Results 3,341-3,360 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: On the second matter, I am unsure whether the broadcasting authority Bill will arise during the current session but it is anticipated it will be published during the course of this year. The Deloitte & Touche report has been commissioned by the Minister in his effort to prepare a policy proposal. The report in itself does not constitute the energy policy and it may well contain some...

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The health Bill will be published this year. There will be many opportunities on Second Stage of a number of Bills for Members to bring to the Minister's attention their views on a range of matters in the health area, including the one to which the Deputy referred. I do not have specific information as to when the strategy on diabetes might be published. I will ask the Tánaiste to...

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I will have to revert to the Deputy on this issue. I do not have that information.

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: No legislation is required. There is a plan. One cannot spend money or draw down EU funding unless one has a framework.

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I know that. I have noted local newspaper coverage of the misrepresentation of some of the replies I have given on this matter in the Deputy's part of the country, not only from the Deputy but from other Deputies. We have a national plan for 2000 to 2006. The funding is being rolled out. While the plan runs to the end of 2006, the impact of some of the funding will be evident beyond 2006. We...

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: In the roll-out beyond 2006 and in the next national development plan, we will see continued and unprecedented investment in all of the regions. Regional development will be a central objective of future national development plans which will be prepared by my Department.

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: One cannot be more specific than the spokesperson from the State Claims Agency was in media interviews yesterday and the previous day. We have given authority to the State Claims Agency to defend the State's interest in regard to claims brought against the State. Obviously, one has sympathy for the personal circumstances of the individual concerned in this matter. The issue was dealt with in...

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: All I can say is that the matter will be dealt with between the State Claims Agency and the Department of Education and Science, as set out by the official concerned on the basis that he articulated. He put the position in a fair and open way. Let us wait to find what the consideration of the facts is on the basis of——

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Cabinet will make its decisions in due course based on its consideration of the best time to proceed with a decision that would have important implications for the company. I am glad to note discussions are taking place with the Government, which obviously must reserve to itself the timing and content of any decisions it wishes to take, given that it is a matter of considerable importance...

Order of Business (Resumed). (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: On the first matter, I indicated that a briefing from the RPII could be made available for Opposition spokespersons on this matter if they so wish. Clearly, if there are briefings beyond that or information is sought by the Deputy, I am sure direct contact with the Minister will result in his making whatever arrangements he can to provide all the information he can in order that everyone is...

Order of Business (Resumed). (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy can take up that matter again.

Decentralisation Programme. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Both the Government and I have made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary. From the outset guarantees have been provided at Government level that all those employees not wishing to transfer out of Dublin will be facilitated with an alternative public service post in Dublin. That position has not changed. In the Civil Service, progress has been made in...

Decentralisation Programme. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the policy on promotions, an agreement has been reached in the Civil Service with the general service unions in regard to the inclusion of a decentralisation condition in a proportion of promotions. Discussions are ongoing with the professional and technical staff in the Civil Service on this issue. In the State agency sector promotions must take account of the reality of...

Decentralisation Programme. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: That is not correct. As I outlined to the Deputy, the Labour Court finding notes the terms of the company-union procedures agreement and stated that it was its opinion that FÁS was in breach of the consultation procedures provided for the agreement and it made no ruling on the substantive issue of the relocation clause. The Labour Court recommended that the matter be referred back to the...

Decentralisation Programme. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Yes, and both the Department, in terms of the public service, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment officials who deal with personnel matters are available on the basis of being able to get everyone around the table. FÁS management is available to discuss it, as the Labour Court ruling suggested it should, and we hope that SIPTU will also come to the table on that basis.

Departmental Expenditure. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that, in December 2005, the Appropriation Act included €56.4 million in respect of capital carry-over from 2005 to 2006 for the HSE. This was based on information received in my Department from the Department of Health and Children to the effect that this capital saving would be achieved in 2005 and available to be carried forward into 2006. On 17 January last, my...

Departmental Expenditure. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: By way of background to these events, the Deputy will be aware that the establishment of the HSE in January 2005 with its own Vote, represented a major change in the management, organisation and delivery of health services. It involved the amalgamation of 17 separate health agencies that historically had accounted on an accruals accounting basis into a unified structure, eight of these...

Departmental Expenditure. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I can only answer when the Deputy has concluded the question. I did not come in to apologise to the House; I came in to notify the House.

Departmental Expenditure. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my statement in which I set out the technical position.

Departmental Expenditure. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Does the Deputy wish to hear the answer? I did not come in to the House to apologise but to notify the House that the €56.4 million was not going into the Revised Estimates volume and that I could only get confirmation of what the precise capital carry over was when the appropriation account due by 31 March was to hand. I have given the background of the organisational changes which took...