Results 13,341-13,360 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: What does Sinn Féin do in the North?

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: They are multiples of what is available in the North.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Dividends (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The following table shows the dividends received from State owned companies in the period 2003 to 2012. Year Dublin Airport Auth. Bord Gáis Éireann Irish Aviat. Auth. Elec. Supply Board Bord na Móna Dublin Port Co. Coillte Cork Port Co. Aer Lingus* Total 2003 7,245 9,796 1,000 18,719 - - - - - 36,760 2004 6,074 9,679 1,271 63,762 - - - - -...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Expenditure (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: With effect from 1 July 2013, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 will reduce public service pensions valued above €32,500 per annum, applying to all such pensions already payable on that date or awarded up to end-August 2014. The reductions will range from about 2% near the €32,500 threshold level (subject to no pension falling below...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together. Public service trade unions are currently considering the various proposals put forward under the Haddington Road Agreement and those that need to ballot will do so over the coming weeks ahead of the implementation date of 1 July. The composition of the savings arising can only be finalised when the results of the various ballots are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The responsibility for conducting value for money reviews lies in the first instance with the spending Departments and Implementing Agencies. The role of my Department is to assist these bodies by promoting best practice in the evaluation and implementation of programme and project expenditure, including the provision of guidance which is now captured in a unified Public Spending Code. While...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The use of a social clause requiring a contractor to recruit a certain percentage of those employed on a public works construction site from the ranks of the long term unemployed will be piloted on a limited number of schools projects under the Devolved Schools Programme being administered by the National Development Finance Agency on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Expenditure Report 2013 , published 5 December 2012, included the overall aggregate expenditure ceiling for 2014 which was then split out into Departmental level current and capital expenditure ceilings. Following on from the Expenditure Report 2013, the Stability Programme Update (SPU) was published in April 2013 and included aggregate voted and non-voted expenditure ceilings for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As you are aware, a competition for the next licence to operate the National Lottery commenced in May 2013 and is due to conclude later this year. I do not wish to disclose the contents of the draft licence until the competition has been concluded and the licence has been granted to the successful bidder. The Deputy will appreciate that any requirements which might be included in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Reform of public procurement is one of the major projects of key strategic importance in the Government’s Public Service Reform Plan, which was published in November 2011. Procurement of supplies and services accounts for around €9 billion of current spending by the State per annum. This represents a very significant portion of overall spending and it is, therefore, essential...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme Expenditure (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, last Wednesday I announced the allocation of an additional €150m for new capital projects in three sectors, education, transport and social housing. The additional monies will be allocated by the relevant Departments as follows. €50m will be spent on an additional 28 school building projects which were outside and in addition to the published five year...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Regulator Establishment (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, the National Lottery Act 2013 provides for the establishment of the office of Regulator of the National Lottery. The Act provides that the Regulator shall monitor and enforce compliance by the National Lottery operator with the Act and the licence. The Act also provides that the Regulator shall exercise his or her functions in such manner he or she considers the most...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Tenders (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Public procurement is the acquisition, whether under formal contract or not, of works, supplies and services by public bodies. National rules governing public procurement must comply with the relevant EU, WTO and national legal requirements and obligations. Of particular relevance are the rules on free movement of goods, freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services, as well as the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, AVCs are private funding arrangements for augmentation of pension benefits which are facilitated by individual public service employers, in particular, in respect of payroll deduction. Benefits realised are paid by the AVC provider, not by the public service employer, and are, therefore, not subject to the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR). In those cases...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services, which is published each year, gives a breakdown by Department of all the expenditure areas that are supported by the proceeds of the National Lottery. In recent years, the total allocation for the relevant subheads has exceeded the amount available from the National Lottery surplus. Therefore, these subheads are now described as...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy raises the application of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) in those cases where public service pensioners are in receipt of both an occupational and State Pension. In this connection I would point out that as the statutory PRSI related State Pension is not paid by the employer it does not qualify as PAYE remuneration under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question regarding the work currently being undertaken on upcoming legislation, through potential Bills to go through the Houses of the Oireachtas or through Statutory Instruments to ensure Ireland is in compliance with the upcoming deadlines of Directives from the European Union I wish to advise that the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 to 344, inclusive, together. Key information regarding the competitive process in relation to the next National Lottery licence has been made publicly available, most recently on the commencement of the competition on 30 May 2013. However, the detailed technical and legal documentation regarding the process will be made available only to bidding parties....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Above certain thresholds, public bodies generally require tax clearance certificates from persons or bodies to whom grants, subsidies, or other types of payments are being made or from contractors in situations where the public bodies are buying, hiring, or leasing goods or generally expending public monies. The aim, in the first instance, is to protect the interests of taxpayers by ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Recruitment (11 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has discussed the possibility of holding a competition for third secretary posts with my Department. The issues surrounding recruitment of Third Secretaries, Administrative Officers and Executive Officers later this year are currently under consideration in my Department.