Results 8,901-8,920 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: The Minister deals with budgets.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: The premise of the Deputy's question is patently absurd. In the unlikely event that his own party was in government and in the event that he was preferred with appointment, he would not suggest his own Government had lost interest in the issues because he had been moved from the committee, though maybe he would. The whole purpose of setting up that committee was to see if there was a basis...
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: If it is possible to achieve a consensus on this matter, that improves the prospect of us being able to proceed in that way. How we will proceed has yet to be determined because the work is ongoing.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: This is an issue that has been raised in the House on a number of occasions. I take the Deputy's point and I will revert to him on what progress we will make and how soon it can be made. The answer I would give is similar to answers already given but I will revert to the Deputy.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: Generally, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, will be an able proponent of the Government's position on human rights and international agreements.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: I recall the former Minister of State, Liz O'Donnell, had a specific remit in that area when I was the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: That is correct.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: I left it with the senior Minister. I have upgraded it.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: Retained is the word.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: He would be well capable of discharging it.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: He has a great past.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: The mental health (amendment) Bill is not due until next year but the question of taking people with intellectual disabilities out of inappropriate placements in mental hospitals is an issue that continues. Progress has been made and it requires the capital programme for building sheltered housing and facilities.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: That is ongoing and is not dependent on the enactment of the legislation.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: The mental capacity and guardianship Bill will be taken later this year. The other issue, which is ongoing, is best taken up with the Chief Whip.
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: I do not agree with the rather simplistic premise that suggests that fewer agencies per se will deliver better Government. It must be planned and done properly. For example, the HSE is an amalgamation of 56 agencies. It still has organisational challenges and has not brought harmony in terms of the delivery of services. Major challenges remain. The integration of the public service and...
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: I do not accept Deputy Varadkar's simplistic contention that reducing agencies per se is the solution to the problem. In social partnership we have committed to putting the citizens at the centre and reconstructing how we deliver services on the basis of the life cycle approach set out. We are committed to doing that and must get on with the task. I will set up a task force to report to me...
- Order of Business (14 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: I have 15 Ministers and 20 Ministers of State. The Opposition, which is not in Government, has 19 Front Bench spokespersons and 24 deputy spokespersons. What are they at?
- Tribunals of Inquiry. (20 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. From time to time, there have been requests to my Department for files and information from various tribunals. My Department has co-operated fully with all such requests and will continue to do so in the future. Normally requests from tribunals are received by the Secretary General of my Department and assigned to the appropriate...
- Tribunals of Inquiry. (20 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: As I said in my reply, I am not in a position to discuss, with regard to any of these matters, issues which the tribunals themselves have stated are highly confidential. It is a matter for the tribunals to disclose if they so wish.
- Tribunals of Inquiry. (20 May 2008)
Brian Cowen: It is not a question of shoving anything off anywhere else.