Results 7,861-7,880 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have good reason for that view.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Where it is sought to impugn or examine the reputations of Members of this House, that should be done on the basis of an allegation. Members should not be subject to the initiation of inquiries without a complaint being made. Why should that be the case? It is about time we stood up for ourselves over here.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have made my position clear.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is not much point in answering anyone. I have made the position clear. I will bring forward the amendments on behalf of the Government and I have told the Deputy the Government's position on that matter. There are good reasons that I believe it should not be accepted.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: We do not have a date for the Mental Health Bill. In the past 20 years there has been a sea-change in the development of services for people with mental health problems and the Deputy's constituency is a shining example of an almost exclusively community-based mental health service provision, which is highly regarded.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I welcome the move away from institutionalisation. The Deputy comes from a part of the country where probably the best service is available.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I cannot say when the Mental Health Bill will be brought before the House. I wish to return to an issue Deputy Gilmore raised, for the sake of completeness.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will consult the committee chairmen about the Standards in Public Office Commission's proposal that they be designated as office holders for the purposes of the Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Act. I will consult them on their views on that.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: In respect of the——

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——pharmacy (No. 2) Bill, there is no date for it as yet. As Members are aware, an independent body has been set up to consider these issues under the chairmanship of Seán Dorgan. I hope that in the interim, all sides will ensure there is no disruption of services to those who are entitled to them and that the contracts as presently set out will be honoured until new contracts are...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The fact that the former secretary general of the INTO was in a position to make such a comment may bring more balance into the coverage Members have seen on this subject.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I invite Deputy Hayes to check the record of the Government he supported from the Seanad when his party was last in office.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I came in as Minister for Health and saw emergency funding of €1 million for people with disabilities.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is only so much hypocrisy I can take from that side of the House on this issue.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: As for the question regarding the intimidation of witnesses, this is a serious and criminal matter. I am glad to note the Garda is providing whatever protections are necessary for those citizens who have shown the courage to take on those in their community who would intimidate or seek to criminalise.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, the employment agency regulation Bill, which is to regulate the employment agency sector by the establishment of a statutory code of practice setting out standards in that sector and by the establishment of a monitoring and advisory committee representative of the social partners, the employment agency sector and Departments to oversee adherence to the statutory code...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware that legislation is in preparation in respect of those matters. In order to glean the information the Deputy seeks, it might be best were she to table a parliamentary question to the line Minister concerned. I do not have the information she seeks.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: My point was that I am not aware whether a Bill is in preparation in respect of the issues——

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——that the Deputy has raised. I would certainly get back to the Deputy on the basis of her far more courteous request than that of Deputy Stagg.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Bill is due this session and there will be an opportunity to discuss it then, if not beforehand.