Results 16,001-16,020 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (10 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The latest available data on moratorium exceptions, which covers the period to the end of the first quarter 2012 will be forwarded to the Deputy as requested. The Employment Control Framework (ECF) for 2012 set a ceiling of 294,400 on public service staffing numbers by the end of this year. This will allow scope for some targeted recruitment of up to 3,000 in 2012 so as to address needs in...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Appointments Service (PAS), which has day-to-day operational responsibility for the implementation of redeployment, has put in place a system of Resource Panels of Civil Service and State Agency staff to support the redeployment processes in those sectors agreed under the Croke Park Agreement. Posts to be filled by redeployment are offered in the first instance to the relevant...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (10 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: A person who has held three consecutive fixed-term contracts would not necessarily be entitled to a permanent post in the civil or public service. However such a person would be protected by the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003 which allows for the renewal of existing or granting of new contracts where there are valid reasons for doing so. Only if the Body concerned failed...

Freedom of Information (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy was on safe ground.

Freedom of Information (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The problem is that some submissions include rakes of questions.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: A number of reforms have been introduced in relation to Public Service pension entitlements which affect Ministerial pensions. Under the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, Ministerial pensions are not payable to new Oireachtas Members (as defined in the Act) before 65 years of age and, under the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The estimated breakdown of employee numbers on a whole time equivalent basis (based on a whole time equivalent figure of 300,000) by salary range within the public service (excluding Commercial State Companies) in 2011 is set out in the Table. Pay Parameters Numbers €0-€20,000 19,442 €20,001-€30,000 26,749 €30,001-€40,000 66,504 €40,001-€50,000 68,935...

Written Answers — National Lottery: National Lottery (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, I announced on 4th April 2012 that the Government has decided to hold a competition for the next National Lottery licence and that the licence will be for a 20 year period. The ongoing provision of a fixed percentage of annual lottery turnover for good causes will be a condition of the licence. As I announced on 4th April, this percentage is to be retained at 30.5%...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am aware that public procurement can be an important source of business for local enterprises. Current guidelines known as Circular 10/10 issued by my Department require public bodies to promote participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the award of public contracts. Circular 10/10 sets out positive measures that contracting authorities are to take to promote SME involvement in...

Written Answers — Public Sector Allowances: Public Sector Allowances (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I have had no discussions with union representatives in respect of reducing the cost of public sector allowances. As the Deputy is aware from my previous replies in relation to the review of allowances and premia payments, most recently, PQ number 28292/12 on the 15th June 2012, I expect to be in a position to bring proposals to Government shortly in relation to the findings of the review....

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware of the significant commitments given in the Programme for Government to restore the Freedom of Information Act, to extend its remit to other public bodies including the administrative side of the Garda Síochána, subject to security exceptions and to extend the Act to ensure that all statutory bodies, and all bodies significantly funded from the public purse, are...

Written Answers — Budget Timetable: Budget Timetable (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It is the case that the budgetary processes of all EU member states, including Ireland, are being influenced to an increasing extent by requirements at a European level. The introduction of a European semester in 2011 for example has led to the publication of the annual Stability Programme Update in April of each year. The purpose of these new arrangements is to allow for a more intensive...

Written Answers — Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest: Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 21 together. As the Deputy may be aware my proposals for the protection of whistleblowers contained in the General Scheme of the Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest Bill were referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform for their views. Following a number of meetings with key interest groups and...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government has reaffirmed the key commitments under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 in relation to pay and job security for serving public servants. These commitments are contingent on delivery of the necessary flexibilities and reforms to public service delivery that are required under the Agreement. The Budget process has outlined the Exchequer expenditure programme for 2012 and...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There are a number of legislative provisions governing the payment of the allowances listed by the Deputy. Details of allowances payable in the categories specified by the Deputy, are set out in the table below. The cost if all such remuneration is claimed is estimated at €375,000. However, this figure does not take account of any individual arrangements whereby the allowance of portion...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The House will be aware that inter-departmental steering groups were established to identify and examine the issues referred to in the Deputy's question in respect of each of the State companies listed in the assets disposal programme that I announced in February. The relevant groups, having identified regulatory, legislative, corporate governance and financial issues arising in respect of...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pensions: Public Sector Pensions (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), which was introduced with effect from 1 January 2011, currently applies separately to each individual public service pension which was in payment or awarded up to and including 29 February 2012. The PSPR is a progressive scaled reduction; the pension income bands and rates of reduction are as follows: First €12,000: 0% Between €12,000 and...

Written Answers — Budget Consultation Process: Budget Consultation Process (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Medium-Term Fiscal Statement, published in November last year, set out the Government's economic and budgetary assessment for the four year period 2012-2015 including the estimated level of fiscal consolidation that is required to bring the General Government deficit below 3% of GDP by 2015, as the Government is committed to doing. The Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2012-2014,...

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The development of policy in relation to public procurement has to be seen in the context of a set of rules agreed by European Member States which have the aim of creating a single market of publically procured works, goods and services. The Irish guidance document "Public Procurement Guidelines - Competitive Process" was published in 2004 following the adoption of the current rules that...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (4 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Last June, I introduced a general pay cap of €250,000 per annum for Chief Executive Officers of Commercial State Companies. At the time I acknowledged that the CEO of the ESB would be paid a higher amount given the importance of the role and I sanctioned €318,083 per annum for this post. Since then a candidate has been appointed who has accepted a salary of €295,000 per annum. This...