Results 13,841-13,860 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: No.

Leaders' Questions (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: He is just in the door.

Leaders' Questions (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: That is two laws.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Banking Inquiry (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government, at its meeting on 14th May 2013, approved the publication of the text of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013. The aim of this Bill is to establish a comprehensive statutory framework for the Oireachtas to conduct inquiries within the current constitutional parameters. The Bill envisages a central role for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Requests (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Freedom of Information Act sets out the procedures and statutory time frames for dealing with requests and which FOI decision makers and internal reviewers are obliged to comply with under the Act. The Deputy may wish to note that under section 41 of the Act, failure to reply to an FOI request within these statutory timeframes is deemed to be a refusal, thereby allowing the requester to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Review (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: At the request of the Government, the Labour Relations Commission has lately been engaged in discussions with public service employers and trade unions with a view to establishing whether there may be a basis for a negotiated public service agreement which would meet budgetary targets. This talks process has been concerned with the pay and conditions of employment of public servants. In...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Issues (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Information on dismissals in the public service is not collated centrally in my Department. The rationale for this is twofold. First, I am responsible for employment policies in the civil service rather than the broader public service. Employment policies, including those related to dismissals, in other areas of the public service are a matter for the relevant Minister. Second, under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Expenditure (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The position in relation to the pensions of former Taoisigh and former Ministers, along with that of public service pensioners generally is kept under review by my Department. In this context I should point out that, over the course of recent years, several Government measures have been taken which serve, directly or indirectly, to substantially reduce pension awards and pensions in payment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Expenditure (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Following the decision last month by the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to reject the Labour Relations Commission proposals for a Public Service Agreement 2013–2016, the Commission, at the request of Government, made contact with the parties to establish whether a basis could be found for a negotiated public service agreement to meet budgetary targets....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Career Breaks (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There are currently no plans to reintroduce an incentivised career break scheme in the wider civil service or in the education sector. However, it is now possible for civil servants to avail of a career break for the purpose of taking up employment in the private sector or becoming self-employed. This means civil servants can take a career break to work for up to 3 years in the private...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The EU procurement directive primarily envisages that social considerations may be included as contract performance conditions, provided they are not discriminatory and are included in the contract notice or in the contract documents and relate to the performance of the contract. A further consideration is the ability of contracting authorities to effectively monitor compliance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Disability Act Employment Targets (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in common with all other civil service Departments and Offices, fully implements the Government’s policy on the employment of people with a disability. The Disability Act 2005 provides that public bodies shall, as far as practicable, take all reasonable steps to promote and support people with disabilities. It also provides a framework...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: On foot of the Government’s decision last year that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, an inter-Departmental Steering Group was established, comprising representatives of my Department, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine and NewERA, to progress the proposed transaction and advise on how it should be implemented. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (22 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Under EU law, public contracts above a certain values must be advertised EU-wide and awarded to the most competitive tender in an open and objective process. The aim is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers value for money. It would be a breach of the rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Bodies Accounts (21 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366, 367, 369 and 370 together. Public accountability requires that accounts be produced and audited within a reasonable timeframe. The arrangements for the subsequent laying of documents before the Houses of the Oireachtas reflect this requirement and are consistent with the principles of good governance and transparency. The requirements for the timely...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Bodies Accounts (21 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question I can confirm that the last Annual Accounts laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Special EU Programmes Body, which is under my remit, was for the year ending 31 December 2011, i.e. more than one year old. The 2012 Accounts have been prepared and presented to the Body's Audit and Risk Committee. Once this is completed the Accounts have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (21 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Following a request for a meeting which I have received from the Alliance of Retired Public Servants, it has been agreed that a meeting will take place in the near future between officials of my Department and representatives of the Alliance.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (21 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Following the decision last month by the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to reject the Labour Relations Commission proposals for a Public Service Agreement 2013 –2016, the Commission, at the request of Government, made contact with the parties to establish whether a basis could be found for a negotiated public service agreement to meet budgetary targets....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (21 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question the Office of Public Works is currently examining all land banks within its remit. OPW currently provides silage to local farmers adjacent to many of its sites by way of concession and arrangement. Some examples of this include Doneraile Wildlife Park and Emo Court. In addition, while some of OPW properties have herds of deer and livestock on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Travel (21 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question my Department did not exist until July 2011 but the following is a list of travel and subsistence, foreign and domestic, claimed by the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works from 2005 to March 2011: Ministers of State Travel & Subsistence Costs 1 January 2005 to 31 March 2011 Minister Year Domestic T&S € Foreign...