Results 8,681-8,700 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I emphasise to Deputy Stagg that I am not suggesting otherwise.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I was not. What I am saying is that there is plenty of evidence for reductions in infection incidence in the absence of a resident microbiologist. Why do we not have that speciality in Loughlinstown? The structural problem with the system is that we have half the number of consultants we should have and twice as many junior doctors as we should have. One of the only ways in which we can...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——it took far too long.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: A structural change is required and we are engaged in this.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I also accept that Dr. O'Shea was one of the people who was seeking another microbiologist. I do not want to use his name in a partial way. That was his view and I accept what the man said. However, the idea that we can improve the service without the structural changes required, including reform of the consultants' contract, is known by everybody to be impossible. Such a change is the...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is some comfort to them.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 16, Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 — Committee and Remaining Stages; No. 10, motion re statement for information of voters on the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008; and No. 17, Student Support Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 10 shall be taken...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I must respect the Ceann Comhairle.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I respect the fact that the Ceann Comhairle runs the House.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: That will be my privilege. I will make the following comment on the issues raised by Deputies Kenny and Gilmore. It is very important to recognise that the country will make a major strategic decision on 12 June next. All parties will vigorously campaign for a "Yes" vote because we believe it is in the national interest to do so and in the interests of the citizens we serve, and for no...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: In the interests of a respectful debate, on any objective assessment of the balance sheet of the pros and cons of membership of the EU, the great majority of the evidence suggests that voting "Yes" and our continued membership and centrality in the EU provides the best mechanism for the advancement of this country's interests at home and abroad. Any objective assessment of the situation...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Those who wish to get involved in the exaggerated arguments of the past will not deserve the respect of the Irish people. They will not persuade them in any case because I believe in the discernment and common sense of our people to recognise that over the past 35 years, the one thing to which we can point, apart from good policy making in the main, has been the framework that the EU has...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: If we get our act together, I believe the people will respond.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The broadcasting Bill is due this session. The other Bill regarding a fair deal is an issue that has taken longer to come to the House than we expected because of legal issues. They are not insurmountable. The Attorney General is working on this and the Minister met him again last week. I believe it will be a matter of weeks before we have it resolved. Certainly, we believe there is a...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Tax policy is a matter for the Minister for Finance of the day and, ultimately, the Government. All I can say to the Deputy is that I am not aware that the Government has taken any decision in respect of a windfall tax on that matter.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand that this is the case.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is certainly very important that this House debates such an important report which follows on from many reports in the past, such as the Devlin report, the strategic management initiative and Delivering Better Government. As part of that continuum of assessment of how we can improve public services, the delivery of services and the ability to provide for training, improvement and...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The legislation is being prepared in the Department of Finance. It is a consolidation Bill. It will probably be ready to be brought forward at the end of this year at the earliest. It is a very large Bill. It will probably be next year when it is ready to be brought forward, to be accurate. Consumer panels have been set up that are within the Financial Regulator's remit. A consumer code...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: No date has been set for that.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: No.