Results 10,481-10,500 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——and the Minister for Transport says it has not. I am inclined to take his view of the world at the moment.

Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: If the Deputy tables a parliamentary question, that should clarify the situation.

Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Well then, I do not know.

Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: We are not——

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The website of the Government's climate change awareness campaign, www.change.ie provides a carbon calculator which enables people to work out their own carbon footprint. Using this tool, it is estimated that the carbon emissions from commercial air travel undertaken by me, since taking office as Taoiseach, amounted to 3.8 tonnes in the year to end October, 2008. This is accounted for...

Written Answers — Price Increases: Price Increases (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Neither my Department nor the Agencies under its aegis have imposed price increases for public service, product or tax since 1 January to date.

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Government appointed Deputy Pat Carey as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Defence. Deputy Dick Roche was appointed Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs. As Chief Whip, Minister of State Carey's primary responsibility is for the organisation of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Government Press Office (GPO) provides an information service in relation to Government policy through the national and international media. It has no direct operational control or responsibility in relation to various Departmental Press Offices. It does however carry out a coordination function to ensure an appropriate dissemination of information across all Departments. Departmental...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I join with Deputy Kenny in wishing Senator Obama well in the transition which must take place before he takes office in the new year as President of the United States. We look forward to maintaining a good relationship with the incoming Administration, as we have had with the outgoing one. I do not agree with Deputy Kenny on his perception of cynicism and pessimism. If that is a trait he...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Of course I have a view on this. Were Deputy Kenny to send me a copy of the letter, I will follow it up. Clearly, if clarification is being sought on a person wishing——

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: If a person——

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Obviously, I have not received that correspondence. However, were I to receive it, I am sure I could follow it up. I presume Deputy Kenny also followed it up.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The point is that health is one of the areas in which the Government has increased expenditure. The same public service pay pause, which, as matters stand has been negotiated with the social partners until 1 October next year, applies to the health service as to other services. It is important to point out that even with these savings and the efforts to economise that are necessary to...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: As for the question on the live register, I understand from memory of yesterday's meeting that the figure is approximately 252,000, or 6.7% of the total workforce. As the Deputy is aware, that figure includes those who are temporarily moving in and out of work and the labour force survey is the most accurate measure of unemployment. However, in respect of the policies that have been enacted...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Third, the Government continues to work with Enterprise Ireland, which has brought forward new initiatives to help Irish businesses.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is identifying high-performance start-up businesses and is internationalising Irish business. Moreover there has been an increase in exports by Irish business despite a difficult environment in present circumstances. We will continue to do all of that to assist in every way we can those who create business and employment and who are trying to maintain employment to the best extent possible.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I disagree with Deputy Gilmore fundamentally.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: He asked about the creation of work. The place to provide the creation of work is in the productive sector of the economy. In the State sector we have already increased employment, which has provided increased public services — more teachers, more nurses, more gardaí, and more of all those essential services. We have provided a level of service that Deputy Gilmore could only aspire to...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: We now need to see greater outcomes, outputs and better co-ordination for the provision of those services. We will conduct that process——

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——in the future as we outline our plans in that area.