Results 12,081-12,100 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: —— while retaining confidence in the Independent Deputy concerned. I am glad to see all of them back in the House. That was the outcome there and the people made a decision in relation to that matter. The next question asked by the Deputy was about why I was not being transparent, but I am being transparent with him. The confidentiality of the agreements will be respected. The...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Deputy's curiosity. I know he would, perhaps, like to see a leather bound copy, but one is not available.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, I am nor surprised.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It becomes the Deputy.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It does not.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As the Ceann Comhairle has indicated, that is outside the remit of this question. However, as a former Minister for Health, I am very proud of my association with the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland. I was glad to have been associated with ensuring that a team was trained in Newcastle-upon-Tyne at the time to ensure that a lung and heart transplant team could, inter alia, be made...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is a grave injustice to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy can take up the question of the allowances with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. That is not an issue with which I deal. On the question of allocation of time, there is a contact person in my Department for them to deal with if they wish to deal with that person directly, in addition to the Chief Whip.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is an arrangement that does not require an allocation of time motion or anything else. It is a simple enough sort of arrangement.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Only whatever time is necessary consistent with dealing with these representations, as they would be dealt with for the Deputy or anybody else.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not know.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 10, inclusive, together. The total cost incurred by my Department in respect of the Moriarty tribunal since 1997 up to 31 January 2009 was €34.91 million. For 2008 the figure was €4.01 million. The recently published Comptroller and Auditor General report estimates that, including third party costs, the final cost will be in the region of €100...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: There are not arrangements made to recover it as it is not necessary. As I said, the fee was agreed in June 2002 and the Attorney General's advice on the matter concluded that it would be inappropriate to withdraw the higher rate of fee which had been formally notified. He advised that the tribunal lawyers should be notified that the €2,500 rate had been notified in error but that in all...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Yes. That was the agreed fee based on that notification and advice from the Attorney General.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is not down to a typing error. I explained in my reply that there was a misunderstanding between the Department of the Taoiseach and the tribunal——

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——in stating the fee was to be €2,500 rather than €2,250. When this came to the attention of the Department, it sought the advice of the Attorney General and based the decision on the need for people to be involved in what is regarded as the highly complex work of the Moriarty tribunal.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It was decided that a rate of €2,500 per day for that work was appropriate in the circumstances, on a personal basis.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No. The Comptroller and Auditor General made no recommendation is his report for a requirement for repayment because the fee was agreed.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: There was no overpayment on the basis that it was an agreed fee. I explained the circumstances, in an honest way, as to how the situation arose and the Attorney General's advice was sought.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I explained that in August 2002 it was an agreed fee. The Comptroller and Auditor General has not made a recommendation on the matter because he accepts it was an agreed fee. I want to make a substantive point on the costs of these matters. The Moriarty tribunal——