Results 11,261-11,280 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin
- 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: It is purely for the purposes of the Electoral Act. It is not analogous to the type that would be produced by the girl guides in the example the Deputy gave. It is a different type of tax clearance certificate. It is primarily an issue for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in terms of the regulation and registration of political parties to do these things...
- 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: I do. The worst thing in the world is to have legislation enacted that nobody knows how to implement, or is too complicated to implement or is frustrated in its implementation. I am not going to accept an amendment that I do not know is practical. I will think further between now and Report Stage and if the Deputy has any further refinements I will happily have a look at them and I will...
- 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: The parliamentary activities allowance.
- 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: It is separately, under this Act, accountable.
- 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. The Deputy asked-----
- 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: I have seen businesses of two pages.
- 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: I understand the Deputy's point and he made it forcibly on Second Stage. I have no resistance to the point. The allowance is for the party and not for the party leader. My job is to ensure the payment is accountable. The legislation contains accountability measures which make the party leader responsible. A person must be designated to be accountable and it needs to be the person who...
- 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: The Deputy has more experience than I in this area.
- 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: He was formerly his party's-----
- 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: I was not going to raise that matter.
- 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: That is the whole idea behind the legislation. The money involved can only be expended in respect of definite issues and those who spend it must be accountable for it.
- 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: I do.
- 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: I am confused. As I see it, the Deputy is proposing a further 10% reduction on the leaders' allowance.
- 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: What Exchequer funding? It is all Exchequer funding.
- 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: That has nothing to do with this legislation, which deals with the leaders' allowance. The Deputy is proposing that the amount of money per Deputy should be reduced further. The Electoral Act is not being amended by the legislation before the committee. I am proposing a 10% reduction in the amount of money payable under the leaders' allowance. The impact of the amendments tabled by Deputy...
- 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: That could not be done under the Bill before the committee. It would be a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to agree to such a reduction and to amend the Electoral Act accordingly.
- 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: I have no difficulty at all in saying that everybody should be tax compliant. My difficulty lies in the fact that we are seeking to enact legislation here. The amendment states that "The fund into which the parliamentary activities allowance is paid shall be obliged to produce an annual tax clearance certificate." To what fund is reference being made in this regard?
- Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Audit Issues (27 Feb 2014)
Brendan Howlin: Audit Committees are an important part of the governance framework in departments and offices and the functions and contribution of audit committees are key in providing assurance to Accounting Officers regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of departmental internal control systems and procedures. In the context of their internal audit arrangements, each Department and Office is required...
- Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Information and Communications Technology Issues (27 Feb 2014)
Brendan Howlin: The deadline referred to in this question relates to the expiration of support for some Microsoft software systems, including Windows XP, in use across a number of Government agencies. Responsibility for the delivery of their computing services rests with each organisation. With regard to the product suite in question organisations have the option of upgrading to a more...
- Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (27 Feb 2014)
Brendan Howlin: The individual transactions in the State assets disposal programme are subject to open and competitive processes that fully reflect, inter alia, the value of any land and/or properties connected with the businesses being disposed of and for which title is being transferred as part of the transaction.