Results 12,601-12,620 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Statistics (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I would refer the Deputy to the Analysis of Exchequer Pay and Pensions Bill 2007 - 2012, published by my Department. This publication presents a detailed breakdown of both gross and net pay and pension expenditure in aggregate terms, by sector and by individual Vote and is available on my Department's website at www.per.gov.ieunder the Reports tab. In addition the Deputy will be aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Data (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Government has set ambitious targets for reducing numbers in the public service. Underpinned by the additional hours and new workplace flexibilities contained in Haddington Road and supported by reform initiatives such as shared services and outsourcing the Government expects a leaner, more effective public service into the future. The transition to this improved state is challenging....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Departments and Offices should make every effort to contain and reduce all administrative costs including both insurance and procurement costs. This approach unpins the current programme of reform of public procurement 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 €9...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The scope and content of the Government's 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: Freedom of Information Legislation (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Freedom of Information Bill 2013, which I am currently sponsoring, passed Second Stage in the Dail last Thursday (3 October 2013). The Bill as currently drafted provides at Section 7 for the application of FOI to non-public bodies which are in receipt of significant funding from the State. This will be progressed in due course by way of Ministerial Order subject to consultation with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Legislation (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Freedom of Information Bill 2013, which I am currently sponsoring, passed Second Stage in the Dail last Thursday (3 October 2013). The Bill as currently drafted provides, in accordance with the Programme for Government and the Government decision of July 2012 on the General Scheme of the Bill, that An Garda Síochána will be subject to freedom of information in relation to its...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Issues (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It is a well established principle that the pay of job or work sharers and those on atypical work patterns is calculated by reference to the whole time equivalent pay rate for the grade or post in question. Under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, pay reductions for public servants including public health doctors on annual salary rates in excess of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Job Initiatives (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In July 2012, the Government announced plans for an additional 2.25 billion euro investment in public infrastructure projects in Ireland. The stimulus package comprises two elements: - 1.4 billion euro to fund the proposed new Public Private Partnerships (PPP) programme. The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) and the Department of Finance are leading on sourcing the private funding...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Programme for Government Implementation (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments, including that referred to in the Deputy’s question, to ensure that there is legal clarity and certainty regarding the legal relationship between Ministers and their civil servants and the appropriate accountabilities that apply in each case. As I have previously informed the House, my Department carried out a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Rehiring (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government commitment has been examined in the first instance in the context of the introduction of a statutory register of lobbyists and rules governing the conduct of lobbying. Government approval was secured at the end of April for the drafting of the Lobbying Regulation Bill 2013 by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The General Scheme has been referred to the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Programme for Government Implementation (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In mid-2011 the structure of the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) was reformed such that it would have a majority of external members of whom one would be the Chair. Since then there have been a number of developments in the recruitment and selection process at Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General level and equivalent. - The number of candidates appointed from outside the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Code of Conduct (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Policies relating to the participation of public servants vary across different areas of the public service and restrictions on political activity are not uniform. My own Department is responsible for the policy that applies in relation to civil servants and political activity. This is set out in Circular 9/2009, available on www.circulars.gov.ie. There are clear restrictions on the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, the Government’s Public Service Reform Plan was published in November 2011 and set out an agenda for long-term sustainable reform of the Public Service. This represents a key element of the Government’s response to the economic situation and the need to continue to deliver important services, in the face of increased demands and reduced staff numbers and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (3 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Information on the retirement ages of Public Servants is not held centrally. In the case of the Civil Service the numbers of staff retiring at 65 in the last 5 years will be forwarded to the Deputy when it has been collated. Information in respect of other groups of Public Servants should be sought from the respective Ministers.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Redeployment (3 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It is a matter for the management of each Government Department to manage its staff resources including the re-allocation of surplus staff through redeployment mechanisms. Since the beginning of 2011 alone the numbers employed in the public service have fallen by more than 15,000. While this level of reduction has posed challenges across many areas, frontline services have been protected...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This Bill facilitates that. Up to now, mobility was not on a statutory basis. Staff were on secondment as opposed to formal transfer. This legislation puts what has happened for the past several years under Croke Park on a statutory basis in order that terms and conditions will be regularised for people who move positions.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, that is what should happen. If the Deputy would like to bring to our attention individual cases where this has not happened, he may do so.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: We will debate that when we see the legislation. It is a second Bill entirely.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There is a pro tem appointment and I understand that there is an acting clerk. Under the existing legislation, the power of the clerk accrues to the acting clerk. In other words, the Clerk Assistant acts up.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that appointment has already been made.