Results 17,461-17,480 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Public Service Appointments: Public Service Appointments (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, in order to protect crucial services exceptions to the Moratorium may be granted for cases that come within the following limited circumstances: a) statutory posts which have to be filled for legal reasons; b) where failure to fill posts would result in a breach of EU/international regulations and impact upon exports etc.; c) safety related posts - failure to fill them...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 36 together. The Government is committed to compliance with the terms of the Public Service Agreement 2010-14 (The Croke Park Agreement). In an Appendix to the Agreement on service delivery options, it is recognised that some new or existing services will be provided on an outsourced basis. The Appendix provides that, in advance of a decision being...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: There is a process of significant reform of public service pensions. I have recently introduced the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011, currently before the House. It will provide for a new single pension scheme for all new entrants to the public service. This is an initiative that will significantly reduce costs to the taxpayer while at the same time ensuring...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: We are open to proposals from private sector investors to fund investment in Irish infrastructure on the right terms for the taxpayer. Accessing and directing other sources of private sector investment toward infrastructure could help to further boost Ireland's capital stock. There have been extensive discussions with a broad range of potential investors including Irish pension funds,...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (17 Nov 2011)

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. Current guidelines from my Department require public bodies to promote participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the award of public contracts. The...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, under the EU/IMF Programme, the Government is committed to considering options for an ambitious programme of asset disposals, based on the Programme for Government and the report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities, and to preparing a draft programme of asset disposals in this context to be discussed with the Troika in advance of taking final decisions...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department does not employ any agency staff. You may wish to contact my fellow ministers to ascertain the information with regard to their respective Departments and bodies under their aegis.

Written Answers — Local Authority Remuneration: Local Authority Remuneration (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I am happy to inform the House that such a system has been in place since the beginning of 2011.As the Deputy is no doubt aware Ireland is committed under the EU-IMF programme to reducing the overall size of the public service pay bill. While the pay and pension payments of nearly 31,000 Local Authority employees are not funded directly from the Exchequer they are nonetheless a major cost...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: In the first instance, it is part of the day to day function of Ministers and Senior Management of all Departments within their budgetary allocation to assess, budget and plan for current and ongoing staffing requirements including the identifying of key posts, service levels and the deployment of internal staff resources. This process is informed by a wide range of factors relevant to a...

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: This afternoon I announced a number of key developments in the Government's programme for public service reform including a detailed action oriented Public Service Reform Plan which sets the basis for the comprehensive and strategic reform of the Irish Public Service. This Government knows that all citizens and all stakeholders expect a modern Public Service to continually improve and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The procedure for members of the Oireachtas to waive all or part of their salary entitlements is facilitated under Section 483 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 which provides for a gift of the amount concerned to be made to the Minister for Finance for use for any purpose for or towards the cost of which public moneys are provided. There are currently 36 members of the Oireachtas who are...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I would refer the Deputy to the table on pages 16 and 17 of the Revised Estimates Volume 2011 published in July this year which lists the 2011 estimate of appropriations in aid by Vote. Part III of each Vote's estimates for supply service contains more details in regard to the category of receipts.

Written Answers — National Lottery Licence: National Lottery Licence (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 104, inclusive, together. The existing licence to operate the National Lottery is due to expire shortly and my Department has been actively examining how best to maximise the return on the next licence for the benefit of the people. As an interim arrangement, the Government has decided to extend the current licence to mid-2013 in order to allow time for...

Written Answers — Budgetary Measures: Budgetary Measures (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Firstly, I would point out to the Deputy that tax revenues in the period to end-October are significantly ahead of the corresponding period last year by approximately €2 billion or an increase of 8%. As regards the composition of consolidation, the Medium-Term Fiscal Statement published on 4 November, set out the aggregate fiscal consolidation path on which the Government has decided,...

Written Answers — Electronic Invoicing: Electronic Invoicing (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The National Procurement Service (NPS), under its responsibility for e-Procurement, has been tasked with supporting procurement-related savings across the public service. An area with potential for achieving savings for buyers and suppliers in the whole procure-to-pay process is the widespread adoption of electronic invoicing for public sector bodies and for business to business transactions...

Written Answers — Capital Expenditure: Capital Expenditure (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It is a matter for line Departments to manage their expenditure within their allocations and in line with the sanction arrangements issued by my Department. The end-October Exchequer returns show that capital expenditure by line Departments is running at about 12% behind profile overall so far this year. However, a variance of between 10 and 12% at this stage is not unusual. Based on...

Written Answers — National Lottery Licence: National Lottery Licence (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The National Lottery was established in 1986 and its legislative basis is the National Lottery Act of that year. An Post was awarded the first ten year licence to operate the National Lottery in 1986 and it established a subsidiary company, An Post National Lottery Company, for this purpose. The first licence was originally due to expire in 1996 but in 1993 the then Minister for Finance...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists and rules concerning the practice of lobbying. This commitment forms an important part of the Government's proposed programme of political reform. Work has commenced in my Department on the regulatory approach adopted in other jurisdictions to inform the development of detailed proposals in this...

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendments: Constitutional Amendments (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I believe that it is important that the Government and the wider political system now reflect on the result of the recent Referendum on Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries, and on the views put forward during the Referendum campaign. Collectively, we need to seek to understand the reasons the proposal was not accepted. We also need to take the time to analyse these, and consider options for...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (17 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Service Reform Plan, which I announced today, includes measures aimed at driving better value in public procurement through increased capability, increased aggregation of requirements, more measurement and analysis and innovative use of technology. The National Public Procurement Policy Unit in my Department and the National Procurement Service have been developing a strategic...