Results 1,241-1,260 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Rabbitte is the best distorter of figures in the business. When Deputy Rabbitte hears something he does not like, he makes us all out to be cretins and clowns. That is his name-calling. It is the way he carries on.

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: He might do it with others but he will not do it with me. It is the old game with him the whole time.

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I reiterate that the Comptroller and Auditor General's report concluded that real project cost overruns due to underestimation was less than 20%, in line with quoted international trends. We will point out in the debate which will begin later today the steps the Government is taking to deal with those issues as a policy matter. I make the point to Deputy Kenny that we have been engaged in a...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The detail on some of these policy points is best addressed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. However, I will make the following points. No Government, including this Government, seeks to unnecessarily put lives at risk. Deputy Rabbitte was in Government. Since he left office in 1997, some €550 million has been invested in cancer care. That does not suggest to him that...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The development of cancer care services has not been put on the long finger. It is not true to say that no decisions have been taken.

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: We need to ascertain the way in which we can accelerate the nationwide provision of the BreastCheck service. The Tánaiste has been addressing the matter and has discussed it with me. I leave it to her to decide the way in which she can bring further information to the House.

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assure Deputy Rabbitte and the House that I am not involved in bickering or playing games with the issue of health. I did not suggest that I was unmoved by the prospect of 85 people at risk of dying or that I was unmindful or disinterested in the fact or that the Government was callous. There is not a policy of drift but a very proactive investment programme in place. It has not yet fully...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: On the first matter, I understand that is an industrial relations issue that is being dealt with through the usual industrial relations machinery. I hope, as has been the case in the past, that might provide a means by which those issues can be resolved peaceably in an industrial relations sense. Regarding accident and emergency services, over 1,240,000 attendances are recorded at the...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is not simply a question of beds because more beds have been provided. There is far more throughput of day cases now than was the case in the past.

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Tánaiste indicated in her ten-point plan the short-term measures she wishes to take to deal with those aspects of the service causing greatest difficulties. It is her intention that they will make a difference. She is in the process of getting on with that with the HSE, hospital management, staff and unions to ensure that happens successfully. However, there is a whole range of issues...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I said in a previous reply, the question of ministerial intervention as the solution to the problems being spoken about does not comprehensively deal with the issue. Full co-operation from everybody is needed to deal with the issue that has arisen recently in respect of accident and emergency services. The industrial relations machinery should be utilised by everybody for the purpose of...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 12, technical motion re Further Revised Estimate — Vote 34; No. 13, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters, and a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European small...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny should address questions on the detail of the ten-point plan to the Tánaiste who has front line responsibility. I do not have the information available to me for Order of Business. I am advised the Dublin metro Bill is not due until next year. The drug offenders issue will be dealt with in the Criminal Justice Bill. I announced in the House on budget day my willingness to...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: No decision has been made on that matter. As Deputy McManus is aware, the report from the commission was published last week and it will require everyone's most careful consideration.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It means that no decision has been taken on these matters by Government following the publication of the Bill.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand that Bill is due later this year. The heads of the Bill have been approved.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Whistleblowers Protection Bill 1999 was a Private Members' Bill introduced by Deputy Rabbitte on 15 June 1999 and was accepted by the Government. The purpose of the Bill was to provide protection from civil liability to employees who make certain disclosures reasonably and in good faith on the conduct or the business and affairs of their employers. A memorandum for Government was...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware of any terms of reference. Nothing has come to Government, to my knowledge.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware that there are any such plans. I note, however, that as a result of what has emerged over the past few days, the board has indicated that the new executive director is to be appointed forthwith. I hope the Abbey will be in a position to deal with the issues following the recent revelations.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The legislation does not refer to obesity. It proposes a register to give effect to the recommendations of a child protection joint working group. The legislation arises from the North-South Ministerial Council. A cross-governmental working group reported to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on proposals for reform of vetting of employees by the Garda Síochána. The Minister...