Results 11,141-11,160 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to make available up to €69.5 million for a programme of repair and remediation works to roads, coastal protection and flood defence and other public infrastructure damaged in the storms from 13th December 2013 to 6th January 2014 based on estimates provided by the local authorities concerned to the Department of the Environment, Community and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I am advised by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) that it examined a complaint concerning the eligibility requirements for recruitment to the position of Advisory Counsel (Grade III) in the Office of the Attorney General. The complaint was received from the Law Society of Ireland. Complaints made to the CPSA are confidential to the parties concerned in this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Websites (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have been informed by the Commission for Public Service Appointments that the CPSA website has been reviewed and redesigned during 2013. The website is maintained and updated on a regular basis.  The CPSA has also informed me that the FOI Section 15 and Section 16 manual is currently under review and the updated version will be published on the website when available.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Meetings (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that no requests by Philanthropy Ireland to meet in 2011, 2012 or 2013 were received by my Department nor has my Department met with Philanthropy Ireland in any of those years.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As I noted in my original response to Mr. Timmons of 11 December, 2013, the Haddington Road Agreement will make a significant contribution of €1 billion to delivering on our fiscal targets. While some of these monetary savings will be delivered through direct pay reductions, those reductions only apply to higher paid public servants those earning over €65,000 or 13% of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies Issues (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that the issue of salaries including pensions and any other bonus related additions including company cars of chief executive officers in commercial State bodies does not arise in relation to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together. As I have said previously my Department considers that the regular preparation and publication of actuarial assessments of public service pension provision is an important part of policy formation. The most recent C&AG actuarial exercise on the cost of public sector occupational pensions showed the accrued liability to have been...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Staff (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question there are two civil servants engaged part-time in constituency work on my behalf.   The Salary Scales for the clerical officer grade are as follows: Grade Salary Scale Clerical Officer (CO) €23,042 - €36,267 Clerical Officer (CO) €23,177 -...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations, SI 124 of 2014, were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 6th March 2014.  Notification of the Regulations was published in Irish Oifigúil on 11th March 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question, in the table below I have provided an update on the status of my Department's commitments under the Programme for Government. As can be seen from this update significant progress has been made in my Department. The progress identified to date clearly shows that the Government has focused its attention on the decisions and reforms needed to achieve...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (25 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government's decision to proceed with the Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014 marked a significant step in bringing greater openness to the important process of interaction between the political and administrative systems and all sectors of society who seek to influence specific policy, legislative matters or prospective decisions.  The General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Funding (13 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There has been no equity injection into any Commercial semi-State company from March 2011 to the present. As my colleague, the Minister for Finance, indicated in response to an identical question on 6 March 2014 [11206/14], the Budget arithmetic for 2014 provides for a €240m equity injection into Irish Water, to be paid from the Central Fund.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (12 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government's new Public Service Reform Plan 2014-16, which I published in January, has a strong emphasis on continuing to drive reduced costs and greater efficiency, alongside an increased focus on citizen engagement and improving outcomes for service users. We will continue to examine ways to reduce the administrative burden on the public by eliminating duplication and developing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Meetings (12 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response the Deputy's question I can confirm that neither I, nor any member of staff in my Department, have met with the company concerned and/or their representatives. I did attend an event in China in 2013 at which the Chairman of the company concerned also attended in another capacity.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (12 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The following table outlines the total amount spent on reports, reviews and studies commissioned by my Department, and those under my aegis, since its inception in 2011. Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - Reports, Reviews and Studies commissioned since 9 March 2011 Report / Review / Study Costs Date of Commission Date or Expected Date of Publication Name of External...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (11 Mar 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 arrangements Departments now invite expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis on their websites. It is open to all members of the public regardless of gender, political affiliations or location to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The new Public Spending Code, which was formally notified to Government Departments in September 2013, applies to all public expenditure programmes. The overall aim of the new Code is to improve how public money is allocated and managed, and it contains guidelines and instruction on the application of ex-ante appraisal to spending proposals, and on expenditure planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's questions the following is a list of all legal fees paid by my Department, and those under my remit, in 2013:  Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Bodies under aegis Legal fees paid in 2013 Department / Office Name of Law Firm Amount Paid Total Amount Office of Public Works A&L Goodbody €5,058.84     Arthur Cox...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Northern Ireland Issues (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have regular engagement on a range of issues of mutual interest with my Northern Ireland counterpart, the Minister for Finance and Personnel, Simon Hamilton MLA, both in the context of the North South Ministerial Council and bilaterally. Minister Hamilton has identified public service reform as one of his priorities.  This is a priority that I share and which lies...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The evaluation of the Stationery and Office Supplies competition is still in train. The Office of Government Procurement is not in a position, at this time, to give a definitive date for the award of the first sectoral contract. As soon as the first sectoral contract is signed one of my officials will contact the Deputy.