Results 11,161-11,180 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Valuations (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Office is assuming for the purposes of this reply that the PQ requests information by reference to changes in "rental values". Since the revaluation is bringing about valuations based on modern rental values for the first time, it is presumed that the information sought is by reference to changes in Rates Liability. The following tables set out the position on that basis. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 88 together. The assessment of the flooding problem at this specific location is a matter for Fingal County Council in the first instance. It is open to the Council to submit an application for funding under the Office of Public Work's Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for small scale, localised flood relief works. Any...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In line with the previously stated Disposal Policy the Commissioners of Public Works are examining the options for 155 non-operational (vacant) Garda Stations. Forty former Garda Stations have been identified for disposal on the open market and auctioneers have been appointed to manage the sale of these stations. Eight of the forty former Garda stations will be auctioned to the public at...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Ballina was identified through the national Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment as an area where flood risk is potentially significant. It was therefore designated as an Area for Further Assessment (AFA) under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Western CFRAM Study is currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Works, with its technical consultants...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (5 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) public works contracts include a clause on Pay and Conditions of Employment, including pension contributions, which requires all those employed on the works to be paid in accordance with all applicable law.  The following reference is made in relation to payment and conditions of employment of workers: The Contractor shall ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Language Issues (5 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's questions the following is a list of expenditure in translating and printing Irish language publications, documents, advertisements, notices and bilingual signage in each of the past three years in my Department:   Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Irish Translation Costs 2011 to 2013 - - - Year Nature of Cost Amount Total Amount 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (5 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under the EU Directives on public procurement works, supplies and services the results of all public contract tenders above certain thresholds must be advertised in the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. For works contracts the current threshold is €5.186 million; for supplies and service contracts awarded by Government...

Government's Priorities for the Year Ahead: Statements (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Perhaps the finest testament to the progress made by this Government in three years is that the anarchy and chaos that defined the final years of the previous Administration seem like they occurred a long time ago. In three years, the current Government has brought stability in the place of chaos, economic growth in the place of decline, and employment in the place of unemployment. If both...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The second report of the Moriarty Tribunal (March 2011) contains one recommendation (62.15) directly relevant to my area of responsibilities - that office holders should be able to elect voluntarily to have their financial affairs audited by the Standards Commission. This affects the Ethics Acts 1995-2001. Following the publication of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal in March 2012, I...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Regulatory impact analysis (RIA) is a tool used by Departments to assess the costs, benefits and qualitative impacts of regulatory proposals. The use of RIAs has been mandatory in relation to proposals for primary legislation as well as significant secondary legislation and EU regulations since 2005. Individual Departments have responsibility for conducting and preparing RIAs. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Subsection (1)(b)(ii) of section 9 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, enables me, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to extend the "grace period" during which pension awards to persons who retire from public service jobs are calculated without regard, in particular, to the pay reductions applied under that Act.  This period is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under EU rules on public procurement public works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised on the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I should point out that contracts for banking and legal advice services are not subject to the full scope of EU Public Procurement Directives. Therefore contracting authorities have some flexibility in conducting the appropriate competitive tendering process. For example, they are not tied to the prescribed tendering procedures or timeframes for submission of tenders or expressions of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Value for Money Reviews (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Value for Money Reviews are key analytical tool to be utilised within each Department for the purpose of assessing programme expenditure. Responsibility for identifying specific topics to be subject to these reviews is a matter for individual Departments. In particular, Departments are required to take into account the extent to which there is a prima facie case for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I can confirm that all Departments are complying with the requirement to publish details of purchase orders over €20,000. The following table sets out where this information can be found on each Department's website: Department Location of Purchase Order Details Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Although staff are seconded from time to time from other Government Departments and the wider Public Service, there have not been any staff seconded to my Department from external companies between 2011 and 2013.   However, the Deputy may wish to note that there have been occasions when individuals from the private sector have been engaged by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), which are the bodies directly under the auspices of my Department have confirmed to the Department that they are in compliance with  public service pay policy and that no top-up payments are made outside the pay scales in use. The ESRI salary scales are not sanctioned...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The current moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was  introduced in 2009, as part of the response to the fiscal and economic crisis.    Since then, and in tandem with annual headcount targets set for each area of the public service under the Employment Control Framework, the Moratorium has been applied across the entire public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Political Reform (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Good progress continues to be made on the reform priorities to strengthen public governance included in the Programme for Government for which my Department is responsible.  The current position in relation to the main elements of this reform programme is summarised below. The General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying Bill was submitted for pre-legislative...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, and it is a fair point.