Results 12,461-12,480 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Since taking office the Government has shown that it is committed to the stabilisation of the public finances through ongoing and sustainable reductions in the cost of the public service, including those associated with the Oireachtas and the political expenses regime. All of us, personally and as public representatives, are well aware of the vast impact of the difficult decisions forced...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Pending the enactment of the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 the protections currently available for persons in the private sector who are self employed / commercial agents as opposed to employees depends on the provisions of the sectoral statute under which the whistleblower makes his or her disclosure and, in particular, the definition of the term ‘employee’ contained therein....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Industrial Disputes (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. As the Deputy is aware, the issue regarding the staff of An Post National Lottery Company was referred to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). The LRC has prepared a proposal regarding the issue and these proposals have been put forward to An Post management, the An Post Group of Unions and the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together. As I announced on 3rd October 2013, Premier Lotteries Ireland Limited, a consortium comprising Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (the owner of the Camelot Group), An Post and An Post pension funds, has been selected as the preferred applicant for the next National Lottery licence. Premier Lotteries Ireland Limited met the Essential...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Programmes (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 to 75, inclusive, together. The Cohesion Policy Legislative Package for the 2014-2020 period comprises six regulations; a common provisions regulation, fund specific regulations for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), and Cohesion Fund, and regulations for European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) and European...

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank all Deputies who contributed. It is important not only that the House would endorse the nomination but that it would be an all-party nomination because it strengthens the hand of the incoming Ombudsman if this is the case. I am taken by the point made by Deputies Fleming and Boyd Barrett about the process. I wanted the process to be different. I am absolutely open to a different...

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Excellent.

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It will be introduced this term.

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move the following motions: That Dáil Éireann recommends Mr. Peter Tyndall for appointment by the President to be the Ombudsman. and That Dáil Éireann recommends Mr. Peter Tyndall for appointment by the President to be the Information Commissioner.I will not require the 15 minutes allowed but will be happy to respond to any questions Deputies may have at the...

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am simply outlining his curriculum vitae to the House.

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In Mr. Tyndall I am fully satisfied that we have a well qualified, experienced and suitable nominee for appointment as our next Ombudsman and Information Commissioner. The practice in the past was for the relevant Minister to ask the Government to note the name of the proposed nominee prior to consultation with the leaders of the opposition parties and the resolution process. It was my...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Regulatory Impact Assessment Usage (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Departments have responsibility for conducting and preparing regulatory impact assessments (RIAs). The criteria for the development of RIAs are set out comprehensively in the Revised RIA Guidelines (2009), published by the Department of the Taoiseach on its website. RIAs are required to be published by Departments.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I understand the underlying issue relates to a provision known as ‘Allocation of Pension’. The Superannuation Act 1956 (section 3), and the Superannuation (Allocation of Pension) Regulations 1957 (S.I. 20 of 1957), make provision for an established Civil Servant to surrender (or allocate) part of his or her own pension to provide a pension for a nominated beneficiary....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, public service pensions are funded on a pay-as-you-go basis by the public purse which already funds a wide range of employment initiatives. Public service pensions have been reduced by the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) which was introduced in January 2011 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010. In July 2013, the rates...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Charges Review (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation act, 2001 provides for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property and the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative and I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. Under section 28 (4) of the Act, a Revision Officer of the Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Charges Review (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation act, 2001 provides for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property and the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative and I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. Under section 28 (4) of the Act, a Revision Officer of the Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation Office (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Act, 2001 provides for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property. The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative and I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. Under section 28 (4) of the Act, a Revision Officer of the Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: On Budget day this year, I announced additional investment of €200m from the proceeds of the National Lottery Licence transaction. This investment will be used to progress a number of additional projects and programmes in 2014 including the project to which the Deputy refers. The precise allocation of the proceeds to the Departments concerned is being determined at present and will be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Register of Lobbyists Legislation (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Regulation of Lobbying Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC). The General Scheme has been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform for pre-legislative scrutiny and the views of the Committee will be taken into account in the drafting process. The Deputy may wish to note that under the proposals for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367, 373 and 374 together. Established Civil Servants appointed prior to 6 April 1995 are subject to a modified rate of PRSI (Class B) whereas those appointed on or after 6 April 1995 are subject to PRSI Class A rate. Officers appointed prior to 6 April 1995 do not pay an explicit employee contribution in respect of their “Main Scheme” pension...