Results 12,101-12,120 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The purpose of these questions is not to engage in argument but simply to impart the information available on the file. That is what I am doing.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The legal team of the Moriarty tribunal consists of three senior counsel, two junior counsel, one legal researcher and one solicitor. It is a significantly smaller legal team than, for example, the Mahon tribunal, which has a legal team comprising 21 people, whereas the Moriarty tribunal has seven.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The cost of the Moriarty tribunal legal team is €645 less than the equivalent cost of the Mahon tribunal.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is due to the fact that when one takes into account the fee structure available to the tribunal, in terms of senior and junior counsel and legal assistants, it works out at €645 less. That point should be made. The fees are agreed by the Department of Finance with legal counsel, on the advice of the Attorney General. Those are the rates which are payable and which have been agreed.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Moriarty tribunal was set up in 1997. In early 2001, tribunal senior counsel sought a substantial increase in their fees and negotiations went on for some time, as I outlined in my initial reply. It was considered an increased fee was appropriate and, in due course, that was agreed. A rate of €2,500 per day was agreed with senior counsel and notified to them by the Department of the...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the cost of the Moriarty tribunal and the way it operates, it has a different modus operandi from other tribunals as it keeps the need for witnesses to appear and public hearings, and the associated costs, to a minimum. It is doing things quite differently under its sole member. It has been quite effective and has been doing detailed and complex work to get to the bottom of...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I stated in my original remarks, many of the Comptroller and Auditor General's recommendations have been incorporated into the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005, Committee Stage of which is before the House. Many of the recommendations will be made operational. With regard to the tribunal's work, I understand from the tribunal that further public sittings will commence at the end of the...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am sure the sole member is dealing with the matter.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 4, Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009 — Second and Remaining Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted not later than 10 p.m; and (2) the following arrangements shall apply in regard to No. 4:...

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As with all programmes for Government, there is financial provision in our programme, which confirms that all commitments are subject to maintaining order in the public finances.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Clearly, the public finances have deteriorated. The various departmental annual statements confirm the priorities to which Ministers are working arising from the programme for Government but, clearly, not all of them will be implemented, given resources sufficient for their implementation will not be available.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am guided by the Ceann Comhairle's direction. Regarding the first matter, as I have said, legislation will now be prepared to be enacted before any referendum would take place in order that the same rules that apply to political parties would apply to everyone conducting campaigns on the matter. The Deputy has raised with me an issue regarding the ethics Bill, but I will have to come back...

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I stated last week, it is not possible to indicate a date for that legislation.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It will be later in the year.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is an interesting comment from Deputy Burton on the basis that she claims she has been making a lot of proposals in recent times. Concerning the budgetary procedure itself, we have indicated that the magnitude of the challenge facing us and the need for a stabilisation plan that will incorporate a supplementary budget will now take priority. I do not see a reason that Revised Estimates...

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is a critical issue for our party and this Government, I assure the Deputy. It is why we introduced——

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——we introduced the Commission for Taxation, the first one in 30 years. In fact, public servants and other low income workers are paying a lot less tax under this Administration than they paid under the Administration of which Deputy Stagg was a member.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Just to remind the Deputy, the tax rate used to be 26% after the first £84, so I do not need any lectures from him on how progressive we have made the tax system during the good times.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The important point is that it will now have to be adapted to the new circumstances in which we find ourselves. Regarding the Commission on Taxation, which has been mentioned, the Minister for Finance has already indicated in last night's debate that he expected that it will be brought forward in the late summer. I can make the point here that, clearly, whatever taxation decisions are to be...

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Everything is on the table.