Results 16,121-16,140 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The table that follows this reply shows the allowances and payment rates that are appropriate to certain staff in my Department. In many cases, the actual payment rate may be determined by the grade, point of pay or period covered by the claim. This is the reason for different rates for the same allowance. The rates referred to cover the pay period between June 2011 and June 2012. All...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Civil Service Disciplinary Code sets out the procedures for dealing with dismissals in the Civil Service. Prior to 2006, disciplinary and dismissal procedures were as set out in Circular 1/1992. Under these procedures, it was the responsibility of the Government to decide whether a civil servant should be dismissed. Under these procedures, my Department submitted each case to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together. The Civil Service Disciplinary Code sets out the procedures for dealing with dismissals in the Civil Service. Prior to 2006, disciplinary and dismissal procedures were as set out in Circular 1/1992. Under these procedures, it was the responsibility of the Government to decide whether a civil servant should be dismissed. Under these...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (3 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As I explained in my reply of 22 May 2012, Ireland has been allocated a total of €901 million in EU Structural Funding for the period 2007-13. Of this, €750 million is assigned to the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective, and the balance to Territorial Co-operation programmes, including the PEACE III (Ireland/NI), INTERREG IVA (Ireland/NI and Western Scotland) and the...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The following appointments have been made to bodies under the aegis of my Department: An Post National Lottery Name of Appointee Date Appointed Mr. Donal Connell - ChairmanMr. Peter Quinn – Director re-appointed February 29th 201216 February 2012 On 22 November 2011, I reappointed Mr Connell as chairman until 29 February 2012 to allow him time to appear before the Joint Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (3 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Over the past few years, my Department has been engaged with the State's law offices, which are critically involved in the engagement of legal services, with a view to pursuing reductions in overall costs and increasing competitive forces. Reductions in fee levels are being achieved through a number of different measures. In accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (3 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I have had no recent meetings with the social partners in relation to the Croke Park Agreement, which is an agreement reached between the Government as an employer and the unions and associations representing public servants. It is not an agreement made in the context of social partnership.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There is no direct link between the pay and duties of Special Advisers and that of members of the Oireachtas. Elected members of the Dáil are on a single rate of pay equivalent to the maximum point of the incremental scale applicable to the Principal Officer standard scale. The pay for Special Advisers is based on the Principal Officer standard scale of the civil service. This was deemed by...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The management of sick leave is taken most seriously in my Department , and the procedures in place, and entitlements to sick leave (including the applicable limits) are set out in the Department of Finance Circular 09/2010 -Management of Sick Leave. Sick leave absences and any patterns emerging are monitored and analysed through my Department's Human Resources Management System (HRMS),using...

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I wish to refer the Deputy to the detailed progress report on my Department's Action Plan under the Public Service Agreement 2012 -2014 (Croke Park Agreement) published on my Department's website (www.per.gov.ie ). My Department was established on 6 July 2011 and I am pleased to say that in the areas of better human resource management, better business processes and delivering for the...

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: -----of a suite of measures that make it clear that the Government wants people to retain roofs over their heads. We want to ensure there is a sustainable path to pay debt. The Deputy asked whether we have factored in the impact of debt write-off in terms of the recapitalisation of banks. That was part of the assessment by the BlackRock group and others last year. They determined the...

Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It is proposed to take No. 15, Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad] - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 6, Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012 - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 1, Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing...

Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am very aware of the pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises. Together with my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I conducted a seminar last Monday in my home town at which we met with small business owners and heard precisely what difficulties they face. The Valuation Act 2001(amendment) Bill falls within my remit and I intend to bring it to a conclusion...

Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: That legislation is proceeding to Committee Stage. The select committee is the appropriate forum for the Deputy to discuss any amendments she may wish to propose.

Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: That is not a legislative matter. I am sure the relevant committee will raise it with the Minister for Social Protection.

Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I understand there has been no request to the Whips for a debate. I agree that the report is a matter of great significance and I am sure any such request will be met with a ready ear.

Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Legislation will be introduced, as is absolutely traditional and routine. The matter has not yet been considered by Government, but it is traditional that the report would not be amended.

Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am sorry to inform the Deputy that there is no date fixed for the publication of the criminal justice (victims' rights) Bill and inspection of places of detention Bill. In both cases, the heads of Bill have not yet come to Government. In regard to the National Lottery Act 1986 (amendment) Bill, which comes under the remit of my Department, the current licence for the national lottery...

Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: This touches on the very fine line between the Executive and the Legislature and I am minded not to trespass on the House's territory. As the Deputy acknowledged, I am very supportive of this innovative committee. However, I shall go no further than to say that I understand these matters are being considered by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I will certainly talk to the Whip in relation to it.