Results 11,541-11,560 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: That is fine.
- Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Financial Regulator has statutory responsibility to draw up a code of practice which will be put on a statutory basis. I presume the Deputy is seeking information in response to his question rather than merely interrupting me. To answer him, it is intended to include in the statutory code of practice being drawn up those entities involved in the sub-prime market which are not part of...
- Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: I understand foreshore legislation is due in the course of this year. I referred earlier to this matter when Deputy Barrett raised a related matter regarding a draft Bill relating to offshore development of renewable energy. The foreshore Bill to which the Deputy refers is separate and is due in the course of the year. I am not aware of the second proposed Bill to which he refers. I will...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: The information sought by the Deputy is in the following table. Date Launch / Event 2007 10th Jan 07 Launch National Centre for Partnership and Performance Strategy Document 2007-2010 28 Jan 07 Launch the Report of the Seafood Strategy Review Group (Cawley Report) 5 Feb 07 Launch of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for all 19 Feb 07 Attend Press Conference on Referendum on...
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The procedures my predecessor outlined to the House on use of the ministerial air transport service, MATS, most recently on 22 April 2008, have not changed. The position is that my approval is required prior to the service being used. Procedurally, requests for use of the service are made by Ministers' private secretaries to my...
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: Where appropriate, scheduled flights are used by Ministers. In addition, use is made of the ministerial air transport service when it is the only way for a Minister to travel to meetings and carry out his or her ministerial functions. It offers the type of flexibility that scheduled flights cannot provide. It is not tied to set routes or timetables. The jet can also use military as well...
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: On the specific issue, there was a requirement to meet with the managing director of Dell very quickly in regard to impending decisions and it was the right thing to do in the circumstances. I am informed by the Department of Defence that, in keeping with normal practice in the aviation business, it is not possible to assign an exact cost to any particular mission. However, on the basis of...
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: The idea in these modern times that Government business can be conducted without requiring the use of these facilities is not correct. In the interest of getting work done and then returning, it is important they are used. It is also important, where it is appropriate and in line with timings, etc., to use scheduled flights. I have done so myself.
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: Specific questions about levels of emissions, etc., should be addressed to the Minister for Defence.
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: I do not have that information to hand and will have to get it for the Deputy. The Department of Defence has information on the detailed arrangements regarding the numbers of flights, who goes where and whatever else. In regard to the first matter, a Government jet is necessary to conduct our business. It is not required in all cases or at all times by all Ministers and it is not used in...
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: Gulfstream IV has been in service for almost 17 years and is at this point the longest serving aircraft of its type in the world.
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: Yes, thankfully it is.
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Learjet which was purchased some time ago caters for shorter flights to Europe and so on. The Beechcraft is used by the Air Corps for aircraft training purposes. It is not used often, if at all, for travel purposes given, as stated, it is 29 years old. They are the aircraft available. On the Deputy's other question, the Government jet is used from time to time in connection with...
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: As I said earlier, the same regulations apply now as applied in my predecessor's time; there has been no change in the arrangements. With regard to the question of accompaniment, if people are on official visits, it is possible to be accompanied from time to time by one's spouse, although it does not often happen. With regard to the question of the use of scheduled flights, I speak for...
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: I do not have to apply my standards to anyone else. The standards are simply applied as appropriate in line with the regulations. I have always used these facilities on the basis of official visits or official work. As I said, the workload for officeholders both at home and abroad is such that on many occasions obtaining a scheduled flight place is not an option, particularly due to the...
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: I do not accept that. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, was answering a question in respect of a wide-ranging interview on the radio.
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: I am about to answer the question. The fact that the Minister was responding to a wide-ranging interview and gave his opinion on these matters is fine. These matters are not raised directly with me. However, the question of offsetting the carbon footprint from the use of air travel by Ministers is an arrangement which the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has...
- Ministerial Travel. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: No, I cannot.
- Social Partnership Agreement. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 17, inclusive, together. Agreement was reached on the review and transitional agreement 2008-09 on 17 September 2008. The transitional agreement sought to provide certainty and stability during a period of great change and difficulty facing the economy while maintaining the orderly conduct of industrial relations. The transitional agreement was...
- Social Partnership Agreement. (10 Feb 2009)
Brian Cowen: We have social partnership structures and processes in place. It is true that we have a pay freeze in the public sector until October. We indicated that we would not be able to pay the instalments due in October 2009 and June 2010, due to current financial arrangements. Representatives of ICTU and IBEC have had discussions on the private sector pay agreement and others issues related to...