Results 9,101-9,120 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

National Security Committee. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The role of the committee that is the subject of these questions is to ensure that I and the Government are kept advised of high level security issues and the responses to those issues. The committee has no role in relation to the wider policy or political issues of the type raised by the Deputy and, therefore, they are not relevant to this question.

National Security Committee. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: No, Ireland has made overflight and landing facilities available to the United States for more than 50 years. This matter had nothing to do with the setting up of the interdepartmental committee, nor is it relevant to it. Aircraft wishing to carry munitions of war on Irish territory can only do so with the permission of the Minister for Transport in the case of civilian aircraft and the...

National Security Committee. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that emergency planning is a separate issue which comes under the aegis of the Department of Defence. The Department deals with contingency planning in that area and what the military would be required to do to assist in the event of any such attack taking place. Considerable work has been done in the emergency planning area. The office of emergency planning was...

National Security Committee. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Military contingency planning is about making preparations for these worst case scenarios. That is precisely what our military people do. They put in place arrangements in the context of contingency planning. I do not have that detail here, but the Defence Forces are very professional and they are in a position to provide for all eventualities. I do not know the specifics of what...

Freedom of Information. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. I propose to circulate in the Official Report a table showing the figures requested by the Deputies regarding freedom of information requests received in my Department. All FOI applications received in my Department are processed by statutorily designated officials in accordance with the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003....

Freedom of Information. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I was about to make the point that the Minister for Finance is responsible for its implementation, review and extension. When freedom of information legislation was first introduced, it applied to 67 bodies or agencies. The largest extension took place in 2006 when I was Minister for Finance and I extended it to a further 137 bodies, giving a total of 502 regarding the number of bodies to...

Freedom of Information. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept application of the Act has been further restricted given we have been extending the numbers of bodies to which it applies. I have just explained to the Deputy that in 2006 alone, during my time as Minister for Finance, I extended it to a further 137 bodies. I do not accept, therefore, that our attempt is to restrict it. Deputy Gilmore referred to fees which are, in the...

Freedom of Information. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Questions on these matters are more properly put to the Minister for Finance.

Freedom of Information. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Having held the office, in fairness I suppose the point made by Deputy Ó Caoláin should receive due consideration. If records were available under the FOI Act and are now held by new bodies not in the existing orders I am sure the Minister for Finance will examine the logic of having people in the new agencies competent to deal with the matter. This may involve a short period of training...

Freedom of Information. (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, I have established a task force to advise us on how we should go about implementing the OECD report and we should await the outcome of its deliberations. We want a situation where public services are provided as efficiently and effectively as possible and in the spirt of FOI legislation, which balances the issue of people having access to information in the...

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not understand what the issue is for the Leader of the Opposition.

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: In response to a question I was asked about the opinion poll, I indicated that all the parties that support the referendum intend continuing to ramp up and intensify our campaign over the coming two and a half weeks. If people want to seek out offence I suppose they can take it. I would not offer any offence to anybody — quite the contrary.

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am simply making the point that an opinion poll is a snapshot of opinion. I was glad to see we were ahead in the poll. I have said on numerous occasions this is not a party political matter. I was asked a question and simply said we were all going to work hard over the coming two and a half weeks to ensure we get the result in the national interest. Any interpretation to the contrary...

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have no issue with Deputy Kenny at all. I am trying to indicate that I responded to a question concerning an opinion poll that was published in the Sunday newspapers. In my response I indicated that I had every confidence that we would all be working hard to ensure we get this through. The opinion poll contained the information but I did not conduct the poll. I am not making an issue...

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not making an issue of it.

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not making an issue of it. I was simply responding to a question which was put to me. All I am saying is that we are all on the one side and there is no reason for any contention. We should get on with the business and at the end of the day we want to see a successful outcome on 12 June.

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am sorry if some people are taking offence but none was intended. I can do no more than to say that because that is the truth of the matter. If it is interpreted in a certain way, or if the response from the Deputy's own press officer or his party's press office is the way it was, I cannot forecast how he will take what I have to say. I listened to many remarks over the weekend but I do...

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: It does not worry me. That has nothing to do with it.

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not take offence, so I do not see why anyone else is taking offence.

Leaders' Questions (27 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: This matter has been discussed by the Government. Arising from that meeting it has been decided that the National Consumer Agency will again meet Retail Ireland, which is part of IBEC, in the near future to discuss the delays in passing on the benefits accruing from the appreciation of the euro. The Tánaiste will be talking to Retail Ireland in the morning. We have also arranged for...