Results 8,801-8,820 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not always the case that the explanatory memorandum comes at the same time as the Bill. In the course of the Order of Business last Thursday, the Deputy raised this matter and the Tánaiste indicated she should arrange for the appropriate Department to revert to the Deputy. I have here a letter dated 13 May to the Deputy from the Office of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I cannot give the Deputy the reason but, perhaps, I can find out what was the situation. The Deputy's query has been answered and it is being dealt with.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand this issue is on the adjournment for tomorrow.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Tomorrow.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Following scientific advice, the Minister may have to bring in a by-law. He does not have to go to Government for the issuing of a by-law.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Bill will come before the House in 2009.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the first Bill will come before the House at the end of this year and the second Bill will come before the House next year.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I agree with Deputy Crawford that he has done an outstanding job and the scholarship in his name is well merited. I understand the Bill will come before the House later this year.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand it is in its final stages of drafting. We hope to have it published in two weeks.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, and the Minister, Deputy Martin Cullen, will ensure the State properly promotes, acknowledges and represents the cultural life of the nation and we do all we can to assist creative flair in all the arts. The Minister of State, who has a particular interest and expertise in this area, will do this very well. Joining up arts and the Minister of...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I want to make that point regardless of what barbs emanate from the other side of the House. Some Opposition Deputies will have known the elation and disappointment of days such as today. We must be fair and I thank everybody for the courtesy shown to me in the good discussions I had with all the Ministers of State, both outgoing and incoming, on the role they can play in working with...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Let me be clear as it is important to be fair. The Deputy was a junior Minister on one occasion.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will give the Deputy an answer if she wants one. I apologise for being distracted by the second part of her question. The Ministers of State will have delegated functions.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will repeat my reply. The Ministers of State will be given delegated functions. Some of them have cross-cutting responsibilities. The reason for having cross-cutting responsibilities and removing ridiculous distinctions between departmental silos is to make Ministers of State more effective and give them a wider remit to cover all the policy aspects that may reside in different...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: A date has not been set for the pharmacy No. 2 Bill, which is not germane to the issue raised by the Deputy. The heads of the other Bill are early in the process of being drafted. It is not possible to state when it will be introduced.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the legislation in question is a Bill to consolidate existing legislation, it is not envisaged that the issue raised by the Deputy will be incorporated in the Bill. The legislation is in a public consultation process which must be completed before the heads of the Bill are prepared. Although the second issue the Deputy raised is not fully in order according to the Ceann Comhairle, it is...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, will have cross-cutting responsibility through his disabilities and equality brief. Mental health is a separate issue. There is the whole question of mainstreaming autism services in our schools about which there are varying opinions. A significant amount of resources is going into that area. I do not believe it is about one Minister having...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The responsibility in the school system quite clearly lies with the Minister for Education and Science and responsibility for the provision of disability services generally lies with the Department of Health and Children. There are also issues relating to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in terms of the statutory protections and standards put in place. That issue is being...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The average number of days taken by my Department to process payments to outside contractors for each year from 2004 to date in 2008 (end of April) is detailed in the table below. This information is based on payments made in respect of Departmental expenditure and, in addition, payments processed on behalf of the following bodies which are funded from the Department's Vote: National Forum...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Discussions are held each year between my Department and the Department of Finance in preparation of the annual estimate for the Department. These discussions take place over the period of preparation and finalisation of the estimate provision between officials from the Departments who are involved in the day-to-day management of the Estimate process. There is no requirement, nor is it...