Results 16,921-16,940 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: That is shocking.

Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It depends on the constitutional requirement.

Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It was not this Government that signed up to that deal.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Would she like to write the answers that she wants us to give to her questions?

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (1 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As part of its Reform Agenda, the Government is committed to reducing public service numbers to 282,500 by the end of 2015 with the aim of producing a more customer-focused, leaner, more efficient, better integrated public service which delivers maximum value for money. Numbers employed in the Public Service and Non-commercial State Agencies (NCSAs) are estimated to have decreased by over...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (1 Feb 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Funding allocations and expenditure of the Valuation Tribunal in respect of the years 2009 to 2012 (to date) are set out in the table below. Between 2009 and 2010 savings were achieved in the categories of Members' Fees and Members' Travel and Subsistence as a result of procedural changes at the Tribunal. The significantly increased figures in all expenditure categories in respect of 2011...

Written Answers — Oireachtas Officeholders' Remuneration: Oireachtas Officeholders' Remuneration (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: 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 voluntary basis by all relevant Officeholders pending passage of the necessary legislation giving statutory effect to the reductions. Section 6(c) of the Financial Emergency Measures in the...

Written Answers — State Assets: State Assets (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As I have already informed this House, in our discussions during their recent mission to Dublin, the European Commission/ECB/IMF Troika signalled that, in the context of the Government pursuing an ambitious programme of asset disposals, they would be prepared to agree to the retention by the Government of a sizeable amount of the proceeds generated from such disposals for reinvestment in job...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Pension arrangements other than those offered by the Construction Industry Federation may be used as an alternative provided the terms in such arrangements are no less favourable than the terms in the Registered Employment Agreement (Construction Industry Pensions Assurance and Sick Pay). Where a firm is registered in another Member State of the EU and is working in Ireland and has employees...

Written Answers — Members' Allowances: Members' Allowances (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As indicated in my replies to Parliamentary Questions No. 40637 on 15th December last, No. 3118 on 19th January and No. 3848 on 24th January this year, I intend to bring proposals to Government shortly in relation to the Party Leader's Allowance. The Party Leader's Allowance is provided for in the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Act, 1938, as amended by the Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Public Sector Recruitment: Public Sector Recruitment (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government is committed to reducing Public Service numbers to 282,500 by 2015. Given the importance of meeting this challenging numbers target, any recruitment will be limited and targeted towards areas of most need. It is not the general policy to comment on specific offices until decisions on business cases have been made. I reiterate what I have stated previously to the Deputy, that...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Latest figures from across the Public Service, excluding the Health Sector, indicate that over 4,000 are expected to retire in the first two months of 2012. The sectoral breakdown of the application numbers is as follows: Education Sector 2,000 Civil Service 1,008 Local Authorities 730 Defence Forces 241 Gardaí 293 Total 4,272 In the Health Sector the data is...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department does not have access to the details of the arrangements entered into by individual Members of the Oireachtas with regard to career breaks or leaves of absence from their professions and occupations. The Deputy may wish to consider making an approach to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission for information on this matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question some €10,131 can be attributed to costs incurred in relation to refurbishment in my Department. Cost Breakdown Costs € Details 3,204 Painting of rooms and laying of carpet. 4,369 Plumbing and Electrical Works. 2,558 Painting and Decorating.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is at an advanced stage in finalising legislative proposals as a basis for the drafting of a whistleblower protection Bill in line with the commitment including in the Programme for Government. I will be bringing Draft Heads of a Bill to Government for approval within the next two weeks and it is hoped that the Bill will be published shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In line with the reduced pay rates introduced by myself in June 2011 for senior positions in the public service, the annual salary of the Secretary General of my Department is €200,000, no allowances are payable to any Secretary General. The position of private secretary to the Minister is currently staffed in my Department by a civil servant at Administrative Officer level who receives an...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question, the following are appointments made to bodies under the aegis of my Department since 9 March 2011: An Post National Lottery Name of Appointee Date Appointed Mr. Donal Connell - Chairman re-appointeduntil 28th February 2012. I re-appointed Mr. Connell as chairman until 28th February 2012. This was to allow time for Mr Connell to appear before the...

Written Answers — Child Care Facilities: Child Care Facilities (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 272, inclusive, together. In Budget 2001, the Minister for Finance allocated €12.7m for the provision of crèches for the children of civil servants. The allocation was part of a major initiative by the Government to improve childcare provision and increase the number of child care places available. At that time, the absence of quality child care...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The individual retired from the Houses of the Oireachtas Service in 2010 under the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme and will reach normal retirement age in March of this year. The Deputy may wish to note that the officer was a Civil Servant and not a direct employee of a Member of the Oireachtas or of a Minister/Minister of State. Following my reply to question 251 on 24 January, I have...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has responsibility for the career break scheme for civil servants, which is governed by Circular 18/1998. I understand that, under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for the day to day staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible....