Results 9,741-9,760 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It will be introduced next year.

Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It will not be introduced in this session. We hope to have it published during the summer.

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand that the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism will reply to the Deputy's question today.

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. There are 12 non-established civil servants, including contract staff, currently employed in my Department and in my Tullamore constituency office. Mr. Joe Lennon is my programme manager, and Professor Peter Clinch, Mr. Gerry Steadman, Mr. Brian Murphy and Mr. Declan Ryan are my special advisers. Under the direction of the...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Government concluded its meeting a short time ago. As a matter of courtesy a statement or press release will be laid before the House at 3.30 p.m. at the same time as I am having a press conference with the Minister for Finance. The question of how we deal with pay issues going forward is a critical matter. From my point of view, the staff referred to in these questions are unaffected,...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It does not concern the staff referred to in these questions. These non-established civil servants, including contract staff and political advisers, remain in place for the duration of my tenure. Their tenure ends whenever my tenure ends. We will be having a press conference today at 3.30 p.m. on the decisions made by the Government. The press release will be laid before the House and...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is a work experience module in a degree programme of that university, known as the bachelor of science in government and public policy.

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: No. I was just making the point that they are in my Department. They are not answering to me.

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree with that. In addition to providing policy advice on economic and other areas, Professor Clinch advises me on the process of integrating policies across different Departments, in anticipation of the challenges posed by the international environmental policy agenda. He has a level of expertise in this area, but also in economics generally. His particular expertise is an...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: No appointments are contemplated at the moment, but we would leave open the possibility of taking advice for whatever length of time, either formally or informally. Professor Clinch brings a level of expertise to an important area, which is how to integrate policies across different Departments in order to develop economic efficiency, environmental sustainability and the general question of...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: No, that would not be a correct understanding of my reply. I simply wish to make the point that it is open to an incumbent Taoiseach to employ advice as required. As I said in my response, I do not contemplate further advisers in the immediate term, based on the advice I have at the moment.

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am simply saying that everyone will comply with the existing guidelines. There is no requirement for Ministers to need any further advisers beyond those they already have, based on the current regulations and guidelines. The Department of the Taoiseach has the opportunity, should it be required or necessary, for the Taoiseach to provide himself with advice as Head of Government. As I...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are regulations in place as to the number of staff Ministers are allowed and these must be complied with. Staff are provided on the basis of need and for the provision of whatever advice is required. Under the Public Service Management Act, that restriction does not apply in the Taoiseach's office, although as I have said, I do not contemplate increasing the number of advisers I have....

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: To answer the question again for Deputy Gilmore — I am not trying to be problematic — I do not contemplate a situation in which more staff are required.

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: On an individual retiring from the present complement, it will be a matter for decision by me whether a replacement would be required. It will depend on the circumstances. The issue is to ensure we comply with the regulations set out in the Public Service Management Act 1997. I recall the first political party to insist on special advisers was the good Labour Party itself when it came into...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is a limit on the number of advisers a Minister can have, and that is being complied with. Under the Public Service Management Act no such restrictions on the number of special advisers to the Department of the Taoiseach apply. However, I do not intend in the foreseeable future to provide for any further advisers. On the question of should a replacement be required if someone retires...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not the Government's intention to employ a raft of consultants on an hourly basis. The Government intends to use the resources available to the State within Departments, and outside them when appropriate, to ensure the right decisions are made for the country. That has been a feature of every Government in the past.

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It has been my intention for the House to debate the actions to be taken by the Government to deal with the current economic situation. I do not intend to defer decisions until after the House goes into recess. The Cabinet meeting ended not so long ago and the press release has been prepared. When the press conference is held, the press release will be made available to the House at the...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The point I am making is that under the Public Service Management Act certain issues arise in respect of advice to the Department of the Taoiseach, which are specific. As regards the general point, we shall be outlining the position at 3.30 p.m. and subsequently the general approach the Government wishes to take in control of public expenditure going forward, including the question of staff...

Departmental Staff. (8 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: As regards the annual report, referred to by the Deputy, obviously it is in the context of the National Development Plan 2007-13. The overall spend contemplated for the national development plan was, in the main, delivered upon and expended upon those items, broadly speaking, as planned. Due to the multi-annual nature of allocations, timing issues come into play as regards some headings....