up to €30,000 to assist people with a disability in having necessary...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: We have not privatised the national lottery. After the end of the year it will be run by a consortium which includes An Post, the organisation which has always run it and a prime mover in the consortium. The Deputy is right on the issue of transparency. We need to know where the lotto money is going and this is done. We need to have even more transparency and I am happy to address the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2015 (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government's fiscal target for 2015 has been well signalled. It is to bring the general Government deficit below 3% of GDP, in line with the commitments made by the country under the excessive deficit procedure. The budget to which the Government will agree in October will be designed to meet that target and will reflect the up-to-date economic and fiscal outlook. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The River Suck is the main tributary of the River Shannon. It meets the Shannon a few kilometres north of the village of Shannonbridge. The River Suck forms part of the River Suck Joint Drainage District. As such, responsibility for maintenance of the channel rests with Galway and Roscommon County Councils. The maintenance work is undertaken through the River Suck Joint Drainage District...

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

Brendan Howlin: Managing the delivery of public services within agreed budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department, and several measures are in place to help ensure that these budgetary targets continue to be met.  My Department is in regular communication with all Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within agreed allocations and we...

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

Brendan Howlin: The conditions governing the appointment of consultants by the State are governed by national and EU rules in relation to public procurement.  The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money.   Public procurement procedures require all applicants to meet certain standards when...

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

Brendan Howlin: In January last, I established the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance.  This followed the publication of the consultation paper on the Programme for Government commitments: 'Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance'.  The Independent Panel oversaw an extensive public consultation process on these issues, reviewed...

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

Brendan Howlin: Contracts are awarded following a competitive process conducted in compliance with the National and EU rules.  The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money.  Public bodies cannot favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds of nationality and there are legal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware in 2011 the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members.  Under the new arrangementsDepartments now invite expressions of interest on their websites from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis. It is open to all members of the public regardless of gender, political affiliations or geographical...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government Reform Unit in my Department is responsible for progressing the Government Reform Programme as set out in the Programme for Government, and the Public Service Reform Plan 2014- 2016.  This Unit is headed by a Assistant Secretary General on a 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) basis.  It includes three Principal Officers (2.8 FTEs) who manage...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As I set out in detail in my responses to other questions on this specific issue, the need to protect women during pregnancy and ensure that they are not discriminated against is a priority that has been strongly reflected in the design of the new sick leave scheme.  The new scheme operates its provisions for pregnancy-related illness in accordance with the principles of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In the absence of any unforeseen significant economic shocks that would undermine the necessary but extremely difficult fiscal consolidation path which this Government has been required to pursue since 2011, I do not foresee any requirement for the enactment of further Financial Emergency Measures legislation. The Financial Emergency Measures legislation was enacted to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The introduction of a single public service sick leave scheme comprising a substantial reduction in public servants' access to paid sick leave, other than in the case of a critical illness, is an essential step in reducing the unsustainable cost of sick leave in the public service.  The comprehensive application of the new scheme is a very important element in supporting the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Expenditure Reviews (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I announced at the time of the 2014 Budget, last October, that a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure would be carried out during this year to help inform the multi-annual expenditure ceilings for the three years 2015 to 2017.  This review process is now under way, and the outcome will help inform the decisions that Government will take when framing the 2015 Budget.   In 2011, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Mergers (9 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I presume that the merger of commercial semi-State companies to which the Deputy's question refers is that proposed between Coillte and Bord na Mona. As the House will be aware, in June 2013 the Government decided, inter alia, that a fundamental restructuring of Coillte was required and that part of this process should involve a robust analysis of how to give effect to a beneficial merger of...