Results 8,721-8,740 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Customs Service: Customs Service (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners who have responsibility for the Customs service, that they currently deploy twelve detector dog teams at strategic locations around the country including our ports, airports and international postal depots. Each of the dog teams consists of a trained dog handler and sniffer dog. The Customs Dog teams are supported on an ongoing basis in their...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I would remind the Deputy that, as I have mentioned in response to previous similar questions, the first and most robust line of defence for depositors must be a well-managed system of prudential regulation and supervision so as to try to minimise the risk that a Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) needs to be activated. Recent assessments by bodies such as the IMF have confirmed that the Irish...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit), and exemption from motor tax, on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities. The disability criteria for these concessions are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Under Section 28 (2) of the State Property Act 1954, the Minister for Finance assumes responsibility for all personal property and land vested in or held in trust for a body corporate (other than personal property or land held by such body in trust for another person) immediately prior to its dissolution. Upon the dissolution of the body corporate, such property becomes State property. The...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The following table outlines the meetings I have had in an official capacity with Heads of States, Government Ministers or other representatives of Governments from non-OECD countries between May 2005 and April 2008. Details of meetings with non-OECD countries May 2005-April 2008 Date Meeting held with Location Items discussed 24 Jun 2005 Vice Premier of China Beijing General Economic...

Written Answers — Residential Property: Residential Property (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: My Department does not compile the necessary information that would be required to answer the Deputy's specific question. One method of estimation would be to multiply the total number of residential dwellings by the average price of such dwellings. However, one must be cautious of drawing any conclusions from such an estimate, given the crude assumptions that would be required. The...

Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the situation Deputy Kenny refers to regarding the slow-down in global growth, from which we will not be immune, it is clear that the issue of competitiveness and higher productivity is critical to ensuring that we come through this period in the economic cycle better than others, as we did in the past. In the context of pay talks, which have just commenced, I indicated the need to focus...

Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The higher remuneration body referred to the pay comparability of officeholders with the lower quartile of the private sector. The references I made last week were in respect of the highest earners who were earning millions of euro that they were obtaining obviously with shareholder approval, which is in compliance with company law but which, in terms of the message it sends — I was simply...

Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I did not see the programme, although I heard about it. If I can get an opportunity to see it, I will do so in due course. The homeless issue is important and something we need to address. Resources have been increased in this area from €12.5 million a few years ago to over €52 million this year, and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government provides this funding...

Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is somewhat unfair to suggest that the Government is indifferent to this issue, or that it has not been making significant progress in this area. Anybody who is dealing with the issue would recognise that additional resources have been provided and that improvements have been made. The emergency accommodation in major urban centres has been addressed and sleeping rough around the country...

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 1, the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007 — Amendments from the Seanad; No. 18, the Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007 — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; No. 17, the Student Support Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 19, the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed). Private...

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand that explosions are not expected until later this year.

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: For the purposes of clarification for Deputy Gilmore, I understand that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government indicated that he would have this matter examined in the context of the designated land Bill.

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: To clarify what the situation is rather than what Deputy Gilmore may understand it to be——

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: If the Deputies' position is that it is as they believe, there is not much point in asking me for clarification. I am in the process of clarifying the matter for them so there is no further confusion about it and Deputy Gilmore does not have to get up every morning about it, which is why I am standing up in the first place. The matter will be examined in the context of the designated land...

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I treat him with far more respect than does Deputy Gilmore. This is a matter the Minister is considering in the context of the designated land Bill. Obviously, these provisions must come before the Cabinet for formal approval in due course. The matter has been discussed and the Minister has indicated the direction in which he wishes to examine these matters, on which he has views. They...

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The eligibility for health and personal social services Bill is expected to be ready next year and it is not possible to indicate at this stage when the pharmacy No. 2 Bill will be ready. A process is in place which I believe can, should and will be utilised for the purposes of dealing with all these matters.

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the earliest date for that Bill is next year.

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the question of the status of the Morris tribunal report, I understand it has been completed. I will have to ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to indicate to the Deputy directly the logistics for the printing and publication of that report. I understand it could well be published in the next month or six months, although I am not too sure of that. I have some...

Order of Business (30 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will have to check on the details for the Deputy, as I do not know the answer to that question. The issue of how we can pull these three pieces of legislation together has come up on a number of occasions. Upon taking up my new position I will talk to the Attorney General about the matter and how we can move the process along.