Results 9,341-9,360 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: There will be normal business on the extra sitting week. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will proceed with the arrangements for yesterday's report on local authority electoral areas. I cannot accommodate Deputy Gilmore's fixation with the Green Party.
- Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: I am not au fait with the exact details. The Whips will be meeting today and there are a number of committees of the House where this matter could be dealt with or here if necessary. It is a matter for the Whips.
- Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: No. I am making it clear there will be a Whips meeting.
- Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: It is equally clear today.
- Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: Not that I am aware of.
- Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: I told the Deputy earlier that it would be introduced later this year.
- Lisbon Treaty: Statements. (18 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: Last Thursday the people gave their verdict on the proposal to change the Constitution so that this State could ratify the Lisbon treaty. The people have spoken and the Government accepts their verdict. It is for the Government to manage the political situation that develops as a result, both at home and internationally. There will be no shortage of those who will rush to judgment about the...
- Lisbon Treaty: Statements. (18 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: Let us be under no illusions about why they are rejoicing. It is because they believe they can use the vote of our people to serve their misguided political goals, goals that Ireland does not and never will share, goals that are inimical to our interests. I do not believe last Thursday's vote was a rejection of Europe or of the need to continue to improve its functioning. My view remains...
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. On 28 April, I launched Towards an Integrated Public Service, the review of the Irish public service by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD. This report, which benchmarks the public service in Ireland against other comparable countries and makes recommendations as to the further direction of public...
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: The OECD report does not criticise decentralisation policy or say it was a bad idea. Deputy Gilmore continually characterises decentralisation as a bad idea, despite the fact that the many people I meet who have decentralised to various parts of the country are very happy with their move. The decentralisation implementation group has always been aware of the business issues surrounding the...
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: I do not agree with Deputy Gilmore's characterisation of the decentralisation plan. He continues to denigrate it by suggesting that it is all about people meeting half way in cars on their way to meetings.
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: The factual position is that the decentralisation programme has been an unmitigated success for those who have decentralised in terms of quality of life, work environment and a range of issues, including the efficiency with which they deliver services. If Deputy Gilmore can identify any decentralised office in which there has been a reduction in the provision of service to the public as a...
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: He certainly did, with a smart comment.
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: It was uttered for a cheap headline.
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: It is interesting that six questions were tabled on the OECD report on the reform of the public service and we are discussing one third of a paragraph of a 400 page report. However, I will answer the question if this is as much as people want to discuss.
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: With regard to decentralisation, the policy remains the same. It is a voluntary programme. The decentralisation implementation group has published at least five reports since the original budget announcement which confirm that because of industrial relations issues and the consultations which much take place, the target of three years was not attainable or possible. We moved from this...
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: We are moving people.
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: It was a voluntary programme from day one.
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: The OECD report examined a number of agencies and made a number of recommendations regarding governance and improving the performance of agencies. The task force on public service will examine all issues set out in the report and specific actions to address these recommendations will be set out in its comprehensive response. It is, however, simplistic to say that reducing the number of...
- Public Service Reform. (24 Jun 2008)
Brian Cowen: An extensive consultation process has been undertaken by those who authored the report over a 17 to 18 month period. We do not now need another report on a report on which there was already consultation. Having had the recommendations comprehensively set out and having had all that consultation with various stakeholders in the preparation of the report, the job now is to sequence an...