Results 13,041-13,060 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Information and Communications Technology Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Bill McCluggage, took up his appointment on 10 June and is currently assessing what is required to build on progress in ensuring that ICT-enabled change is delivered across the Public Service. This includes examining all aspects of eGovernment including opportunities to further enhance the provision of digital online services and the take-up of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together. The Term Time scheme was replaced by the Shorter Working Year scheme in 2009 which allows civil servants to balance their working arrangements with outside commitments, including the school holiday periods for children. Under the terms of the scheme special unpaid leave periods, not exceeding 13 weeks, may be available. The following...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Training (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. In response to the Deputy’s questions the following table outlines the number of staff within my Department and those under my aegis who availed of study or training leave in 2012 and the estimated number in 2013: Number of staff availing of Study/Training Leave - - - Department / Office 2012 Number of Staff 2012 Average...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together. Within the next few days, and in compliance with the duty placed on me by section 13 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009, I will lodge with both Houses of the Oireachtas my annual review and report on the public service Pension-related Deduction (PRD), which is the subject of the Deputy's questions. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013 provides for a statutory qualified privilege for the private papers of Members and official documents of the Houses. Section 104 of the Bill (as amended in the Select sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform) provides a definition of what constitutes a “private paper” within the meaning of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, the national revaluation programme aims to provide up-to-date valuations for individual properties across all economic sectors that are subject to local authority rates. The revaluation process is the mechanism whereby economic changes that take place in the property market are reflected in the valuation lists for rates purposes and in individual...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I asked the same question and I am assured, with regard to reading it into the formal record-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I will do that.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The original fiscal responsibility legislation, now the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012, outlines what an official forecast is in the definition section. It means the macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts published by the Department of Finance for the purpose of fiscal planning and known as the spring forecasts and the autumn forecasts.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The macroeconomic forecasts are produced by the Department in the context of the budget and are subject to the changes implicit in the budget. They represent the pre-budgetary position.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Correct. There are different forecasts because of the different timings.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Two different perspectives on the horizon as one moves closer to it.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I will take more advice. Plain English is not often exactly what the parliamentary draftsmen determine as legal text.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: No. The council can do separate forecasting. This is the area of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, whose advisers state there are two processes that are allowed under the European treaties. Ours involves the Government, or Department of Finance in this instance, preparing an economic forecast to be validated, or not, by an independent counsel. It is permissible under the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Let me explain. What I am addressing is our treaty obligations under the new two-pack and how Ireland will fulfil that obligation. I have set that out. If the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council wishes to prepare its own reports, documentation or forecasts, there is no impediment. However, it would not legally fulfil our treaty obligation. If we send the Deputy a copy of the memorandum of...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It is simply replicating the law of the land.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Obviously, there will be a debate about the true basis of the forecast. If it is not endorsed through independent validation, there will be a debate about it. In the event of the council failing to endorse the forecast, the resulting steps would be considered by the Government. According to the code of conduct of the regulations, the budget and stability programme will need to be published...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 24: In page 5, subsection (3), line 17, after “Act” to insert “(other than section 3)”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 25: In page 5, after line 19, to insert the following subsection:“(4) The Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012 and section 3 may be cited together as the Fiscal Responsibility Acts 2012 and 2013.”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 26: In page 3, line 10, after “2011” to insert “AND THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT 2012”.