Results 17,541-17,560 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together. In response to the Deputy's questions, I understand that each Department keeps the information in relation to bodies that come under their aegis. In relation to my own Department the following tables contain details in respect of bodies which receive Exchequer Funding and bodies which do not receive Exchequer funding. Table A bodies in...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. The question of rationalisation and the reduction in the number of State bodies is being considered in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the overall budgetary and estimates process for 2012, and decisions on such matters will be made by the Government over the coming weeks. The priorities set out in the Programme...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (8 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The data in respect of Ministerial and TDs' pensions requested by the Deputy are in the tabular statement below. The figures were provided by the Office of Paymaster General in respect of Ministerial pensions and from the Houses of the Oireachtas Service in respect of TD pensions. The amount of pension is on an annual basis; Ministers' and TDs' pensions may not be in payment since January...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (8 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 195 together. As the Deputies are aware, this project is due to be implemented under the INTERREG IVA Programme 2007-13 which is co-funded by the Irish and UK (NI/Scotland) Governments and the European Regional Development Fund. The objective of the programme is to support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (8 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The question of rationalisation and the reduction in the number of State bodies is being considered in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the overall budgetary and estimates process for 2012, and decisions on such matters will be made by the Government over the coming weeks. The priorities set out in the Programme for Government for the rationalisation of State...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (8 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together. Since my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have not appointed any former Government office holder to any organisation under the remit of my Department . On foot of motions, both the Dáil and the Seanad approved the appointment by the Government, with effect from 19 December 2007 and for a period of 6 years, of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce new legislation to protect small building subcontractors that have been denied payments from bigger companies. In addition, you may be aware that the Construction Contracts Bill 2010 was introduced by Senator Feargal Quinn and passed Committee and remaining stages in the Seanad on 8 March 2011. It is now before the Dáil. My...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together. My Department payroll and that of a number of Offices under the aegis of my Department is administered by the Department of Finance shared services payroll and the details sought by the Deputy are included in the figures returned by that Department. The Department of Finance is a Payroll Agent for the following Departments/Offices under...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (2 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Foreign travel guidelines covering, inter alia, business and economy class air travel were issued by my Department to all Government Departments/Offices on 1 July 2009. Departments/Offices were required to implement these guidelines in respect of their own local management of travel arrangements and were also requested to write to the relevant public bodies/agencies under their aegis to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to the reply by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, to Question Nos. 18587/11, 18588/11, and 18586/11 on 5 July 2011.

Written Answers — Property Valuations: Property Valuations (2 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together. The Valuation Act 2001 provides for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property and the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative. Under the 2001 Act, the basis of valuation for all commercial property is net...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is engaged with the State's law offices, who are critically involved in the engagement of legal services, with a view to increasing competitive forces and pursuing reductions in overall costs. Reductions are being achieved through reduced fee levels. Legal services are not exempt from public procurement rules and many authorities tender for their legal advisory services. To...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (2 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has instructed Departments and Offices that, with effect from 1 November 2011, the payment of fees should cease in respect of (i) public servants serving on State boards and (ii) public sector employees who sit on their own organisation's board or the boards of other public sector organisations. Where contractual obligations may prevent the discontinuance of such board fee...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (2 Nov 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is engaged in the necessary preparatory work and consultations to give effect to the commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to Freedom of Information. I expect to be in a position to introduce the necessary legislative measures to give effect to these commitments in the New Year.

Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (26 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) has generated a large number of options for savings and reform measures which are now being considered by the Government in the context of framing decisions on the Budget and Estimates for 2012 and subsequent years. The Taoiseach outlined to the House last week that the Government has committed to a series of budgetary and expenditure...

Written Answers — Presidential Remuneration: Presidential Remuneration (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 204 together. Under the Presidential Establishment (Amendment) Act, 1973, the personal remuneration of the President is set at the rate paid to the Chief Justice plus ten per cent. In accordance with the Act, the personal remuneration of the current President is €325,507 p.a. and is subject to the normal income tax code including the Universal Social...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The question of rationalisation and the reduction in the number of State bodies is being considered in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the overall budgetary and estimates process for 2012, and decisions on such matters will be made by the Government over the coming weeks. The priorities set out in the Programme for Government for the rationalisation of State...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The North-South Implementation Bodies were set up in 1999 under the Good Friday Agreement. There are six bodies in total, comprising Waterways Ireland, the Food Safety Promotion Board, the Trade and Business Development Body, the Special EU Programmes Body, the North/South Language Body and the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency) Five of the six bodies are...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The particular civil service grades concerned do not receive overtime payments under their terms and conditions of employment. Accordingly, no such payments were paid to these grades in 2010.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It is my view that it is best practice to have senior managers in the civil service to be involved in the selection process for Assistant Secretaries and Secretary General posts.