Results 17,041-17,060 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin
- Departmental Staff (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Our ambition is to effect a reduction of an additional 27,500 in the coming years. By 2015 that quantum will, together with the levy, accrue a saving of â¬3.5 billion on the pensions bill in gross terms. The pensions element is accounted for separately and would have to be paid in any event.
- Sale of State Assets (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: The troika views asset disposal as a structural reform measure, intended to improve efficiency and competition in the economy while offering the prospect of reducing overall debt levels. The Government, views asset disposal as offering the potential to release value from State assets for use in employment generating initiatives in the economy, as set out clearly in the programme for...
- Sale of State Assets (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: There were a number of questions and assertions in Deputy Wallace's contribution. A programme for Government was negotiated by the two parties in Government, namely, Fine Gael and the Labour Party. People will be aware that both parties have different perspectives in regard to the sale of State assets. However, we entered government in unprecedented economic times. We are in an incredible...
- Sale of State Assets (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: To answer the last question first, the Deputy will forgive me if I allow the Government to consider those reports first. As soon as the deliberative process has been completed, the appropriate documentation will be published. The Deputy is wrong in indicating that we have a fiscal view that is only interested in balancing the budget. The first thing we did was get permission to use â¬1...
- Sale of State Assets (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Some 9,000 jobs were created last year through that initiative.
- Sale of State Assets (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: It is easy to be the naysayers and to engage in the Darby O'Gill economics that we do not have to balance the books and can continue to borrow â¬1.5 billion.
- Sale of State Assets (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I do not know who is going to provide us with that money. The only people on earth willing to give us money, at the rates affordable to this State, is the troika, which has laid down hard and tough measures with which we must live. We can tell them, as I heard some of the individuals opposite suggest, to take a hike. If one wished to play Russian roulette with this country and its economy...
- Sale of State Assets (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Moreover, the Pathways to Work programme will be published shortly and will be implemented by the Minister for Social Protection. In addition, I constantly am seeking innovative ways to access capital for sustainable projects to create sustainable jobs, and this is what the Government will continue to do.
- Croke Park Agreement (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: The implementation body for the Croke Park agreement published its first annual progress report in June 2011. The report examined the savings and reforms delivered in the first year of the agreement and found that sustainable pay bill savings in the order of â¬289 million had been achieved during the review period. It also reported that solid and measurable progress had been made on...
- Croke Park Agreement (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: First, I welcome the Deputy's support for the Croke Park agreement. It is important because I have heard many people assert the agreement is an impediment to progress. I would like to be informed as to what the Croke Park agreement is preventing from happening. If people are seeking a straightforward pay cut across the entire public service, let them spell this out. I am not sure what the...
- Croke Park Agreement (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I provided all the figures when I appeared before the relevant committee and made sure to disaggregate everything. The reality is that these are costs which will have to be met. The people in question have, by and large, worked for up to 40 years in the public service. They have made their pension contributions in the expectation of obtaining both a lump sum and a pension at the end of...
- Croke Park Agreement (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I have been extremely transparent in the figures I have provided. However, I do not believe in double accounting. I will discuss the matter of the overall cost of pensions in detail following the February deadline in order that everyone will be aware of the exact position. The lump sum payments will be a once-off cost but the payroll saving will be permanent. I am not thinking in terms of...
- Public Sector Pay (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am extremely conscious of the fiscal crisis facing Ireland and the loss of economic sovereignty which has resulted from the economic mismanagement of the country in previous years. We continue to work in consultation and partnership with the troika in implementing the EU-IMF programme which provides an agreed but difficult fiscal path for the...
- Public Sector Pay (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Is that a fact?
- Public Sector Pay (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: It is always difficult when the Deputy has prepared his answer before he hears my answer, as he has prepared his rebuttal.
- Public Sector Pay (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I have given the Deputy the data as I have it in front of me. When we went into Government, I believed that the highest levels of the public service were paid too much. That is why in our first act, we set a new pay ceiling for the Taoiseach, for Ministers and for Ministers of State, which was significantly lower than the remuneration of our predecessors. We then set that ceiling across...
- Public Sector Pay (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I will answer the last question first because it is very important and the answer to which is no. I have dealt with the troika on the issue of public pay policy and its members have no difficulty with the policy of the Government as long as we achieve the extra payroll savings set out, with which they are in agreement. I have dealt with the issue of top level pay. Let us consider what has...
- Public Sector Pay (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: With regard to the top level-----
- Public Sector Pay (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: -----I have indicated that in some instances there has been a cut of more than 30%. On a voluntary basis, one senior public servant who has asked not to be named has taken a cut of more than 50% to meet the pay norms set because some of the pay norms set in advance of our entering government were unacceptable. We have moved remarkably, but we cannot look on public servants as an amorphous...
- Legislative Programme (24 Jan 2012)
Brendan Howlin: My Department is making good progress in developing the necessary draft legislation to implement the commitment made in the programme of Government in regard to whistleblower protection. Following the recent completion of the process of consultation with other Departments, I expect to present these proposals to my Government colleagues shortly to secure approval for the drafting process for...