Results 14,421-14,440 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Allowances (27 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. Departments were notified by my Department on 28 September 2012 of details of the Government decision in relation to the outcome of the Review of Public Sector Allowances and Premium Pay. Copies of these letters, detailing allowances to be abolished for new beneficiaries and allowances to be approved for new beneficiaries but subject...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Remuneration (27 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The proposals put forward by the Labour Relations Commission on 25 February last are a fair and equitable package of measures which will deliver the €1bn savings in the pay and pensions bill required by Government, while protecting those on lower incomes to the greatest extent possible. For example, under the proposals, there is no change to the core pay of the 87% of workers in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Private Partnership Contracts (27 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: For the Design Build Operate Finance (DBOF) PPP contracts the following projects are subject to partial Indexation at CPI/HICP: Criminal Courts of Justice Convention Centre Dublin Schools - Pilots Schools 1 Schools 2 Schools 3 Cork School of Music National Maritime College M50 All operating payments under the toll roads (First Roads PPP Programme) – are subject to CPI. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Increment Payments (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 285 and 286 together. In relation to estimates of savings arising from the LRC proposals, the Revised Estimates Volume for 2013 will set out the revised allocations for Votes arising from the proposals made and will include an overall savings provision on the pay and pensions bill of some €300m for 2013. My Department will be contacting...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Outsourcing of Public Services (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Employment law and its enforcement apply equally to public and private sector contracts. Consequently, it is not necessary for me as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out a separate policy for public sector contracts. My colleague Mr Richard Bruton, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has overall policy responsibility for employment rights. The National Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Flexible Working Arrangements are not being withdrawn under the Labour Relation Commission (LRC) proposals. Work-life balance arrangements in the public service will continue to be among the best available options provided by Irish employers, particularly when considered in tandem with annual leave and other provisions. These arrangements underpin important social policy goals, in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The guideline distance for redeployment continues to be 45km. Redeployment options may of necessity be beyond this guideline distance and in such circumstances consultation will take place in relation to the assignment on offer. The text of the draft Public Service Agreement clarifies that 45km remains the guideline distance for redeployment.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Remuneration (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The annual saving to the public sector pay bill if non-commercial State agency pay were capped at €100,000 in the agencies under the remit of my Department would be €135,140

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Contracts (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Evaluating opportunities for the external delivery of some non-core public services is an action in the Public Service Reform Plan agreed by Government in November 2011. In July 2012, the Government agreed a range of actions aimed at achieving a focused and integrated approach to external service delivery of non-core processes with the objective of reducing costs and focusing staff resources...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 290 together. I refer to my reply to Question Nos. 12607 and 13035 of 12 March 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Implementation (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As noted in the proposals issued by the Labour Relations Commission following an intensive period of negotiations between public service employers and the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, significant elements, including those relating to remuneration and working hours, will require legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to the response I issued in relation to question No. 282 of 20th March, 2013 in which I stated that, in line with normal and longstanding industrial relations practice, a number of letters clarifying aspects of the Labour Relation Commission (LRC) proposals were issued to member unions of the Public Service Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions by the Labour...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The talks leading up to the recent Labour Relations Commission proposals for a Public Service Agreement 2013 – 2016 took place between Government officials representing the State as employer, and staff representatives, principally the Public Services Committee of the ICTU, representing public servants. The talks and draft Agreement did not encompass public service pensioners and their...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: North-South Implementation Bodies (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The PEACE III Programme is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), a North South Implementation body established under the Good Friday Agreement. The SEUPB has confirmed that no funding has been cut with regards to the Training for Women Network (TWN). To date the organisation has received two Letters of Offer for two separate projects under the PEACE III Programme. Further...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (26 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Reform Plan published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in November 2011 identified procurement reform as a key instrument that can assist in maintaining the delivery of public services in an efficient manner. The national arrangements put in place by the National Procurement Service (NPS) are designed to enable the State to do more with less by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (21 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: While I, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, have overall responsibility for the National Lottery, the appointment of Lottery agents is a matter for the National Lottery Company. I have no role in day-to-day commercial decisions of this nature which are a matter between the individual retailer and the National Lottery Company.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Information and Communications Technology Issues (21 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Given the hundreds of individual services provided by Government Departments and the diversity of those services, it does not make operational or commercial sense to centralise the call-handling for all of these. Instead the public service has invested in a range of more practical solutions including IVR, Direct Dial-In, Lo-Call, 076 facilities, Voice over IP and Skype facilities. These...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Information and Communications Technology Issues (21 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As with all technologies, my Department uses Integrated or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems in those areas where it makes sense and provides value to both the business and the customer. While IVR of itself does not contribute substantially to salary savings, it does, in certain circumstances, help to streamline the user experience so that services are better delivered.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Presidential Reports (21 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question I wish to advise that I have not yet had the opportunity to read this report but I look forward to doing so when received.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (20 Mar 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Flexible Working Arrangements are not being abolished under the Labour Relation Commission (LRC) proposals. Work-life balance arrangements in the public service will continue to be among the best available options provided by Irish employers, particularly when considered in tandem with annual leave and other provisions. These arrangements underpin important social policy goals, in...