Results 2,461-2,480 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under the Sixth VAT Directive, member states may retain the zero rates on goods and services which were in place on 1 January 1991, but cannot extend the zero rate to other goods and services. As the supply of home alarm systems was not subject to the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: As part of the decentralisation programme, it is intended that 210 posts of Ordnance Survey Ireland will decentralise to Dungarvan, County Waterford. Initial data from the central applications facility indicate that while 15 staff of Ordnance Survey Ireland have applied to decentralise to Dungarvan, there are a further 47 expressions of interest in decentralising to Dungarvan, Ordnance Survey...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government's decentralisation programme announced in budget 2004 provides for the transfer of 10,300 Civil Service and public sector posts from Dublin to other locations. Almost all Departments are involved, either wholly or partly. A number of semi-State organisations are also involved in the programme. The programme is voluntary, that is, staff may opt to decentralise with their post or...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: My Department has, on a small number of occasions, re-engaged former employees for short periods of time, two in 2004 and two in 2005. These re-engagements have been on the basis that they were of short duration, and the former employees were brought back on the basis of the skills or expertise they were able to bring to particular projects. Given the small number and duration of these...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The letter, of June 2004, referred to was from a trade union to the Department of Finance about the issue of inter-changeability of the grades of higher tax officer and executive officer in the context of decentralisation. The issue was covered in the continuing discussions between the Department of Finance and the staff panel of trade unions, of which the union in question is a part, at a...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The grades of higher tax officer and tax officer are not excluded from the decentralisation programme. The intention of the central applications facility has always been to allow staff, in all participating organisations, of which the Revenue Commissioners is one, to apply for transfer to locations in the decentralisation programme. The central applications facility is open to all Revenue...

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I welcome this opportunity to address Seanad Éireann on the Government's pre-budget Estimates for 2006. Before I proceed to outline the Government's spending plans for next year, I would like to review the economic and budgetary outlook and the background to the 2006 Estimates. In framing the Estimates, the Government has continued its policy of prudent management of the economy and public...

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Every one of them.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: It was reconstructed.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Taoiseach has in no way given a green light to anybody to walk away from the norms of industrial relations practice. He was simply explaining last week that the full rigours of the industrial relations machinery have been applied to this problem for some time. He said he and the Government, and any responsible person, would always seek respect from all sides for adherence to this process....

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assure the Deputy that the Taoiseach has communicated that message and continues to do so in respect of the conduct of this dispute. He has made his position clear. From the outset he indicated that he expects respect for employment and Irish law to apply in this case. The orderly conduct of industrial relations depends on respect for the basic norms and institutions of the State,...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Rabbitte's interpretation of the position is not that available to the Government. As usual, he regards his advice as superior to that of everyone else.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Pending reflagging approval, Irish employment laws will continue to be enforced and at all times Irish safety laws will continue to apply to all vessels using Irish ports, wherever they are flagged. Once the vessel is reflagged it is clearly a matter of international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, that the terms and conditions of employed seafarers on such...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Any company or individual in an EU member state has a right of establishment in any other EU member state. This is a well established provision since the signing of the Treaty of Rome. It is not that I agree or disagree with the idea that this is the mechanism by which Irish employment law would not continue to apply here. We want to see a resolution to the dispute within Irish industrial...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Fair enough. I thought Deputy Rabbitte had finished.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government will do everything it possibly can to resolve this dispute within the laws available, whether Irish or EU law. To suggest to the House that the Government is not doing so, in order the gain some political advantage with the public, is a matter the Deputy can pursue on his own.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: As regards the suggestion that Ministers have different views on this matter, that is incorrect.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: If I was to profile the Deputy's career with the number of different positions he had on issues——

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Not only has the Deputy had different positions on this and other issues, but he also has been in different political parties. If I was to engage in such a profile, I would be here for a long time this evening trying to figure out the inconsistencies.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I will not be intimidated by that Stickie nonsense.