Results 7,781-7,800 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Capital Investment Framework: Capital Investment Framework (12 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Under the conditions of sanction for capital expenditure issued by my Department, Departments are required to put in place a system of annual spot-checks of projects to ensure compliance with the VFM requirements and to report the findings of these spot-checks annually to my Department. Compliance with the capital investment framework is a matter in the first instance for implementing...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy may be referring to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The SEUPB was established in December 1999 as one of six North South Implementation Bodies set up under the Good Friday Agreement. Its primary role is to manage two cross border European Union programmes, the PEACE programme and the Ireland/Northern Ireland/Scotland INTERREG programme. The Peace and Reconciliation...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: As requested by the Deputy the following tables show the progress made by my Department and the agencies under the aegis of my Department which are due to decentralise. Department of Finance. Locations Tullamore Kildare Number of posts* to be decentralised 130 Up to 30 Number who have moved 124 0 Number assigned but not yet moved 1 26 Number assigned who are new recruits 12 4 As my...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The responsibility for contract reviews for large projects over €30 million rests with the Sponsoring Department and I would refer the Deputy to the Departments concerned for further information. In relation to my Department, my Department does not have any capital projects over €30 million. The formalised contract reviews are liable to review by the Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Sustaining Progress allowed for the procurement of scarce ICT skills by way of open recruitment. The Department of Finance availed of those provisions to recruit 4 such people on a full-time basis. Also on a number of occasions, some key individuals with specialist ICT and procurement skills and knowledge have been seconded to my Department from other parts of the public service to work on...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Responsibility for appointing project managers is a matter for the sponsoring Department. Confirmation that they comply with this and other aspects of the Capital Appraisal Guidelines is included in their Annual Capital Report which is submitted to my Department. All of these reports are expected to be submitted to my Department over the next few weeks.

Written Answers — Compulsory Purchase Orders: Compulsory Purchase Orders (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: In my address to the Dublin Chambers of Commerce on 20th October 2005 on Value for Money, I noted that pro-active use of existing compulsory purchase order powers in appropriate circumstances could facilitate the faster release of lands at a cost effective price for all forms of public infrastructure and that I would be directing Government Departments to this effect. As regards details of...

Written Answers — Departmental Performance Tables: Departmental Performance Tables (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Performance Table for Government Departments and State Agencies of project outcomes against budget on contract was published for the first time in the 2007 Public Capital Programme and it will feature in the 2008 edition which is due to be published on 21st February next.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The recommendations of the Decentralisation Implementation Group, including those in relation to the filling of posts by recruitment and promotion as raised by the Deputy, have been accepted by Government and are currently being followed up by my Department. The filling of vacancies by local recruitment is under way following an open recruitment competition for Clerical Officers which was...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) was established on 3 January 1984. Role of TLAC The Committee's role is to recommend candidates to Ministers and Government for the most senior positions in the Civil Service at Assistant Secretary level and upwards. Subject to certain exclusions, TLAC deals with all posts at or above the level of Assistant Secretary or equivalent across the Civil...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: In accordance with the National Lottery Act, 1986, all seven board members, including the Chairman, are appointed by the Minister for Finance. Four of the directors, including the Chairman, are nominated for appointment by An Post while three are both nominated and appointed by the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Customs Consultative Committee was established in 1994. It continues to meet about four times each year. The Committee's overall objective is to provide a two-way forum for Revenue and trade representative organisations to consult and exchange views on issues affecting the Customs treatment of imports and exports and, in particular, such...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Irish Telecommunications Investment Limited, ITI for short, was established as a wholly-owned state company by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs on 1 April 1981 to obtain funds to help finance the telecommunications development programme. Legislation at the time empowered the Minister for Finance to guarantee borrowings by the company within statutory limits and to hold shares in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Sealuchais Árachais Teoranta (SAT), a statutory company under the Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1985 acts as a non-trading holding company for Icarom plc (formerly the Insurance Corporation of Ireland) which is under administration. The two Directors of the company are officials of my Department. Under the provisions of the Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1985 I can...

Written Answers — Customs and Excise Service: Customs and Excise Service (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is taken that the Deputy is referring to the airports other than the three main airports at Dublin, Cork and Shannon. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the Customs controls in place at these airports are risk-based and are carried out by mobile Customs enforcement staff. Attendance is selective and targeted and is based on analysis and evaluation of national and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Up to 2006, DIRT was deducted from a customer's deposit interest regardless of whether or not the customer was actually liable to tax. At the end of the year some account holders, provided they met certain conditions, were entitled to claim a refund from Revenue of any DIRT deducted during the year. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the statutory return of DIRT filed by the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (13 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: My Department does not retain information on passport applications.

Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 10a, motion re referral to the joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Limerick City Boundary Alteration Order 2008; No. 10b, Finance Bill 2008 — allocation of time motion for select committee; 10c, Finance Bill 2008 — Financial Resolutions; No. 15, Control of Exports Bill 2007 [Seanad] — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages, to...

Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not possible to indicate at this stage when the pharmacy Bill will be brought forward. On the matter raised by Deputy Kenny in respect of newspaper coverage, this issue relates to 272 prisoners out of a total prison population of 150,000 during a 16-year period. Deputies will be interested to know that the use of temporary release has decreased significantly from 20% when the Rainbow...

Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the Deputy's second point, I would be amendable to inserting some of the recommendations into the Bill he mentioned earlier. That is why I am having amendments drawn up to take on some of those recommendations and incorporate them into the Bill under discussion.