Results 14,201-14,220 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Give everyone a first-class ticket.

Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Did Deputy Martin read the article?

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Firstly, I would like to reiterate my disappointment at the decision of the Executive Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions not to accept the Labour Relations Commission’s (LRC) proposals. I have, however, noted the findings of the Equality Audit Report which was commissioned by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). I can assure the Deputy that work-life...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I assume the Deputy is referring to section 52, subsections (6) and (7) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, which imposes a 40-year limit on the total service which can be counted towards pension where a person has been a member of more than one public service pension scheme. This measure, which came into effect on 28 July 2012 , applies to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Act, 2001, which came into effect on 2 May, 2002, provides that all buildings used or developed for any purpose including constructions affixed thereto are rateable unless expressly exempt under Schedule 4 of the Act. Charitable organisations providing childcare facilities which are used exclusively for charitable purposes and otherwise than for private profits are excluded...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As noted in my replies of 20th February 2013 and also 27th February 2013 to PQs 9199/13 and 10194/13 tabled by Deputy O’Donovan, a range of security of payment options, including Project Bank Accounts were considered in the initial drafts of the Construction Contracts Bill and provision was made for devices such as bonds as part of the first draft of the Bill that was introduced to the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: On 8 February 2013 the European Council reached agreement on the EU’s budget for 2014-2020. The budget has to be agreed with the European Parliament and discussions are now taking place with the Parliament under the aegis of the Irish Presidency. Despite an increase in Ireland’s overall Structural Funds allocation from the €901 million we receive under the current...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In December of last year, acting on behalf of Government, I extended an invitation to the members of the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to enter discussions with public service management on a new agenda for reductions in the cost of delivery public services and substantial longer term productivity improvements and workplace reforms. The objective of these...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, there is a recruitment and promotion moratorium in place in the civil service, local authorities, non-commercial state bodies, the Garda Síochána and the Permanent Defence Forces. Decisions in respect of recruitment are taken by reference to the business needs of the relevant organisation, the moratorium on recruitment and promotion, and any redeployment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In line with the Programme for Government commitment referred in the Deputy’s question, I am committed to bringing forward the necessary legislative changes or other reforms to meet the objective of ensuring greater clarity and certainty regarding the legal relationship between Ministers and their civil servants and the appropriate accountabilities that apply in each case. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (17 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware of the extensive changes which I introduced in July 2011 in relation to the composition of the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC). There is now a majority of external members on the Committee, as well as an external Chairperson. These changes are in line with our commitment under the Programme for Government. The appointees have been selected not only for their...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equal Opportunities Employment (16 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The civil and public service is an equal opportunities employer and all recruitment campaigns are conducted in strict compliance with the Codes of Practice set out by the Commission for Public Service Appointments. Codes include the Code of Practice governing the External and Internal Appointments of Persons with Disabilities to Positions in the Irish Civil Service and Certain Public Bodies,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates Publication (16 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, public service pay proposals were put forward by the Labour Relations Commission on 25 February last. The proposals contain many multifaceted measures and it has taken time to fully disaggregate the impact on Departmental pay and pension allocations. I am happy to advise the Deputy that the Revised Estimates for all Government Departments will be published tomorrow,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (16 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The categories for the disbursement of National Lottery funds provided for in section 41 of the National Lottery Bill 2012 include national culture and heritage (including the Irish language) and youth, welfare and amenities. These categories are quite wide and would not prohibit the funding of community projects which have an environmental dimension. Consequently, I am of the view that a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Remuneration (16 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: All staff in my Department (which was established in July 2011) are on electronic payslips and hard copy payslips are only provided to staff who are on extended absences, for example, maternity leave. There are currently 482 staff (head count) on the payroll in my Department and of these 16 receive hard copy payslips all of which are sent out in the post. The monthly average number of hard...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (16 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information required to reply to his question is held by the individual Government Departments and State Agencies and the Deputy should submit his question to those Departments and agencies. In respect of properties under the aegis of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have asked the Office of Public Works to communicate with the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Agencies (16 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 535 together. My Department is currently monitoring the implementation of the agency rationalisation programme of the Public Service Reform Plan on a quarterly basis. The latest tables which detail this progress to end Quarter 1 2013 can be found at: In summary, the tables show that significant progress has been made by Departments on the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (16 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510, 513 and 541 together. The Government is fully aware that public servants and public service pensioners have made a significant contribution to the fiscal consolidation process to date. However the reality is that further measures are necessary to achieve a sustainable Pay and Pensions Bill in order to meet the budgetary targets of the Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Issues (16 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I should point out that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act, 2001 and the making of valuations for rating purposes is his sole prerogative and I, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, have no function in this regard. The levying and collection of commercial rates is the responsibility of each local authority and the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Calculations (16 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The levying and collection of commercial rates is the responsibility of each local authority and the Valuation Office has no function in this regard. The basis of rateable valuation for all commercial property, including retail units in suburban shopping centres, is net annual value and is set out in Part 11 of the Valuation Act, 2001. Net annual value is the rental for which one year...