Results 16,181-16,200 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (20 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The correspondence referred to has been forwarded to the appropriate officials of my Department for their attention.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Officials in my Department are in regular communication with line Departments with regard to monitoring current expenditure. Departments and Offices report on net current expenditure issues from the Exchequer immediately prior to the end of each month and these figures are monitored against the published Expenditure profiles. In addition, officials from my Department meet regularly with...

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: With the ESOP it was 75%. It disposed of the majority.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It would be a brave man who sought to look into the mind of Michael O'Leary.

Written Answers — Public Procurement Contracts: Public Procurement Contracts (19 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am aware that public procurement can be an important source of business for local enterprises. Current guidelines (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 was developed in 2010 by a cabinet committee which was tasked with considering issues that face SMEs in...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pensions: Public Sector Pensions (19 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The gross accrued liability for public service occupational pensions is estimated at €116bn as of December 2009. This estimate is set out in the Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General published in 2010. This figure was arrived at on the basis of a detailed actuarial valuation of public service pension schemes carried out by consultants employed by the C&AG in the light of the...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (19 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Reform Plan, published in November 2011, outlines the Government's programme of public service reforms and improvements which are designed to deliver on the commitments made in the Programme for Government. The radical streamlining of 48 state bodies, a key element of the Plan, includes the merger of the Commission on Public Service Appointments into the Office of the...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (19 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, while my Department is responsible for the overall sanctioning of ICT expenditure in the public service, the responsibility for day to day operations rests with each Department and State Agency. Consequently, the decision on what particular office productivity software to deploy and its specific costs are matters for each Department and Agency, subject to the normal...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (19 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As I have previously stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question number 28316/12, the general policy with regard to the re-engagement of retired public servants is that staff should not be retained beyond retirement age and any re-engagement should be kept as limited as possible and should be for a very restricted period. In any big organisation situations can arise where a particular issue...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (19 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the proposed Single Public Service Pension Scheme for new recruits to public service employment. This new scheme is being legislated for by way of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011, which is a major wide-ranging and complex piece of legislation. The new scheme will apply to all future new entrants in all areas...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (14 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement is a four year agreement covering the period out to 2014. The terms of the Agreement provide for an ongoing review process. No negotiations or discussions have taken place with unions or staff representatives in relation to the expiration of the Agreement.

Written Answers — Performance Management Systems: Performance Management Systems (14 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 to 49, inclusive, together. The new PMDS form came into use for the 2012 cycle which commenced on 1 January 2012 and replaces the three separate Role Profile, Interim Review and Annual Review forms which were in use previously. The 2012 cycle of the Performance Management and Development System ends on 31 December 2012. The central aim of any performance...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 14 together. As the Deputy will be aware the Public Service Reform Plan, published in November last year, demonstrated the Government's commitment to reform and the pursuit of efficiencies by deciding (i) to proceed with the rationalisation of 48 bodies by the end of 2012 and (ii) the critical review of a further 46 bodies by the end of June 2012....

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I announced the review of allowances and premia payments, to be carried out by my Department, in my address on the 2012 Expenditure Estimates on 5 December 2012. This announcement was made on foot of a Government decision which requires the public service to take additional measures to deliver further efficiencies in 2012 so as to ensure that paybill targets are met and with a view to...

Written Answers — Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Since coming into office, the current Government has been working on a range of measures to boost employment and help stimulate economic growth beginning with the Jobs Initiative which was launched in May 2011 and which comprised a range of taxation and expenditure measures of €1.8bn designed to help get people back to work. Further work to stimulate economic growth and create employment...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In answer to the Deputy's question I can provide details in respect of the bodies under the aegis of my Department. It would be a matter for individual departments to supply the information in respect of the bodies under their aegis. The following is the list of Board Appointees to the Public Appointments Service (PAS) and their remuneration received in respect of Board membership. Name...

Written Answers — Ministerial Salaries: Ministerial Salaries (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The French President's decision to reduce his own pay and that of his Cabinet mirrors the precedent set by this Government on entry into office in March 2011. The Deputy will be aware that the Government decided on taking office in March 2011 to reduce the salaries of An Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Ministers and Ministers of State with immediate effect. The reductions were implemented on a...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 21 together. I announced last February that, following intense engagement, I had secured an agreement with the Troika that a third of the proceeds of our asset disposals programme could be used for re-investment in our economy. This was a substantial change to the Troika's previous position and will help promote recovery in the economy. I have since...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The House will be aware that in dealing with the EU/ECB/IMF Troika on this matter, it has been this Government's consistent position that funds released from asset disposals would be used to support job creating initiatives in the economy. I am happy to report that, after long-term negotiations, I recently reached agreement with Troika representatives that all such proceeds would be used, in...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The current Guidelines on Special Advisors provide, except in the Offices of the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste where separate arrangements apply, that they are to be placed on the minimum point of the Principal Officer (standard) scale, which currently runs from €80,051 at the minimum to €92,672 at the maximum. The following table sets out details of Special Advisers. List of Special...