Results 4,001-4,020 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Cross-Border Projects. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is unfortunate that the necessary trust and confidence one would have expected to have been built up in respect of the mutual benefit of North-South co-operation is still not universally understood, accepted or comprehended by various shades of political opinion. This is clearly unfortunate. However, it does not take away from the fact that on any objective analysis, and there have been...

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: There has been no change in the Government's overall approach to the implementation of the decentralisation programme, including that element that provides for the relocation of departmental headquarters. As the Deputy is aware, it is proposed, in respect of the Civil Service, to move the headquarters and the full staffing complement of eight Departments and the Office of Public Works out of...

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I know what the Taoiseach said in the House. He was answering a number of supplementary questions and clearly set out the situation. One version of the situation is continually given by the other side of House. The decentralisation programme was announced and then there was a decentralisation implementation group, which was charged with the responsibility to work through the issues and...

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Taoiseach did not say that.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will not examine the record, I have the Taoiseach's script.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: In reply to Deputy Rabbitte, the Taoiseach stated: However, the Deputy is talking about a small hard core, and all Members who have been in Government, including the Deputy, know that policy units are small. That issue is being discussed in the implementation group and it has been put forward by senior civil servants, especially from the higher grades. Their case must be listened to because...

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: No.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Yes, in my own words.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The words confirm that ideas have been put forward and will be discussed by the implementation group, but those ideas have not been accepted.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I listen to discussions all of the time. I even listen to the Deputy, but that does not mean I agree with him.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is part of the dialogue process. The programme will proceed as planned.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is. According to the record, the Deputy's attempt to suggest that the Taoiseach stated otherwise is not correct. The Taoiseach indicated and acknowledged that positions put to the group by certain elements of the Civil Service will be discussed. However, that does not mean we have decided to proceed as they have suggested and forget about our own plans, as those plans are in place on the...

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am not saying that.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should do his research. I will explain my position and he can explain his.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should read the record.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: No.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I must reply. The Deputy is predictable and obviously has no intention to deal with the issue in a serious way. The Taoiseach rightly outlined the various issues that arose in discussions, but this does not mean that the Government has changed its policy. Everyone knows what issues will be raised in discussions, as they were raised in previous discussions on implementation plans and the...

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The people who are talking out of both sides of their mouth are members of the party to which Deputies Paul McGrath and Bruton belong.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: As he is retiring I am not so interested in the Deputy anymore. I can provide plenty of examples of people who speak out of both sides of their mouth on the issue.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputies do not want to refer to the decentralisation implementation group decision of 2005 because it does not suit their purpose. They want to forget about it and pretend it never happened.