Results 13,321-13,340 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am not suggesting that is the case. I am setting out the backdrop against which this sort of mobility should be provided for in statute rather than on an ad hoc basis. It made sense to bring community welfare officers into the Department of Social Protection and to restructure FÁS as Intreo while redeploying staff. While the redeployment was agreed without resistance regarding terms...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his welcome. I am glad to be back. We made good progress on this matter during the Second Stage debate last week. It is not a very long or technical Bill. The Bill is intended to facilitate movement within the public service. This set of amendments Nos. 1 to 8, and 13 to 18 together, is consequent on the substantial amendment, namely, amendment No. 1. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Agencies Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am not aware of the existence of any possible conflict of interest or of the perception of a conflict of interest between the statutory autonomy of the Valuation Tribunal and the financial control over the Tribunal by the Commissioner of Valuation. While the Valuation Office is the respondent in all valuation appeals heard by the Tribunal, the Tribunal is independent of the Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Appointments (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Section 12 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 provides that the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) shall comprise 5 ex-Officio members, namely - An Ceann Comhairle, - the Secretary General to the Government, - the Secretary General to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, - the Chairperson of the Standards in Public Office...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Staff (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of the Public Service Circular 6/1984 - Private Secretaries and Confidential Clerical Assistants sets out instructions concerning private secretaries and confidential clerical assistants. The circular provides that the persons selected to act as Private Secretary should be drawn from the grades of Executive Officer, Higher Executive Officer or Administrative Officer. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s questions the following is a list of names of all external public relations, communications consultants and organisations used by my Department since March 2011: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Consultant's Name Cost Comments RED C Research & Marketing Limited €41,043.20 Research to obtain information and feedback from the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies Establishment (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. In response to the Deputy's questions I can confirm that there are no Semi-State organisations under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), which at present applies at a rate of 20% on that part of an affected public service pension which is above €100,000. That 20% PSPR rate is due to rise to 28% on 1 July 2013, reflecting changes made in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013. I can confirm for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question the following is a list of the number of appointments made to State Boards under my remit since March 2011: Board Name No. of Appointments made No. of Positions Advertised No. of Applications to Boards No. of Appointments drawn from Applications No. of Current Vacancies Outside Appointments Board - - - - 1 An Post Naitonal Lottery Board 4* - -...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was established in July 2011. Details of sick leave statistics from July to December 2011 and 2012 are set out in the attached table. - 2011 (July - December) 2012 Total Uncertified Sick Days 73.73 135.87 Average Uncertified Sick Days by Employees 0.26 0.41 Total Certified Sick Days 720.31 1,264.05 Average Certified Sick Days by Employees...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (18 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that no regulator is accountable to me or my Department.

Access to the Countryside Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Dowds should be highly commended for his work and that of his team on the Access to the Countryside Bill 2013. I commend him on the alacrity with which he managed to get legislation on the floor of the Dáil. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, and his Department, have responsibility for rural recreation in Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme Expenditure (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The end May Exchequer returns showed that €751m was drawn down by Departments and Offices. This is €108m (12.6%) behind the level that had been profiled in the period. However, taking account of expenditure of €63m in capital carryover, total expenditure to date amounts to €814m. A variance of between 10% and 12% is not unusual and there can be variations in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Under the next licence, the National Lottery operator will be in a position to increase significantly the level of sales of National Lottery tickets. This increase will be partly facilitated by the provision, under the National Lottery Act 2013, for the sale of tickets through interactive channels. In addition, the formula provided for in the next licence regarding returns to Good Causes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I have received a letter on behalf of an organisation which has given notice of its intention to challenge the State regarding the establishment and operation of the National Lottery on competition grounds. The Attorney General has replied stating that the organisation’s assertion is unfounded and that in the event of proceedings being issued they will be vigorously defended by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Government published the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2012 on 3rd August, 2012 as part of its legislative programme. The Bill proceeded through its second stage in Seanad Éireann on 11th October 2012. I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department are currently engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and other interested parties and I will be considering...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (13 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There is no embargo on front-line public services. The Government has set out an ambitious public service reform plan that aims to transform the quality and cost effectiveness of public services in Ireland. As part of that plan we are undertaking a steady and managed reduction in public service numbers and there are sectoral targets to meet this. Within these targets sectoral and local...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Senators for their contributions on this Bill. Senator Byrne asked a number of questions. Is this wider than the Haddington Road agreement? It builds upon what has happened in recent years. We had significant redeployment of 10,000 people under the Croke Park agreement without any great hassle. That was unprecedented. There was, however, no legislative basis for that...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: -----that the core pay would be protected, but a person will not get a shift allowance if he does not work the shift. There is a formula agreed with the unions and this has been worked out in detail. Will a redeployed person retain his allowances? Yes, if he is working to another pattern that would require the same anti-social hours. If that is not the case, there is an agreed formula for...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Senators for their presence. This is a relatively short technical Bill that amends the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. Its aim is to remove the legislative barriers to redeployment and overall mobility within the public service and to address other issues that arise on changing employer. If passed, it will facilitate greater movement across the...