Results 11,481-11,500 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: Public Sector Reform: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Seanad for giving me the opportunity to update the House on public service reform issues. In planning and delivering reform I have always said we are willing to listen to good ideas from all sources and very much look forward to hearing the views of Senators on the comprehensive reform plan. I will be meeting the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform next...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Legislation (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In line with the commitments given under the Haddington Road Agreement, provision was made  in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, for the rate of Pension-Related Deduction (PRD) on the €15,000 to €20,000 band of remuneration  received by a public servant in a year to be reduced from 5% to 2.5%.  . This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 238 together. At the outset, I might clarify that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act, 2001 and the making of valuations for rating purposes is his sole prerogative. The statute does not accord me, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, any function in this regard. The Valuation...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Increment Payments (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In the context of the civil service it is the policy for staff to progress on incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum. The position on incremental salary progression elsewhere in the public service is a matter in the first instance for the particular bodies concerned and their relevant parent Department.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts Data (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that all competitive tendering processes in my Department, including agencies under my remit, were undertaken in line with public procurement best practice. The following table outlines the total amount spent on professional fees since the formation of my Department up to 31 December 2013: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following tables outline the amount spent on advertising by my Department and each agency under my remit in 2013: Organisation Media Outlet Subtotal TotalAmount Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Print €2,091.00 + Print €223,441.57  + + Radio & Online €2,776.64   Office of Public Works  ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Social Media Monitoring (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy s question I can confirm that my Department does not engage in real time reporting of online conversations nor is it a matter I am currently considering. It can happen from time to time that my Press Office may monitor an issue but this is not done in any systematic way using software. My Department does have a twitter account, @IRLDeptPER, and we currently follow...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Legislation (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has been in close contact with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with regard to the finalisation of such a proposal.  The Departments met An Post on 30 January 2014 in this regard.  Following this meeting,  An Post are expected to submit final proposals  to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Official Engagements (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following tables outline all official engagements by me and my Minister of State, including meetings with community groups and so on, that have taken place in Northern Ireland since I took office: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform - Official Engagements in Northern Ireland since July 2011 Year Date Location Participants - 18 July North...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Implementation (11 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together. On the introduction of the modified salary rates introduced in January 2011, persons who were recruited to the public service through direct entry competitions in the period after January 2011 and who previously worked as a public servant in a similar or analogous role had such service recognised and were not accordingly subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Language Issues (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for the public service including pay, pensions and employment numbers.  Specific staffing matters for the wider public service - such as are raised in the Deputy's question - are the responsibility of various Government Ministers, in accordance with the legislation setting up public service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: 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 €116bn as of December 2009. Work has now commenced in my Department on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware there was a commitment in the Programme for Government that every Purchase Order by a Government Department or Agency for €20,000 or over should be published online. In line with this commitment, my Department began publishing details of Purchase Orders over €20,000 on its website in 2012, quarterly in arrears. Following this my Secretary...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Performance Management Systems (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together. A suite of sanctions, up to and including dismissal, are currently available to deal with underperformance at all levels in the civil service. There is, however, a need to strengthen performance management in the civil service in order to ensure that the tools available to managers to manage performance are appropriately applied in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As provided for in the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-16, my Department will examine the contractual framework for senior civil servants to underpin an effective approach to supporting high performance.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Leader's Allowance Issues (5 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The amounts paid under the party leader's allowance from 2001 to 2013 are set out in the following table.  The current data systems in use allow for detailed payment records in the manner requested by the Deputy from 2001, however this system does not permit detailing the payments to independent TDs prior to 2001. Deputy Beverley Flynn waived her entitlement to the party leader's...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Issues (5 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) set out a series of pay and productivity measures for all public servants with the aim of reducing the pay and pensions bill in order to contribute to the required  reduction in the General Government Deficit and to support the restoration of fiscal sustainability.  One of the key measures included in the HRA relates...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: And employers.

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Would Deputy McDonald quote my comments?

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Can Deputy McDonald quote the comments? The Deputy is making a charge. Can she substantiate that charge?