Results 16,201-16,220 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In June 2011, the Government introduced a general pay ceiling of €200,000 for future appointments to higher positions across the public service (including CEOs of Non-Commercial State Agencies). This pay ceiling has applied since June 2011 and continues to apply to newly appointed CEOs in the Non-Commercial State Agencies. While the policy applies to all new appointments to the position...

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

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012 - 2016 is primarily focused on the areas of jobs, education and health. Within the programme there is considerable emphasis on more labour intensive projects which provide greater opportunities for job creation. This is typically demonstrated by the broad range of projects that the Department of Education...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (13 Jun 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. The Government has decided that this percentage is to be retained at...

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

Brendan Howlin: There are no plans to introduce a Public Appointments Transparency Bill. In respect of appointments to State Boards, the Deputy will be aware that the Government put new arrangements in place for the making of such appointments. Under these arrangements Departments invite expressions of interest in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis on their websites.

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

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 34 together. I am happy to report that significant progress has been made on advancing the asset disposal programme that I announced last February. The House will already be aware that a number of inter-departmental working groups have been established to examine each of the assets mentioned in that announcement with a view to disposals. The NewERA...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 39, 86, 87, 89 and 90 to 92, inclusive, together. The Government is making good progress on achieving all of our targets and priorities, as articulated in the Government Programme. We are bringing public expenditure back to a sustainable level and driving forward the public service reform agenda to ensure that efficiencies and reformed work practices play...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In answer to the Deputy's question I can provide details in respect of the Office of Public Works which is under the auspices of my Department. It would be a matter for individual departments to supply the information in respect of the associations, organisations and regulatory bodies under their aegis. The Office of Public Works has responsibility for the maintenance of the seven civil...

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

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 37 and 46 together. The Government recently decided to proceed with the implementation of a HR Shared Service Centre (HRSSC) for the Civil Service which will be operated and managed by the Civil Service. The HRSSC will carry out the transactional (administrative) elements of HR, freeing up staff in Departments, Offices and Agencies to focus on more...

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

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy's question notes, in the interests of transparency and as possible transactions get closer, I have issued a protocol governing meetings between Government departments and market participants/advisors in the context of the assets disposal programme that I announced in February. All such meetings are now being coordinated by the NewERA unit of the National Treasury Management...

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

Brendan Howlin: Public accountability requires that accounts be produced and audited within a reasonable timeframe. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies requires that draft unaudited annual accounts for each State body should be furnished to its relevant Department and to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform not later than two months after the end of the relevant financial year....

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

Brendan Howlin: In the context of reporting requirements for central government and state bodies, public accountability requires that relevant accounts are produced and audited within a reasonable timeframe. The format of these accounts and reporting requirements reflect the objectives, funding mechanisms and statutory basis of the relevant organisations. While reporting requirements may vary, the...

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

Brendan Howlin: A three month notice period was introduced as a temporary measure to assist management across the public service in dealing with the large number of retirements of staff in the run up to the end of the "grace period" i.e. the period during which the calculation of pension was unaffected by the pay reductions applied under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act...

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

Brendan Howlin: A detailed framework is already in place relating to the standards of professional conduct and behaviour applying to public officials in addition to those in place to ensure the probity of financial transactions. This framework is established under ethics legislation and covers under various statutory Codes of Conduct key aspects of the performance of the official duties of, for example,...

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

Brendan Howlin: I can confirm that third level institutions are covered by the proposed amendment to the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 which will facilitate movement between public service bodies in the context of redeployment arrangements. Work on finalising the draft Heads of the Bill to amend that Act is substantially advanced and it is expected that the Bill will be...

Written Answers — Government Economic and Evaluation Service: Government Economic and Evaluation Service (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government decided in March this year to set up the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES). The work of the Service will support Departments in evaluating policy and expenditure options; value for money exercises; cost benefit and regulatory impact analyses; and regulatory and competition issues. Candidates with postgraduate economic qualifications were targeted through...

Written Answers — Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill is a major, wide-ranging and complex piece of legislation which, as the Deputy is aware, will give effect to a very significant initiative impacting on the pension terms of future new entrants in all areas of the public service including the civil service, education sector, health sector, local authorities, Gardai, Defence...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (13 Jun 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am very 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. These guidelines set out positive measures that contracting authorities are to take to promote SME involvement in...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (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, launched in May 2011, which comprised a range of taxation and expenditure measures of €1.8bn designed to help get people back to work. Last year, my Department undertook a review of the public capital programme,...

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

Brendan Howlin: The House will be aware from my previous statements that a number of inter-departmental steering groups have been established to examine each of the assets referred to in the programme of State asset disposals that I announced in February. These groups are charged, inter alia, with identifying any implications for employment that will arise from the sales in question. Notwithstanding this, I...

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

Brendan Howlin: There is no commitment in the Programme for Government to bring forward legislation to prevent the rehiring of retired public servants who have taken a gratuity and who have pensions. The general policy 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. Usually, the rehiring of...