Results 11,581-11,600 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy said, the decision on the limits was taken today by Government so the legislative work will now begin and will be conducted in such a way as to make it effective for the forthcoming local elections this year. The intention would be to introduce it in a timely manner. With regard to the statutory arrangements being put in place for the pensions levy, the heads of the Bill were...

Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: When the legislation is published that date will become clear. My indications are that it will be from next month onwards. Regarding the Bill, the Minister for Finance attended an ECOFIN meeting today. The heads of the Bill were approved by the Cabinet and the Minister for Finance will revert next week with more detail.

Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, I do not agree. I do not believe we require a supplementary list. The legislative changes that must be brought about as a result of last week's announcement will be incorporated in one Bill. The early childhood supplement legislative changes will be incorporated in the Bill to which I referred in answer to Deputy Gilmore.

Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware there is any problem. It will probably be enacted later this year.

Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The legislation will be introduced to the House and that will be an opportunity for everyone to discuss their views. The levy is structured in such a way that those on lowest incomes pay at lower rates than those on higher incomes.

Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is hoped to have that resolved sometime during the course of the year, hopefully by the middle of this year. However, there are industrial relations issues to be addressed.

Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand there will be legislation in due course.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The total spent on foreign travel during the period 1 January to 31 December 2008 in respect of the Office of the Attorney General was €162,555.56.

Written Answers — Storage Facilities: Storage Facilities (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department has, since 1 January 2008, availed of off site storage facilities. The contract is for seven years, from 1 January 2008, at an annual cost of €2,239.59 [inc VAT]. There are 568 such boxes at present in storage. The files they contain relate to projects which are no longer active but which are ineligible for transfer to the National Archives under the 30 year rule. Their...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department uses the services of two taxi companies. A policy on the use of taxis is in place in my Department which has been circulated to all staff in the Department. The use of taxis in my Department is permissible only for use on official business, usually where other means of transport e.g. public transport, are not available or suitable for the purposes required. The following...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: 12 mobile phones have been either lost or stolen from my Department in the period January 2007 to date. Upon notification or such a loss the devices concerned are immobilised to prevent any further use. No laptops or Blackberry devices were lost or stolen from my Department in this period. The Office of Public Works is responsible for all art works and stock control measures in relation to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Chief State Solicitor's Office tracks fees paid by the Office to counsel representing the State and other State legal expenses paid by the Office for the legal cases in which it is involved. The following table shows the Office's expenditure in 2007 and 2008 (provisional) on State Counsel Fees and State general law expenses, the vast majority of which involved litigation cases. State...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: In the years 2000 to 2008 and to 9 February 2009 the Office of the Attorney General paid travel and subsistence costs for official business abroad in respect of the Attorney General, the Director General, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and staff at Assistant Secretary level. Although not specifically requested I also include, for completeness, details of travel and subsistence costs in...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: There has been no spend by my Department on private consultancy firms to date in 2009. The following table details the consultancy firms used by my Department in 2008, the projects worked on and the cost for each project. One contract was awarded after 14th October 2008 which is highlighted in the following table. Details of payment made in 2008 (Jan-December) Name of Consultant Details...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: No bonus payments have been made to staff in my Department in respect of the year 2008. Civil service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. However,...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is important to point out that these issues with Anglo Irish Bank are the subject of various investigations. This is based on information from the Financial Regulator and the due diligence exercised, which was undertaken as part of the planned recapitalisation of the bank. The information was also provided by the new board of the bank. I am confident the new board, appointed by the...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The new board is also reviewing all the corporate governance practices of the bank and will put arrangements in place to guide the bank in the future. It is important that Anglo Irish Bank customers and depositors can be sure their savings are being safeguarded. While I understand people's anger about these matters, it is action that will deal with this issue. There is a very serious...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: As the House knows, we are also in the process of finalising arrangements regarding recapitalisation. The recapitalisation of banks is about ensuring once again that we provide much-needed stability in the banking system for the benefit of the real, wider economy. The portrayal of the recapitalisation policy as being in some way simply for the provision of bankers is incorrect. It is about...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: On executive remuneration, under the guarantee scheme that was enacted here in September there is a remuneration oversight committee which will report to the Minister for Finance in the coming weeks and which will deal with all of those issues, rightly so.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: On severance payments for the Financial Regulator, in a reply yesterday the Minister for Finance outlined the factual situation whereby the regulatory authority informed the Minister for Finance that pension benefits are payable in accordance with the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland superannuation scheme. I also understand that the former chief executive had two...