Results 8,781-8,800 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Decentralisation Programme. (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am addressing the Deputy's questions.

Decentralisation Programme. (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I can express an opinion in reply on what I believe is the Deputy's position. I can do that in the House and the Deputy can stand up and disagree with me. I do not have to be kowtowed to. I could bring up the local newspapers, which inquire non-stop about when we will have decentralisation, but when I come into the House people tell me not to let it happen. I believe and know from...

Decentralisation Programme. (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Some 1,000 people working in State agencies have applied to the Central Applications Facility.

Decentralisation Programme. (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: That has always been my position. As the Deputy knows, there was an IR problem in the FÁS test case that was taken and everybody stepped back to wait and see the outcome. That is fair enough and I understand that. The Labour Court suggested how we would proceed. The Labour Court did not present a recommendation and tell us to go back to the status quo ante but provided a means by which...

Decentralisation Programme. (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Let the Deputy ask me a short question and I will give a short answer.

Decentralisation Programme. (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I thank Deputy Flanagan for putting out item No. 1 on his A list to the Taoiseach for resolution of constituency problems. On a serious note, I will have the matter examined and see whether there are plans to consolidate. I cannot answer the Deputy at the moment but this is an issue in which we will have a joint interest and we will try to find a joint solution.

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I did not have the opportunity to view the programme last night but I understand its contents. The newly appointed Minister for State with responsibility for children and youth affairs, Deputy Barry Andrews, will take this matter up with the HSE tomorrow to see where the situation is from his point of view. It is an issue to which he attaches a high priority. A great deal of progress has...

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are 20,000 referrals per year, 5,800 of which are deemed serious and seen immediately. If anyone is in danger, their case is referred to the gardaí and is taken into care. I understand that 5,367 children are in the care of the HSE under the Child Care Act 1991.

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am giving the figures and an indication to the House and the wider public as to the scale of the issues. Approximately——

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: When the Deputy is Taoiseach, he can ask the questions. A total of 4,710 children are in foster care placements. We have seen a significant expansion of foster care placements in recent years. Clearly, it is not simply a question of every case being referred to an individual social worker. One needs community-based family support services as a more effective means of dealing with these...

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I agree that we must deal with this important issue. There are 718 social workers dedicated to this area and 20,000 referrals per year, which amounts to 30 referrals per case worker, on average. I know that the same case levels do not apply everywhere but the figures give an indication that the level of resources are such that we should not be ending up with the types of cases the Deputy...

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not suggesting anything but simply stating the facts regarding the level of activity and resources being applied. We would all expect that such resources would not lead to the difficulties referred to today. The Minister of State will be investigating the matter in detail with the staff. I am not passing judgment on anybody. I am simply saying that if the level of resources referred...

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: If we put in more resources, based on the existing arrangements, then we will still have the nine to five service about which Deputies are complaining, and no out-of-hours service. We must reach agreement in order to make such a flexible service available. In addition to the existing resource allocation, a further 50 social workers are being recruited at present, which will bring the numbers...

Appointment of Ministers of State (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: On 8 May 2008 I announced, for the information of the Dáil, that the Government had appointed Deputies Pat Carey, Barry Andrews, Dick Roche and Trevor Sargent to be Ministers of State. I wish to announce, for the information of the Dáil, that the Government has, today, appointed the following: Deputy Noel Ahern to be Minister of State at the Department of Transport, with special...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 7 — motion re nomination of Comptroller and Auditor General. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted on the adjournment of Private Members' business which shall be No. 31 — motion re Irish economy, to be taken for 90 minutes at 7 p.m. tonight or on...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the mental health (amendment) Bill is not due until next year. With regard to the other matter, it is important to point out that we recently had a serious discussion in the House. The then Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food offered a briefing to bring people up to speed on the situation. Unfortunately, this invitation has not yet been taken up, as far as I am aware,...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: On first day in the job I was in Northern Ireland and I was here on my second day. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, met with Michel Barnier, the French Agriculture Minister. He came to see me in my office and we discussed the issue for 15 minutes although not in great detail as he had to catch a plane. I knew Mr. Barnier when he was in the Commission...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Good.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: We intend to take the Spent Convictions Bill in our own time. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Andrews, for his initiative. It is intended to introduce the electoral amendment Bill this session. In regard to the question of agencies, the biggest criticism of any agency in the country is the HSE which got rid of 56 agencies and brought them into one. Everyone gives out about that one.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The next argument then is that we have too many. I make the point that, perhaps, it points to the fact that it is easier said than done. That is the first point. The agentising out of Government delivery of programmeshas been part of previous Civil Service reform programmes, including ones when the Labour Party was in Government, because it has the benefit, if properly done, to deliver...