Results 16,221-16,240 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin
- Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: In relation to the agencies under the remit of my Department there has been no instance in which an appointment to a State body has not been made where a vacancy has arisen.
- Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Currently information is not collected in a format that would enable this Department to provide an answer to the Deputy's query. It would be a matter for the Deputy to contact the relevant Ministers with a request for this information.
- Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: My Department has access to detailed data on increments only in the Civil Service sector, for which I have direct responsibility. I will arrange for the relevant data in relation to the Civil Service to be collated and forwarded to the Deputy, as soon as it comes to hand. The position in relation to detailed data on increments is that it is not currently available or readily accessible within...
- Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Deputies will recall that when I announced the content of the State asset disposal programme in February, I indicated that consideration will also be given to the sale of some of Coillte's assets but that a sale of Coillte's land holdings is ruled out by Government. Since then, detailed consideration has been given to the various options to realise value from Coillte and its assets and I...
- Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: In answer to the Deputy's question my Department has no role to play in the matter of bonuses paid to senior county council officials or senior bank officials. These would be matters for the Department of the Environment and the Department of Finance respectively. In relation to bonuses paid to senior official in semi-State companies while the National Lottery, which is a commercial State...
- Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 88 together. As the Deputy will be aware, this Government is committed to far reaching reform of the Public Service and providing better value for money, flexibility and service delivery in the Public Service. The Government's Public Service Reform Plan, which was published last November, outlines the priority actions and timelines for reform. These...
- Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I will attempt to allay the Deputy's fears. It is the Government's firm intention to establish a publicly-owned water utility called Irish Water. It will be retained in State ownership. That will be enshrined in legislation and, while we have no control over future Governments, as long as my party is a member of this Government no consideration will be given to the sale of Irish Water....
- Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Perhaps the Deputy did not hear. We are writing it into the law of the land so it is a legal commitment. Every Parliament is sovereign so we have no control over what a future Parliament will do. As far as this Parliament and this Government is concerned, the utility will be a wholly-owned State utility. Most parties in the House and most Independents see it as the correct course. I do...
- Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I am pleased to report that the State asset disposal programme has made significant progress since I announced its content last February. The respective inter-departmental steering groups established at that time to prepare the assets for disposal have examined comprehensive financial reports by NewERA on Bord Gáis Energy, BGE, and Coillte and work is also proceeding on identifying the...
- Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: For many years, I have known Deputy Higgins's view on State industry and private industry. He regards one as all good and the other as all bad. I do not have the same philosophical view and I believe there is room for a dynamic State sector, which we need to protect and enhance, but not everything in the State sector is, by definition, good. Neither is everything in the private sector, by...
- Sale of State Assets (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I agree with much of what the Deputy said. I fundamentally disagree with the way Eircom was privatised. It was a strategic company providing a strategic service. That is why we are not selling off any of the strategic distribution lines of gas or electricity in this country. We are determined not to make those awful mistakes. I also agree with the point of Deputy Higgins in respect of...
- Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: This is a tabular reply so there is a slight difficulty. I will read the response and I will endeavour to help the Deputy with any of the tabulated particulars. I do not have a spare printed copy to give the Deputy. The estimated gross monthly pay and pensions bill for the period June 2011 to April 2012, as notified by Departments and offices, in respect of public service workers, is set...
- Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I can but -----
- Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: In June 2011, total pay was â¬1,218,901,000. The pension bill for the same month was â¬203,939,000, a total pay and pension bill in June 2011 of â¬1,422, 840,000. In April 2012, total pay was â¬1,134,191,000. The total pension bill payable in April 2012 was â¬247,975,000, giving a total pay and pension bill of â¬1, 382,166,000.
- Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: The Deputy has been consistently wrong on every issue. She regards rhetoric as being a substitute. I suggest she reads the report of the implementation group which is published today. Head count is one element but it also includes fundamental reform. This reform is accruing real benefits in monetary terms to the State. It is fanciful to say what the Deputy has just stated and to talk...
- Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 7 and 35 together. The implementation body has completed its second annual review and published this morning its second annual report of progress under the Croke Park agreement. In my view, the body has once again produced a very comprehensive, detailed and robust report. The report analyses the pay and non-pay efficiency savings being delivered under the...
- Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Does the Deputy have the report in front of him?
- Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: If he looks at page 4 he will see, in table 3, the Exchequer pay bill in gross terms for each year from 2009 to 2015. It is comparing exactly like with like across the top, beginning with the 2009 gross figure of â¬17.514 billion and ending in 2015 with the Exchequer gross figure of â¬14.6 billion. It is therefore comparing like with like. Has the Deputy read the table at all? I was...
- Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I will answer that separately.
- Public Sector Reform (13 Jun 2012)
Brendan Howlin: The Deputy wants to mix and match himself now.