Results 12,121-12,140 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Everything is on the table, including the Deputy's proposals.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I convey my sympathies to the family on the bereavement and the sad circumstances in which it happened. Regarding the legislation itself, I understand that it should be later this year.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy has asked me to anticipate the decision. Obviously, however, the Government has made clear that given the scale of the challenges facing us this year and in future years, the supplementary budget, as part of a wider stabilisation plan, will involve revenue raising issues and expenditure issues to deal with the emerging situation in the public finances. Whatever enactments,...

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: In respect of the referendum Bill, it can be considered only on the basis of the work that is currently being finalised to the satisfaction of everyone, including Ireland, at European Council level.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Not yet.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand it will be during this session.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Work continues.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand it is to be taken tomorrow.

Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: A cursory reading of the Bill might assist.

Legislative Programme. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. My Department currently has one item of legislation on the A list of the Government legislation programme — the Statute Law Revision Bill. This is the latest element in the statute law revision project. In preparation for the Bill, work has been completed on the analysis of local and personal Acts up to and including 1850 and...

Legislative Programme. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The need for regulatory reform is important and the issue is receiving priority in the Department of Finance. The Minister intends to bring forward proposals quickly as change is required to the legislative base on which the institutions were set up. We have outlined the changes envisaged and the Minister will bring his proposals to Government as soon as possible.

Legislative Programme. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As soon as it is brought to Government and approved, it will be published and brought to the House as quickly as possible. The issue is being given priority in the Department. The idea is to set up a central banking commission that would incorporate Central Bank functions and the regulatory aspects of the Financial Regulator's work. The consumer affairs aspect of the Financial Regulator's...

Legislative Programme. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Since this Government came into office on 14 June 2007, 43 Bills have been enacted. Given that the previous Dáil brought forward a large amount of legislation, approximately 204 Bills, so there was not a large overhang of Bills on this Dáil. To a great extent, the legislative programme of the previous Dáil was completed. Therefore, much of the legislation coming before the House must be...

Legislative Programme. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The legislation to which Deputy Gilmore referred specifically in his question is being drafted at present and it is hoped it will be ready for the next session. It is very involved legislation and it has many aspects spanning many Departments which has added to its complexity. I do not take away from the need to deal with it as urgently as possibly. The assistant secretary of my Department...

Legislative Programme. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil gá le Bille chun an chéad fhóram a luaigh an Teachta a chruthú. Is cinneadh polaitaíochta, idir an Tuaisceart agus an Pharlaimint seo, atá i gceist. Ba mhaith liom an gcomhrá sin a chomhlíonadh chomh luath agus is féidir chun go mbeidh cinneadh againn agus go mbeimid in ann dul ar aghaidh leis an eagraíocht a bhí ar intinn againn i gcomhaontú 1998....

Legislative Programme. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: We have a voluntary system of industrial relations in this country. Partnership has been the means by which consensus has been built up for legislation that would enhance conditions in the workplace and assist in the maintenance of orderly industrial relations that one would expect in this country, given the importance of harmony in the workplace and the wider social policy objectives set...

Departmental Committees. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. The Government statement on transforming public services and the report of the task force on the public service were published in late November. The statement sets out an ambitious programme of renewal for the entire public service and represents the next critical phase in the reform of our public services. Implementation is...

Departmental Committees. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the second part of the question, the committee was established by the Minister for Finance to whom it reports on an ongoing basis. It is in the process of examining areas of expenditure in various departmental Estimates and will proceed and report as it sees fit based on the work that it is progressing. Such work is reported to the Minister for Finance who then brings matters to...

Departmental Committees. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Tá sé i gceist agam go mbeidh na seirbhísí phoiblí níos éifeachtaí, go gcaithfí an airgead atá ar fáil chun seirbhísí phoiblí a chur os comhair na ndaoine chomh éifeachtach agus is féidir agus go ndéanfaí athruithe sna heagraíochtaí éagsula. Ní bheidh na teorainn céanna, a bhaineann leis na heagraíochtaí éagsúla atá sé mar chúram acu seirbhísí poiblí a chur...

Departmental Committees. (10 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Tá an cheart ag an Teachta go bhfuil sé ar intinn againn an phlean seo a chomhlíonadh ar feadh na trí bhliana atá amach romhainn. Léiríonn tuarascáil an task force go gcaithfimid an phlean a thosnú má táimid chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh ó thaobh an agenda forleathan atá againn — mar shampla, athrú mór a dhéanamh sa slí ina mbeidh seirbhísí phoiblí os comhair na...