Results 13,921-13,940 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (8 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, I announced in April 2012 that there will be a competition for the next National Lottery licence. It is envisaged that the competition will commence shortly. I have advised retailer representative bodies that it is my intention to safeguard the existing rates of commission paid to retailers under the terms of the next licence. Section 27(2)(c) of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure (8 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is not aware of any incidences of flooding on the River Slaney apart from the incidence last month in the environs of Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. A full report on this flood event is being prepared by RPS Consulting and it will be considered in the context of the detailed consideration of the South-East Catchment Flood Risk Assessment & Management...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations Refurbishment (8 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The former Ballyragget Garda Station is in the process of being formally handed over by the Garda authorities to the Commissioners of Public Works. Security and maintenance requirements (new locks, etc), pending a decision on the future of the property, are currently being assessed.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank all contributors. I believe this to be the fifth time I have been in this House to discuss the lottery. While there are a great many highly significant issues under my Department's remit, it is interesting that this matter has taken a considerable time. I commend people on that, as it is important that due diligence be done. In addition, the last time I was in this Chamber,...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Senator Thomas Byrne for tabling the amendment and giving me the opportunity, as I have done repeatedly on Second and Committee Stages, to assure the House that the contractual rights of the employees of the current national lottery will be fully protected. As I indicated previously, my officials have had discussions regarding the staff of the national lottery with the company itself...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Senator Thomas Byrne for tabling this and the series of related amendments which go to the heart of whether a regulator should be established. For this process, the Minister is the regulator and will remain the regulator until the new office is established. As I indicated, the original Government decision on the approach to the next lotto licence was formulated at the end of 2011....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (7 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question I can confirm that the nature of the property portfolio of my Department and those under my aegis, at this time, are not impacted by the introduction of the Multi Unit Development Act 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (7 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, Coillte and its assets have come under consideration as part of the State assets disposal programme, which is being undertaken as part of our commitments under the EU/ECB/IMF funding programme and with a view to generating resources for additional investment in job creation initiatives in the economy. The Government has, nevertheless, explicitly ruled-out the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (2 May 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: Public Sector Pensions Expenditure (2 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Responsibility for the actual administration of public service schemes is spread over a number of Departments and agencies. For example, the HSE deals with health sector pensions, the Department of Defence manages pensions for members of the Defence Forces, and the Department of Education and Science handles those of primary and secondary school teachers. The Department of Public Expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Numbers (1 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy has been asking about the appropriateness of cost benefit analysis (CBA) as an evaluation tool for appraising the Government’s policy on public sector reform and headcount reduction. CBA is a technical evaluation tool for appraising the merits of public expenditure projects. It is one of a number of appraisal methods – as outlined and explained further in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (1 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: My officials have written to the Alliance of Retired Public Servants with a view to a meeting in the coming weeks. As the Deputy will be aware ,following public servants non-acceptance of the measures proposed by the Labour Relations Commission, the Government has requested the CEO of the LRC to make contact with the parties to establish whether or not there is a basis for a negotiated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Programmes (1 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Projects to baseline Finance Management and Banking services administered by the Civil Service commenced in November 2012 and are now nearing completion. Final baseline reports for the two projects have yet to be submitted to the Programme Board who, on the basis of the findings, will make recommendations on whether to proceed to the business case phase. The baseline reports provide...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Programmes (1 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The baseline report on banking services administered by the Civil Service has yet to be submitted to the Programme Board overseeing the project and thus, the scope remains unchanged from that set out at the start of the project. The banking processes in scope include Treasury Management, Payment File Processing, Lodgements, Payable Orders, Receipts and Reconciliations. The bodies in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (1 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together. As the Deputy will be aware, following public servants non-acceptance of the measures proposed by the Labour Relations Commission, the Government has requested the CEO of the LRC to make contact with the parties to establish whether or not there is a basis for a negotiated agreement to meet budgetary targets. The Government will...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This is really a commercial decision for the operator. If it has an agreement with a local shop, it is often very important to the maintenance and sustainability of that shop. The operator must make a commercial decision as to whether it needs to put one next door to it if there are enough in one area and whether we need everybody in the street to be selling them. I think retailers would...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Before we conclude, I thank Members for the very important and robust interactions on this Bill. I look forward to coming back on Tuesday.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Section 44, which we have not reached yet, states that moneys are paid into the Central Fund by the national lottery. The Government then "shall", not might, apply that money for particular purposes, and the purposes are then listed in the Bill - for example, sport, national culture, the arts or health. I added "natural environment" at the request of Members of the other House, where a...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In the Revised Estimates that are published, the Senator will see the expenditure that is funded by the national lottery under every subhead. Could it be applied for some reason? I suppose there is no prohibition on it, if there were some crisis in health funding for the elderly, for example, where we might all agree this is what should be done, particularly given that we have lived through...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: No; I would not envisage a role for the regulator. The lottery regulator's job is to regulate the operation of the lottery, not the distribution of moneys, which must be done in accordance with the law. Everything that is involved in politics is regarded somehow as being open to suspicion. I found-----