Results 10,841-10,860 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Decentralisation Programme. (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I cannot say. I have not received that detail from the central applications facility. It is obvious that they are continuing to indicate an interest in relocating. The decentralisation implementation group will be in touch with them in due course, depending on whether a suitable post arises. Advance parties are groups or complements of workers who go to locations where alternative...

Decentralisation Programme. (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: No, it is not. The costs of the decentralisation programme will continue during the coming financial year and the following year as we complete the process of moving 3,500 people earmarked for relocation to the new areas as agreed. Various decentralisation projects are at different stages of development and they are moving to completion, depending on where they are in the process. They...

Decentralisation Programme. (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I can. These 6,000 posts apply to 40 locations outside Dublin and the other 13 locations will come into play at another time. All these locations to my knowledge are working well. I have heard of no complaint locally from staff, those working to them or those supervising them. All of us know, as the Deputy mentioned, that when the process is completed, the people are in place and the...

Decentralisation Programme. (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is a level of detail I do not have with me. A specific question to the Minister for Finance will elicit the information.

Decentralisation Programme. (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Any what?

Decentralisation Programme. (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am only surmising. I do not have the information in front of me so I would not be able to answer accurately.

Decentralisation Programme. (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: They would be redeployed to other duties in a non-decentralised location.

Decentralisation Programme. (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is asking me to speculate but I do not have that level of detail. A question to the Minister for Finance or to the decentralisation implementation group would probably give the Deputy more accurate information.

Decentralisation Programme. (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not in charge of the decentralisation programme.

Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The answer to the second question is "No". The serious point to be made is about the fact that as a result of the Comptroller and Auditor General looking into public procurement issues in FÁS, the Tánaiste asked for a further investigation into the management and systems in FÁS to ensure that wrongdoing, if there is any, cannot be prevented from being disclosed.

Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment also asked it to examine the corporate services aspect of that operation since 2000. This process is in place and both the chairman and the chief executive officer were anxious that it would take place to get to the bottom of any issues that need to be addressed. No one is suggesting issues should not be examined or addressed....

Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not standing over any profligate or unauthorised spending. No one can stand over that. The process that is being undertaken is being conducted by the Committee of Public Accounts. The Comptroller and Auditor General has been asked to examine all this and detail the situation so that decisions can be taken on it. Obviously, there are questions to be answered. This needs to be dealt...

Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: On Deputy Enda Kenny's point about information being brought to the Committee of Public Accounts, I understand from listening to a radio interview this morning with the committee's Vice Chairman that it was agreed between the committee's legal advisers and FÁS that certain data protection issues arose as to why certain stuff was redacted. That is a matter for legal advice. The real issue...

Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the legitimate anger and concern that people have expressed on some of the issues brought to public attention in recent days and times regarding this organisation. I can reply to the Deputy's questions with the same forcefulness. The apprenticeship situation derives from the sectors themselves in respect of numbers taken on and the numbers which go through the system. Let us...

Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not believe certain items of expenditure should have been incurred. In regard to that specific issue, it is clear. We must ensure that the accountability of the organisation is such that we find the full remit of what was going on. That process is in place. That is not for the purpose of deferring the issue, it is to ensure we find the full outcome based on what was going on. I...

Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: That issue is in hand. I am not aware of another agency that has this issue before it but clearly Ministers should contact agencies under their remit and have the chief executives confirm that their arrangements are in compliance with whatever regulations are in place.

Order of Business (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 8, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income and Capital Gains) (Republic of Turkey) Order 2008, back from committee; No. 9, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Malta) Order 2008, back from committee; No. 10, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary...

Order of Business (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I reject the contentions made by both Opposition Deputies on this matter. The functions conducted by the Combat Poverty Agency are held by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. The question of them being incorporated into the office for social inclusion is logical in the circumstances. The amendment that has been put down enables a full discussion to take place during the debate on...

Order of Business (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I would not accept the contentions made by the Deputy on that basis.

Order of Business (25 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to refer these Supplementary Estimates to select committees in the normal way.