Results 9,061-9,080 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Yes. Some months would be a fair assessment as people should not be denied the opportunity to make a livelihood having retired and given loyal service to the State. It is not appropriate for us to suggest, for some reason, a contamination-free zone. It is about simply providing some reassurance that there is a time period in which people can reorganise their lives and move on to something...

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: There needs to be some sensible buffer zone.

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The code of conduct for office holders, which is the subject of Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, covers the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Ministers, Ministers of State, the Ceann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad and the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad. The Standards in Public Office Commission generally oversees the implementation of the ethics Acts. It...

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree we are going in the opposite direction. We are very consistent in what we are trying to do. We are trying to ensure we have arrangements that are reasonable and sensible and that do not require the commission to be involved in issues that would be regarded as being without problem. At the same time we want to have a limit that requires that the issue be dealt with properly....

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the first matter, I served on a local authority for eight years — I do not know how long the Deputy served on one. My county never had a section 4, by the way. Regarding avoiding conflicts of interest, it is a matter that needs fuller consideration when it comes to the implementation of the proposal. I am not dismissing the possibility of variation of approach depending on the...

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Some months.

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The reason is one is setting the thresholds not only for this year, but for years ahead. We will not return to this matter every year. It is a fair balance, taking all the considerations into account. It is a judgment call. One could say €1,500, €2,000 or €2,500. The Government felt that was a fair balance taking into account all the considerations and in recognition that this...

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The code of conduct for office holders covers the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Ministers, Ministers of State, Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Dáil and Seanad. Its purpose is to indicate how people are expected to conduct the performance of their public duties. On the specific matter raised by Deputy Kenny, the Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness, was speaking in a personal capacity.

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Let me just make the point. He has been closely associated with families who have been involved in this issue, especially the Dollard family. He made the point that some of the comments were out of context. It was not intended to be a denigration of the Garda or its activities. It is important to be careful that in reflecting the frustrations of families who find themselves in the...

Commemorative Events. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 8, inclusive, together. There are no plans for an official commemoration of the foundation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, IRB, on its 150th anniversary. I acknowledge the historical significance of the IRB and the influential role of the organisation in the progress towards independence. However, it is not possible for every anniversary to be...

Commemorative Events. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the first point raised by Deputy Gilmore, as I said it is a matter for the Oireachtas. As it was a Dáil event the Oireachtas should organise it and I would welcome the commemorating of the 90th anniversary of the First Dáil. I recall the 75th anniversary which, if my recollection serves me right, was held in the Mansion House. I believe that is a matter for the Oireachtas to arrange....

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 1, Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 — Second Stage. Private Members' business shall be No. 32 — motion re cancer services (resumed) — to conclude at 8.30 p.m. if not previously concluded.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand both those items of legislation are due later this year.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I hope that will be possible, yes. Agreement must be reached among the Whips on those issues, but I have no principled objections to the recommendations or the outcome of that tribunal report, when it is published, being laid before the House and discussed. This is the place to discuss it. I am not sure what the arrangements were when the Fianna Fáil-led Administration had the support of...

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: To my knowledge, no legislation is promised.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not so sure that it will be enacted before the summer recess, but that Bill improves on the much older legislation, which needs to be updated. We discussed, yesterday, during Question Time, what the benefits of that Bill were.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The second Bill will be next year, and the other Bill, about which I notified the Deputy a couple of weeks ago, will be introduced later this year.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: We do not have a date for the Bill that Deputy Pat Breen suggests, but obviously we continue to discuss the matter.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are two sides in the negotiations.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: As I said, the legislation committee is meeting this week and the new Chief Whip will assess what is possible. In fairness to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, it has a legislative record second to none.