Results 17,821-17,840 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Ministerial Staff (11 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: That is a matter for debate.

Ministerial Staff (11 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: We must consider people with the same level of responsibility in the private sector. We have already lost one, who was much better remunerated before he was persuaded to come and work with a Cabinet Minister, to the private sector. He could not stay because he was head-hunted back. We want people of that calibre to work within our public services, to guide us back. I know this jars with...

Public Service Reform (11 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Cabinet sub-committee on public service reform, which is chaired by the Taoiseach and convened by me, held its first meeting on 13 July and is scheduled to meet again on 26 October. I remind Deputies that my Department was only formally established on 6 July this year. It is envisaged that the Cabinet sub-committee will meet regularly as the reform programme is implemented over the...

Public Service Reform (11 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I have before me in large bold letters a reminder of the confidentiality of these discussions, which are protected under Cabinet privilege. Perhaps I was too expansive when I spoke to the committee about these matters. I assure the Deputy that I am committed to reform. We will undertake more reform in the lifetime of this Government than has happened in a generation. I would like the...

Public Service Reform (11 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The committee is open to all Oireachtas Members.

Pension Provisions (11 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Extensive consultations on the proposed single public service pension scheme, which forms the main part of the Bill to which the Deputy refers, have taken place since early 2010 between officials of my Department and public service staff representatives. In particular, my officials have met to discuss the proposed scheme with the ICTU public services committee, which includes representatives...

Pension Provisions (11 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I look forward to a detailed discussion of these issues on Committee Stage. I hope to introduce Second Stage next week and to get through it quickly so we can have a more protracted Committee Stage debate to tease out the details. The only provision in the published Bill that would impact on already retired public servants is the possibility of changing from a linkage to the salary...

Pension Provisions (11 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The scheme refers to all public servants. Civil servants, non-commercial semi-State employees, members of the Garda Síochána, the Army, the Oireachtas and the Judiciary will be encompassed within the single pension scheme.

Public Service Appointments (11 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I have no plans to disband the top level appointments committee, TLAC. In April of this year the Government decided the membership of TLAC would be changed to include a majority of outside members. Heretofore the majority of the membership comprised serving civil servants. I was of the view this should be changed immediately and it was included in the programme for Government. The new...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I have no responsibility for this area. I am informed by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission that it will reply directly to the Deputy on the matter.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It has not been possible to collate the data as requested in the time available. I will however supply the data to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The total allocation in the REV for 2011 for the subheads in the Health Votes (39 and 40) which are part-funded by Lottery proceeds is €13.3 million. As Lottery funding is treated as an item of non-tax revenue to the exchequer, it is not possible to indicate the amount or percentage of Lottery funding provided to any particular Vote or subhead. However, it is estimated that in 2011 total...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The 2011 Estimate for my Vote includes the following provision for consultancy expenditure: Administrative Budget €7k Programme Consultancy Costs €75k At this point I do not envisage that the full allocation will be required but the final requirement cannot be predicted with reasonable certainty. I do not envisage that any of this provision will be attributed to contracts to identify...

Order of Business (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Where did the Deputy get that idea?

Order of Business (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It was said publicly.

Order of Business (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The whole of the social welfare budget.

Order of Business (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will have to find out.

Order of Business (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy has just been told.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: We have to fill the hole the previous Government left behind.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputies opposite have no shame.