Results 10,521-10,540 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Mechanisms are available to Deputies, such as Private Members' business, for considering matters. I am not in a position to accede to the request made by Deputy Gilmore. It is up to Members to use the procedures of the House in that respect. In regard to the matters he raised, we have as part of our arrangements for a revised medical card scheme provided for a group which will meet under...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: In respect of promised legislation, which is the second issue raised by Deputy Kenny, the programme for Government commits the Government to legislating for civil partnership. We will fulfil that commitment within the current constitutional context and developing case law. It is imperative to stress that the general scheme of the civil partnership Bill has been drafted within a...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Work can only begin on the legislation to which the Deputy's second question referred on foot of the policy decisions announced in recent weeks. We will proceed with that in due course and as quickly as appropriate or possible. In regard to the first matter raised by the Deputy, it is our intention to publish a civil partnership Bill next year. I cannot indicate when exactly that will be...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware of the details of the matter but the Government will of course consider any Private Members' Bill that is brought forward. It is the entitlement of every Member of the House to bring forward such legislation and, where it has merit and is in line with Government policy, it can be considered for a common approach, if possible. I cannot give an undertaking to the Deputy, however.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I know that.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will speak to the Minster about the matter and revert to Deputy Quinn on it.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Housing Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad. The Minister will bring forward a Finance Bill to give effect to many of the budgetary announcements. If a legislative base is required, that may be the mechanism for that proposal. The Attorney General will provide advice to us on the apartments question, which was raised by another Member on yesterday's Order of Business. We will...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: This is receiving urgent Government attention. As the Deputy points out, the decision of the courts has implications and we need to see how we can alleviate the outcome of that in a way that will maintain voluntary health insurance in the country. This matter is receiving Government attention but no decision has been made and we are examining all options.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: This has been raised by Deputies. I understand the concern that is expressed. It is being worked on but it is not an easily resolved matter. We will see if it can be done by an omnibus Bill rather than separate items of legislation that must be amended. Frustration has been expressed by Deputies in respect of the progress of the work but we are committed to resolving it. There is no...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Both Bills should be published this session.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Social Welfare Bill, the Finance Bill and the nursing homes legislation, along with other Bills, will be taken this session. I take Deputy O'Keeffe's point. The Bill is expected to be available next year. I am aware of the issues being raised. Ministers are working through the issue as quickly as possible. We will have the Bill next year.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Regarding amalgamating regulators and legislative arrangements arising from that, policy decisions have just been announced in recent weeks.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The best thing to do would be to table a question to the line Minister for a detailed reply. I am not aware of promised legislation in that area. Regarding other matters, I ask people to contemplate the importance of avoiding confrontation when we need to see people pulling together to resolve the problem in a way that meets the commercial imperatives facing the company.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The consultation process for this Bill has just been completed and we will proceed to the legislative provisions arising from that.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is a matter I will have to take up with the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for children and youth affairs and I will revert to the Deputy.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Unfortunately, it is impossible to give a date for it at this point.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 to 170, inclusive, together. There are no proposals to decentralise my Department or any of the agencies under its aegis. It is a matter for those Departments to which staff from my Department have decentralised to assign such staff to locations outside of Dublin. The Department of Finance has responsibility in Government for the overall Decentralisation...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The projected cost of the communications unit for 2008 is €302,235. There are four civil servants employed in the unit: two executive officers, one staff officer and one clerical officer. Their salaries are €50,410, €44,931, €41,566 and €34,642, plus one sixth allowance for shift work. The role of the communications...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The public servants in question work within the departmental system. It is obvious that they are available to work elsewhere as well. The question of savings does not arise in that sense. The purpose of the service that is being provided by these public servants is to ensure that the work of the Government is portrayed accurately in the national public media so any inaccuracies,...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is not the situation in terms of the work these public servants do. A small part of the work of some public servants involves giving Ministers' offices an indication of the media coverage of what is going on in their Departments. The press offices in the various Departments provide much more assistance and value than that. It is a question of ensuring that the communications unit in...