Results 15,021-15,040 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Rural Social Scheme (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As part of the range of expenditure reforms introduced over the past year, Focused Policy Assessments (FPAs) have been introduced as a new format for conducting short, streamlined evaluations of particular aspects of public service configuration and delivery. FPAs are designed to complement the broader range of evaluation tools available within the public service, including Value-for-Money...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The shared services programme is making good progress on actions and timelines committed to in the Public Service Reform Plan,and key developments include the following: - A Shared Services Transformation Unit has been established within my Department. - A financial appraisal of the Human Resource function across the Civil Service undertaken earlier this year indicates that implementing a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government’s Public Service Reform Plan sets out a comprehensive and ambitious programme of reform for the Public Service, including a range of commitments to deliver greater value for money in public procurement, which is one of the Major Projects of key strategic importance. Earlier this year, as part of our drive for greater value for money and increased efficiency, my...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas Members' Expenses (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I announced the following changes to the Oireachtas expenses allowances regime in Budget 2013; (i) to reduce the rates of the Travel and Accommodation (TAA) element of the allowance by 25% for Dublin (less than 25km) and by 10% for the other bands (1 – 12), (ii) to eliminate the unvouched element of the Public Representational Allowance (PRA), subject to permitting monthly expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas Members' Expenses (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I announced the following changes to the Oireachtas expenses allowances regime in Budget 2013; (i) to reduce the rates of the Travel and Accommodation (TAA) element of the allowance by 25% for Dublin (less than 25km) and by 10% for the other bands (1 – 12), (ii) to eliminate the unvouched element of the Public Representational Allowance (PRA), subject to permitting monthly expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas Members' Expenses (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The 10% reduction will be applied to the rates of the Party Leader’s Allowance in parallel with the other changes announced to the Party Leaders Allowance in my address to Dáil Éireann on the Expenditure Estimates for 2013. My Department has already commenced preparations on the changes to primary legislation necessary to effect those changes.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas Members' Salaries (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has commenced preparations on the changes to primary legislation necessary to effect changes to the Party leaders allowance and to abolish severance payments to Ministers and other Officeholders. This will be published following work by the Parliamentary Draftsman's Office and the Office of the Attorney General and appraisal by Government. The current recipients of severance...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Meetings (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: While my Department has overall responsibility for Cohesion policy, the issue is handled at the Council of Ministers by the General Affairs Council, which falls within the remit of the Tánaiste & Minister for Foreign Affairs. Nevertheless, I attended a meeting of the General Affairs Council devoted to Cohesion policy on 16 December 2011. I also attended informal meetings of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Social Impact Bonds (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am advised that the work of the steering group – which is carrying out an assessment of a number of opportunities identified by the Advisory Group on Social Impact Investing – is progressing. The steering group's assessment of the opportunities identified will be brought to me once finalised, with recommendations as to whether or not a project should proceed to a formal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Employment Rights (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The notification referred to by the Deputy relates specifically to public operations that have been outsourced. In this regard, the Public Service Agreement 2010 – 2014 established a mechanism to monitor compliance with employment law, including REAs, in operations which are the subject of outsourcing. My Department notified (Circular 15/2011) each Department on 22 December 2011 of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The public works contracts were introduced in February 2007 as part of the Construction Procurement Reform Initiative the objectives of which are to achieve greater cost certainty, better value for money and timely and more efficient delivery of projects. At the time of their introduction an undertaking was given to review their performance at an appropriate stage. Consideration was given...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Judicial Pay (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Under Article 35.5 of the Constitution, a judge’s salary may not be reduced except in the specific circumstances approved in last year’s Referendum on Judges’ Pay. There is, therefore, no legal provision to withhold a judge’s pay while on sick leave. Following the Referendum, I introduced the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Act 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Question Nos. 91, 93 and 94 of 19 September 2012.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas Members' Salaries (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The estimated saving to the Exchequer should a cap of €60,000 be applied to the basic pay of all Senators, a cap of €75,000 applied to all TDs and a cap of €100,000 be applied to the salaries of Government members, and Ministers of State, is set out in the table. Application of pay cap Estimated savings 1. Application of pay cap of €75,000 to TDs (other...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (18 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware from the reply given to him by my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on this matter on 11 December (question no. 292), the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government briefed the Government on matters relating to the Cork flooding of 29 June 2012 and it was decided that the relevant ministers would agree...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (12 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question the only service that is currently outsourced by my Department is the audit of the operations of the seven Civil Service crèches, to ensure that each crèche is being operated to a high standard and complies with all the necessary Childcare, HSE, and Environmental Health Regulations. In 2011 and 2012 these audits were carried out by a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Remuneration (12 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Temporary promotions or acting-up allowances have not been a feature of the staffing arrangements for the EU Presidency in my Department. While there are a number of officials at different grade levels working on Presidency related business there is no one currently working solely on Presidency related work. An interdivisional group has been established within my Department to co-ordinate...

Confidence in the Government: Motion [Private Members] (11 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Stop shouting down the Minister.

Confidence in the Government: Motion [Private Members] (11 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Stop shouting people down.

Confidence in the Government: Motion [Private Members] (11 Dec 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Sinn Féin is a party that complains about political decisions but has shown little or no capacity to make any decisions. Its policies are the stuff of fantasy. We can provide the policy document.