Results 10,561-10,580 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I offer my sincere sympathy and that of the Government to the family of Shane Geoghegan and to all his relatives and friends. This was an appalling murder which showed a contempt for the value of human life on a scale that reminds us, as in previous murders, of the wanton killing certain people are prepared to perpetrate in our community. It will be met with the full force of the law,...

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Geoghegan family is dealing with the tragic loss of a partner and son. The House is united in its determination to deal with this matter and it joins in sympathy with the family. The House recognises the nature of the challenge put to the criminal justice system by certain elements in our society and we will continue to fight those people with the full rigours of the law to the greatest...

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is nothing defeatist about the approach of the Government to this matter. I am simply pointing out, as we must point out in terms of information to the House, what is achievable within the Constitution and what is not. We must point that out. That is not being defeatist.

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is nothing being excluded from the consideration of the Government as to what it can do in this situation to deal with this matter. Let me be clear about that.

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: In fairness to Deputies who support the Garda, it is wrong to suggest that the Garda is not having many successes in this area. It is. As we all will be aware, there are many situations which never come into the public domain by reason of the work being done in preventing serious crimes. Hundreds, not tens, of people from that area who have been involved in crime are behind bars since...

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Of course not.

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is important to point out that the number of murders involving firearms in 2007 was 18 and it was 27 the previous year. To date this year there have been 19 deaths by shooting. Homicide offences have reduced by more than half during the third quarter and almost by half year on year. This is not to suggest that the problem is solved but it does suggest that the law enforcement agencies...

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are instances where fear has played a part and legislative measures have been taken by this House which have successfully withstood court and legal scrutiny to overcome situations where people were not prepared to give oral evidence on the basis of previous witness statements they had made. This House has responded in ways which were effective. As to what will happen on the lifting of...

Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 2, Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted not later than 10 p.m. Private Members' business shall be No. 40, motion re cervical cancer vaccination programme.

Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: As I stated during Leaders' Questions, the Cabinet expects the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to bring the proposed covert surveillance Bill to the Cabinet next week. Thereafter, detailed drafting must take place and I cannot indicate to Deputy Kenny at this stage what the timeline will be. Given the previous discussion, we will accord priority to it and ask the Attorney...

Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Government is deliberating on the detail and the best way to proceed. While it may have been the original intention to incorporate the provision as an amendment to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008, it will not now be incorporated. The matter is subject to continued deliberation. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will introduce further proposals based on...

Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not mean to be facetious, but we will introduce the legislation before the local elections if we are to have it.

Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am trying to be helpful. We did not introduce such legislation previously for local elections because they are a different type of election. Under the current arrangement for European and general elections, there are spending limits and repayment arrangements. It is not as simple as some people suggest. We do not want a situation to develop where there is an unfair burden on local...

Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: When drafting legislation we must take cognisance of the constitutional and international obligations and imperatives that apply. The need to give sufficient consideration to such matters is imperative, so that subsequent legislation is not struck down in the courts, where it is not effective because of court challenge or by way of legal argument. The accommodation of these public policy...

Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: That was dealt with in the financial resolutions to the budget.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy regarding staff employed in the Constituency Offices of the Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department is detailed in the schedule as follows. The Constituency Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs is based in the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Government Chief Whip, who is also the Minister of State at the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: A total of eight staff are employed between my Constituency Offices in Government Buildings and my Tullamore Office. The information requested by the Deputy on these staff is detailed in the schedule as follows: Grade Location Remuneration â'¬ Personal Assistant Government Buildings 53,354 Personal Assistant Government Buildings 55,030 Personal Assistant Government Buildings 49,685...

Written Answers — Attendance Management: Attendance Management (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: My Department uses the PeopleSoft Human Resource Management and the Flexi Time Systems to record and track all absences from work, e.g. annual leave, special leave, sick leave and maternity leave. This data is used by the Department to monitor compliance with the provisions of the Organisation of the Working Time Act and Department of Finance Guidelines and Circulars. As in the case of all...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The cost of legal services funded by my Department's Vote in 2007 and to date in 2008 is contained in the following tables: Department of the Taoiseach Year Cost of Legal Service € 2007 12,196.80 2008 300.00 NESDO Year Cost of Legal Service € 2007 26,710.00 2008 17,429.00 Commission of Investigation Year Cost of Legal Service € 2007 298,614.71 2008 0.00 It...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: My Department had no capital projects within the past five years.