Results 61-80 of 139 for 5 million speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: ...Works Management Framework (CWMF) was introduced on a phased basis from 2007 and became mandatory for all contracting authorities through the issue of Department of Finance Circular 06/10 on 5 May 2010.  The documents are updated and augmented where appropriate to respond to new developments in the industry and changes in the regulatory environment. A number of standard CWMF...

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: ...the implementation of the various Financial Emergency in the Public Interest Acts, has been reduced by more than 40% in the period since 2009 and that of the Tánaiste and Ministers by more than 35% in the same period. The pay cuts that have been applied will of course follow through into a reduction in the pensions that will be payable to each of them when their time comes to claim...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (22 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: ...measures have also been taken over recent years which help to curb public service pension costs as follows:- In 2004 minimum pension age for new-joiner public service workers was raised from 60 to 65 years. - In 2010 public service pay cuts averaging approximately 7% were applied. Further pay cuts affecting public servants with annual earnings above €65,000 were applied in July...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: ...as part of our national fiscal consolidation. Across all sectors of the public service, and based on the current PRD rates structure, it is estimated that the deduction raises in the region of €950 million per year. On this basis, the key importance of the measure in restoring balance to the public finances means that I have no plans at present to cease PRD deductions, but as with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Tenders (17 Dec 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...above certain thresholds must be advertised on the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria. For works contracts the threshold is €5 million. The aim of European and national rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. All policy, guidance...

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Instruction to Committee (12 Dec 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...half pay, to three months full pay and three months half pay. We know that in many areas of the public service absenteeism levels are high compared to best practice benchmarks, ranging from 4% to 5%. The direct pay bill cost of this absenteeism has been estimated at approximately €500 million and necessary substitution of staff in some sectors attracts additional costs. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme Expenditure (10 Dec 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I should point out that the figure of €5 million published in the figures refers to my Vote group which includes Votes 11 to 19. Of these Votes, only three have a capital allocation – Vote 11 Public Expenditure and Reform, Vote 13 Office of Public Works and Vote 18 Shared Services. While the group is showing an underspend against profile at the end of November, it is expected...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (21 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...Departments. My Department is working with all Departments and offices to monitor all current and capital spending on a monthly basis. At the end of October, net voted expenditure was €844 million within profile. That means it was less than we expected to spend by the end of last month. This highlights that, notwithstanding pressures in some areas, the aggregate expenditure is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...of public expenditure for running everything, which would not be right either. I will finish the point relating to the Department of Justice and Equality. We have allocated an additional €5 million for the first instalment of the Magdalen payments, which was not accounted for but to which nobody would object. The Deputy mentioned the €51 million, which is a gross figure,...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Budget Statement 2014 (15 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: A further €5 million will be allocated to extend the reach of the books-to-rent programme in primary schools. Justice We will be providing additional funding to the Department of Justice and Equality to increase staff for the Garda vetting service. Also in the justice sector, it is expected that the new court of appeal and the legal services regulatory authority will be established...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Budget Statement 2014 (15 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: -----is due to issue by the end of this month. A total of 13,000 direct and many more indirect jobs are expected to be created by this programme. Earlier this year I announced €150 million of direct Exchequer capital and a further €250 million of PPPs. The extra Exchequer money is being invested in 28 badly needed school projects, maintaining the local road network and a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...can unjustifiably hinder small businesses in competing for public contracts. The key provisions of the guidance include: - supplies and general services contracts with an estimated value of €25,000 or more to be advertised on the www.etenders.gov.ie website; - less use of “restrictive” tendering procedures and greater use of “open” tendering; -...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...the PSPR adjustments which the Deputy has proposed. However, by drawing on previously undertaken costings work, it is possible to ascribe an approximate order-of-magnitude savings figure of a further €5 million to the PSPR proposals made by the Deputy. This approximate and tentative €5 million PSPR savings estimate arises very substantially from the Deputy's proposal in...

Estimates for Public Services 2013: Motion (11 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...31st day of December, 2013, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Attorney General, including a grant-in-aid. Vote 4 -- Central Statistics Office (Revised Estimate).That a sum not exceeding €39,758,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2013, for the salaries and expenses of the...

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 201: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...are practical or helpful, although I understand entirely what he is seeking to achieve. The Deputy referred to the overspend last year. If one thinks of Ireland Inc. providing services for 5 million people on a 24-hour demand-led basis, the growth outturn was 0.2% last year. Therefore, the excess spend was 0.2% or one fifth of 1%. That puts it into some context.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...The ESB made an announcement last October regarding the sale of some of its non-strategic generation capacity, involving a package of assets being brought to the market on a phased basis commencing in 2013. In February, the ESB announced its intention to sell its 50% shareholding in each of its international tolling plants - Marchwood in the United Kingdom and Amorbieta in Spain. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Expenditure (12 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: With effect from 1 July 2013, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 will reduce public service pensions valued above €32,500 per annum, applying to all such pensions already payable on that date or awarded up to end-August 2014. The reductions will range from about 2% near the €32,500 threshold level (subject to no pension falling below...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (28 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ..., the tables show that significant progress has been made by Departments on the implementation of agreed rationalisation measures. To date, rationalisation and amalgamation measures involving 25 bodies have been fully implemented, and measures involving a further 83 bodies are at advanced legislative or administrative stages. Further measures, involving 107 bodies, were identified under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (30 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together. Public procurement is the acquisition, whether under formal contract or not, of works, supplies and services by public bodies. Public procurement in Ireland is governed by legal requirements, rules and guidelines set both at national and EU level. The general requirements for goods and general services are set out in the Public...

Public Sector Pay and Conditions: Motion [Private Members] (23 Apr 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ...regard. The proposals segmented the workforce into four income categories and treated each differently. Those earning in excess of €100,000 would suffer permanent losses in pay. Those between €65,000 and €100,000 were afforded a path to pay restoration following the expiry of the agreement. Those under €65,000 suffered no loss in core pay. In the zero to...