Results 9,001-9,020 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have asked that a meeting be arranged between the relevant Ministers and Opposition spokespersons to see if this matter can be advanced.

OECD Report on Public Service Reform: Statements (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Is ceart go bpléfí sa Dáil an tuarascáil thábhachtach ón Eagras um Comhpháirtíocht agus Forbairt Eacnamaíochta faoin tseirbhís phoiblí. Tá tionchar láidir ag an tseirbhís phoiblí i ngach tír, ar shaol an phobail agus ar a stádas eacnamaíochta. Léiríonn tuarascáil an OECD go bhfuil seirbhís phoiblí láidir agus fiúntach againn agus go bhfuil dul chun cinn mór déanta...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 162 and 163 together. Since the 26 February 2008 to date, I have made no appointments to Bodies.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The following firms of solicitors and individual barristers have been engaged by my Department on a contractual basis in the past 18 months. Commission of Investigation (Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974) The Commission of Investigation (Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974) was established in May 2005 to examine specific matters relating to the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings of 1974, including...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am a member of the European Council which Heads of State and Government attend. I have no direct function in relation to the Council of Ministers and I do not attend them. As the Deputy will be aware, each configuration of the Council of Ministers is attended by the Minister responsible for that area, for example the General Affairs and External Relations Council is attended by the...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The table outlines expenditure from my Department's Vote on consultancy services to date in 2008 and for each of the past five years. The figures also include consultancy spend recouped from the Change Management Fund in the Department of Finance. Year Spend on Consultancy € 2003 272,942 2004 477,398 2005 405,188 2006 527,924 2007 663,869 2008 (End of April) 226,192

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The tables outline the number of mobile phones and blackberries provided by my Department to Programme Manager, Advisers, Press Officers and other Department personnel during each of the past three years, and the average cost of this equipment in each year. Number issued: 2005 2006 2007 Mobile phones Blackberries Mobile phones Blackberries Mobile phones Blackberries Programme Manager 0...

Written Answers — Government Appointments: Government Appointments (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. I take it that the Deputy's first question relates to Parliamentary Secretaries (as they then were) up to the coming into operation of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, which established the office of Minister of State, and to Ministers of State thereafter. The number of Parliamentary Secretaries standing...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The tragic mine explosion at Mullaghduff, Co Donegal in 1943 which resulted in the deaths of 19 people and injuries to four others was the worst of the several incidents to occur in the State during the period of the Second World War. These civilian deaths are included among those remembered annually at the National Day of Commemoration in July in honour of those Irishmen and Irish women who...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The number of Civil Servants who have worked in my Constituency Office and in the Constituency Offices of the Ministers of State attached to my Department since 1997 to date in 2008 are listed in the table. Civil Servants in Taoiseach's Constituency Office 1997-2008 Civil Servants in Office of Chief Whip Constituency Office 1997-2008 1997 6 2 1998 5 1.5 1999 6 1.5 2000 6 2 2001 7 2...

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: One of the main issues we face in trying to reform the health service is ensuring that resources are not continually put into acute services but that we provide more for community services and improve the frontline services in communities. In regard to mental health care, change has been ongoing for more than two decades in terms of providing community based facilities and trying to end...

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——a tremendous amount of work in supplementing the statutory services that are provided in this area.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are budgetary pressures every year in regard to the health budget and managers have to manage the situation as they see it. In some cases, this has meant that some new development areas have not seen the level of expenditure in a given financial year as was originally envisaged. Working within budget allocations is a particularly difficult task, especially in the health service, but...

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: In managing the health budget, managers must at times utilise particular allocations in order to maintain the existing level of service, which costs more money every year even before considering any new developments that are envisaged.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The answer to the Deputy's question is that it is hoped the full amount will be expended on developments in the palliative care service this year. We want to see those developments take place.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Every morning, the problem with the Leader of the Opposition is that his party has not yet supported one initiative in regard to health service reform.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: For Deputy Reilly's attention, I can organise it so that every time his man completes a sentence, I can have people roaring and shouting on this side if he wants.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Every time I open my mouth, I hear something from the Deputy.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I want to answer the question.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy's problem is that he is not the Leader of the Opposition.