Results 16,421-16,440 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Question No. 2856/12 of 18 January 2012.

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: 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 key areas of front-line services, particularly in the Health and Education Sectors and other strategic requirements including the EU presidency in 2013. The...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 131 together. I am happy to report to the House that significant progress has been made on advancing the asset disposal programme that I announced last February. A number of inter-departmental working groups have been established to examine each of the assets referred to in my announcement and NewERA has prepared two very thorough financial reports...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (24 Apr 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 Service Reform: Public Service Reform (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware there is a commitment in the Public Service Reform Plan that every Purchase Order by a Government Department or Agency for €20,000 or over should be published online by the end of 2012. My Secretary General wrote to all Secretaries General on March 27th, asking that they put appropriate processes in place to ensure that this ambitious target is met. The Reform...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Recommendation 62.15 of the Moriarty Tribunal Report (March 2011) is that the Standards Commission could appoint an inspector to audit the financial affairs of an office holder, within meaning of the Ethics Acts, by the voluntary and positive election of the office holder, at any time during his/her period in office and for a defined period thereafter. I am examining another possible...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that the Government has referred the report to the Garda Commissioner, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Revenue Commissioners and to the Standards in Public Office Commission. The Dáil has fully debated the Report and the Government is considering its response to the findings and recommendations.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Moriarty and Mahon Tribunal Reports were discussed when they were brought to Government. Neither I nor my officials have attended any meetings recently regarding recommendations in the Moriarty and Mahon Tribunal Reports. I am reviewing the detailed set of recommendations contained in the Mahon Tribunal Report related to ethics as well as those contained in the Moriarty Tribunal Report...

Written Answers — Commercial Rent Reviews: Commercial Rent Reviews (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 to 292, inclusive, together. The Office of Public Works confirms that the rent on 33 leases has been the subject of adjustment since February 2011 and the details requested are listed in the following table: LOCATION NAME USAGE CURRENTRENT PREVIOUSRENT AMOUNTPA+/- EXPIRY UPWARDRVWCLAUSE LANDLORD NAME BALBRIGGAN Balbriggan Passport Office Office...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy may be aware, I have overall responsibility for EU Cohesion and Structural Funds Policy. While there is no formal Council formation for Cohesion Policy, I attended the Informal Meeting of Ministers with responsibility for Cohesion Policy in Poznan, Poland on the 25th November 2011 and the General Affairs Council meeting on 16th December 2011 which dealt exclusively with...

Written Answers — Public Procurement Contracts: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Apr 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 — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is working with the Public Service Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council on the development of the Cloud Computing Strategy for the public service. Drafting is under way. It is planned to bring the Strategy to Government in June for approval and publication.

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: With regard to the number of State agencies abolished or merged in 2011; the number planned to be merged or abolished in 2012; and the resultant savings from these measures, I refer the Deputy to my answer to Deputy Michael McGrath (PQ Ref No: 17472/12) on 29 March 2012. Questions regarding the purpose of the individual bodies concerned should be directed to the relevant Ministers. In terms...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I have statutory responsibility for administering Civil Service pensions which includes the Prison Service, and pensions paid from the Central Fund, namely judicial and ministerial pensions. In relation to these groups there are 114 individuals currently in receipt of a pension in excess of €100,000. I do not have this information in relation to Health, Education, the Defence Forces, the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As legislation was enacted in July 2011 to establish my Department, I am not in a position to provide relevant details for the period prior to then. The information requested by the Deputy will be detailed in the Appropriation Accounts for 2011. The Appropriation Accounts are available online at www.audgen.gov.ie. The 2011 Appropriation Accounts have not yet been finalised by the Office of...

Written Answers — Public Procurement Contracts: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am very aware that public procurement can be an important source of business for local enterprises. In general, SMEs' flexibility and ability to respond speedily to requirements can be advantageous in competing for local contracts. Procurement guidelines (Circular 10/10) issued by my Department require public bodies to promote participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It is envisaged that one third of the proceeds raised thorough the disposal of State assets will be available for reinvestment purposes, once a threshold of €1 billion is reached. This means that up to €1 billion could be available, under the assumption that we realise the full €3 billion target that has been set for the State asset disposal programme.

Written Answers — Local Government Fund: Local Government Fund (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has not received any request for a supplementary allocation to the Local Government Fund.

Written Answers — Public Procurement Contracts: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: This matter is currently being discussed at EU level as part of the proposed amendments to the Procurement Directives and my Department is represented on the working group engaged in the process of considering the proposals. In the absence of an EU wide system to ensure compliance with employment and equality legislation, we will consider whether appropriate measures can be taken in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Brendan Howlin: No civil servants who have retired from my Department are back on the payroll in my Department.