Results 10,361-10,380 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: There is no country that should be subject to it but has indicated its unwillingness to adhere to it. What is the position with Spain?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: We can pause the agreement. Everybody has signed up to this on the understanding that we trust one another. Unfortunately, in today's world apparently we cannot. There are signals from the US that it may renege on this. Despite what the Minister said, of course we are obliged to adhere to international agreements and, as a bloc in Europe, we want to remain committed to that but there is a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: They have since sought an extra 12 months.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his presentation. My amendment No. 65 proposes to delete lines 7 to 26 on page 200. Whether that passes or not, it is important that we take time to debate and really understand the changes that are coming in two months and how Europe may well be out of step with the rest of the world. I know it is a highly technical issue but unfortunately it has a significant...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: Is the Pillar 1 estimate of €2 billion up to date or is it historic?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: I move amendment No. 92: In page 252, line 19, to delete “31 December 2023” and substitute “31 December 2024”. I will not pursue the amendment pending the other information that is imminent on the further Stages.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Global Humanitarian Response: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (14 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: Apologies have been received from An Cathaoirleach, Deputy Flanagan, who cannot be here today. Today we welcome Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, director and head of the Geneva office of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, who will brief the committee on the global humanitarian landscape, provide an overview of the office's vital role in the global...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Global Humanitarian Response: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (14 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: I thank Mr. Rajasingham for his kind remarks regarding Ireland's contribution. We will now take questions from members, starting with Deputy Carthy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Global Humanitarian Response: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (14 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: On behalf of the committee, I thank Mr. Rajasingham for meeting various members of the committee today and comprehensively answering their questions. On behalf of the extended Oireachtas, I thank Mr. Rajasingham for the work done by his office especially, as many members said, considering the risk and danger. He and his colleagues put themselves in the line of danger. The information that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Global Humanitarian Response: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (14 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: This meeting is adjourned until Tuesday, 21 November, when we meet with Dóchas to discuss its reaction to budget 2024, official development assistance, spending in 2024 and a look ahead at COP28. Dóchas will update the committee on humanitarian situations relating to its remit.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Business of Select Committee (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: I propose that the committee go into private session to deal with some housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Existing Levels of Service Costs: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: I welcome from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Mr. John Kinnane, acting assistant secretary, expenditure policy division, and Ms Jasmina Behan, assistant secretary, work and pensions division. Before we begin, I will explain the limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses regarding references witnesses may make...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Existing Levels of Service Costs: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: I thank Mr. Kinnane. Of the members who are joining us online and in the committee room, I will go to members who are present in the committee room first. Deputy Conway-Walsh will be first.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Existing Levels of Service Costs: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: Am I correct that the Department of Social Protection's Estimate earlier this year was understated when it came to the budget itself or was it holding it in reserve? I am not saying withholding information but some information was not clear earlier in the year.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Existing Levels of Service Costs: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: Based on their discussions and negotiations around-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Existing Levels of Service Costs: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: Is there any provision for the pay talks starting in June?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Existing Levels of Service Costs: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: I will put a question whiIe we are waiting to see if Deputy Durkan or Deputy Michael Healy-Rae want to ask questions. In regard to the health Vote in 2022 the ELS was described in three components: expenditure, report allocation from central pay agreement provision carry-over and other ELS pressures and demographics. In 2023 this reduced to two components, just central pay agreement...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Existing Levels of Service Costs: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: I note that but to be honest I do not necessarily accept it. If the Oireachtas was adjudged to be properly briefed two years ago with three components, why is it not briefed with three components this time around? There may be internal reasons but we are a parliamentary budgetary oversight committee and we have a job to reflect the views and opinions of members not only in this committee...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Existing Levels of Service Costs: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: I appreciate where Mr. Kinnane is coming from.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Existing Levels of Service Costs: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Cowen: We need to know what they are. That is all I am saying to Mr. Kinnane. In layman's terms the ELS has basically been standing still. If we want to offer the same service next year as we offered last year it will cost us an extra €700 million to do that. The reason for that is due to pay increases, pay agreements, and the revision of contracts associated with external help to deliver...