Results 11,361-11,380 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Update (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As set out in the Government's new Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016, Public Service Reform has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the Government's overall recovery strategy. From 2009 to 2013, there was a reduction in gross voted expenditure of 13.5%. Staff numbers have been reduced by around 32,000 or 10% since 2008 and the paybill was...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Growth Initiatives (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to my response on 22 January, 2014 to Parliamentary Question No. 91, and my response on 21 November, 2013 to Parliamentary Question No. 23.  As I outlined in those responses, I am satisfied that the Croke Park Agreement delivered on its objectives by facilitating significant cost savings amounting to €1.8 billion over its lifetime, with the vast majority...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Data (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 107 and 109 together. On the issues raised by the Deputy regarding pay bill trends over time and the scale of the numbers reductions across different Government Departments and agencies I refer the Deputy, in the first instance, to my Department's web site, at .  Here the Deputy will find comprehensive data on all Government Departments on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The scope and content of the State Assets Disposal Programme was agreed by Government in February 2012. No additional State assets are under consideration for inclusion in the State Assets Disposal Programme at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Departments and Offices should make every effort to contain and reduce all administrative costs including both insurance and procurement costs. This approach underpins the current programme of reform of public procurement and is one of the major projects of key strategic importance in the Government's Public Service Reform Plan. Procurement of supplies and services accounts for around...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Election Equipment Storage (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under the electoral acts, as amended, the Minister for Finance, at the request of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, provides funds to the Returning Officers so that they can pay the suppliers of services required. The engagement of suppliers and the payment of suppliers is between the Returning Officer and the supplier concerned. The funds required, for payment to the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Redeployment (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Civil Service has sick leave arrangements in place for staff who are unable to attend work due to illness or injury.  Under the Public Service Agreements covering the period 2010-16, Redeployment generally takes precedence over all other methods of filling a vacancy.  The detailed arrangements agreed with the staff unions, set out in a "Redeployment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Programmes (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: PeoplePoint, the Civil Service Transactional HR and Pensions Shared Services Centre, is the most advanced of our Shared Services projects.  6 more Public Services Bodies transitioned to PeoplePoint earlier this month. There are now over 24,000 employees serviced by PeoplePoint across 19 Public Service Bodies.  The remainder of the 40 in scope Bodies will...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Value for Money Reviews (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The commitment for enhanced powers for the Comptroller and Auditor General is being progressed as part of the wider public service reform agenda. The Programme for Government committed to giving the Comptroller and Auditor General extra powers to carry out value-for-money (VFM) audits of State programmes.  A number of meetings have been held between my Department and the Office of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sick Pay Scheme Reform (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The new sick leave scheme is being introduced through Ministerial Regulations which are provided for in the recently enacted Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments)(Amendment) Act 2013.  The drafting of these Regulations has been a priority for my Department working closely with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel since the relevant legislation was enacted at the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that the State Property Act, 1954 deals with the vesting of State  ownership of property.  If the Deputy will provide my Department with details of the basis on which he believes it might claim ownership of this facility, I will arrange for the matter to be looked into. 

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: On 14 January, I published the Government's new Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016. The new Plan outlines the key reform initiatives that will be implemented over the next three years.  It also addresses the broader ambition for reform towards 2020.  The four key themes running through this new Reform Plan are delivery of improved outcomes; utilisation of the reform...

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

Brendan Howlin: In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have overarching responsibility for staffing matters in the Civil Service. Decisions on the holding of competitions to fill posts in particular grades are taken in the context of the anticipated demand for those grades as informed by a number of matters including returns submitted to my Department in Departmental...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: While staff are seconded from time to time from other Government Departments and the wider Public Service, there are currently no staff  seconded to this Department from external companies. We are currently collating information in relation to our use of external companies on a contract for service basis and will follow-up with a more detailed reply when this exercise is complete.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (25 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Following recommendations by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector in 1996, the then Government adopted new arrangements for the system of setting the remuneration of CEOs of Commercial State Bodies.  Hay Management Consultants were commissioned to review the pay of these posts based on comparison with posts of similar weight in the private sector.  In July...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There is a Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions in the House.

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: She can petition the committee of the House.

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: A committee of the House is rubbish?

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Bill was amended in the Seanad to provide for interim relief.

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy did not read the Bill.