Results 12,741-12,760 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Social Partnership. (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: In relation to the first matter, the issue of pay is being discussed by employers, employees and congress in the context of the current discussions. I cannot anticipate whether agreement in that area will be reached. Obviously, the discussions are ongoing. On the Deputy's other question, I refer him to the Department of Finance circular which outlines the position on these matters....

Social Partnership. (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I cannot give any such assurance when the Government has made no such decision to tax the lump sum.

Social Partnership. (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is seeking to suggest the decision has been made to tax lump sums in the future. No such decision has been made whatsoever. If I may paraphrase the Minister - I do not have the speech in front of me - my recollection is his statement states that it was considered, it was a matter with which he was not proceeding and would revisit again in December in his next budget. As I recall...

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 11, motion regarding a referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of An Bord Bia (Transfer of Functions of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara relating to Fish Marketing) Order 2009; No. 12, motion regarding a referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) 2006; and...

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the first matter, I understand the writs would need to be moved between 8 May and 14 May. It will be a matter for the Whips in due course to agree how that can proceed, but that is the timeframe. On the second matter, I also welcome that the Senate in the Czech Republic has voted positively in favour of the Lisbon treaty. I cannot give any date, unfortunately, for when a referendum will...

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Whip that it will be a matter for those who are dealing with the Committee Stage to ascertain how long it will take for that consideration to be completed and come back to the House for Report Stage.

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Government is aware of the concern and anxieties that this process is causing to prospective adoptive parents. However, the Government is also firmly committed to ensuring that arrangements between Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam protect the best interests of the children, their families and prospective adoptive parents. The Minister of State with responsibility for...

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Obviously, this was a regulation, secondary legislation, that was being enacted in respect of this matter. I will have to come back to the Deputy after I check what the position is as to whether an amendment is required and what timescale is involved.

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Unfortunately, I have no date for that Bill at the moment.

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Individual Ministers can update the Deputy in respect of each individual case. In budget 2009, the Minister for Finance announced 30 rationalisation decisions to reduce the number of State agencies by 41. As of now, nine of the 30 rationalisation decisions have been implemented, covering nine State agencies and the closure of four Army barracks. Following analysis by Departments,...

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I say, the question of decisions further to those that have been announced by the Minister for Finance are a matter for Government to consider in due course. I am referring to those areas where, in fact, Government decisions have been made.

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy has been very good at appointing a few himself.

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The whole question of seeking to improve credit availability in the financial system in Ireland is dictated both by administrative practice and some of the legislative changes that we have implemented. The question of recapitalisation, for example, required legislation. That is one of the legislative means by which we are seeking to bring stability to the financial system and to improve...

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The road traffic Bill is expected this session. As for what Deputy Broughan and I discussed privately, it was in a conversation that took place in the Chamber as he and I were leaving the House. One should not indicate it was anything more sinister than that.

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Obviously, the Tánaiste continues to work extremely hard in this respect to try to find a solution to that problem.

Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not have a date for the legislation to which the Deputy referred in the first part of his question. As the Deputy is aware, it has been the subject of ongoing and continual discussion between the social partners. We have a voluntary industrial relations code and trying to resolve that issue has been a matter of considerable discussion and debate between the social partners. Ongoing...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department is detailed in the schedule below: Title of Report Year Objective Cost Laid before Houses of the Oireachtas(yes / no) Annual Report 2003(published 2004)(Annual Reports are produced internally but are published for both internal and external use) 2004 Progress report on the Department's Strategy Statement €26,352 Yes...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The following is the information requested by the Deputy in respect of the reports I have received from the bodies under the aegis of my Department in relation to their operations. National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) The National Economic and Social Development Office's Annual Report 2007 was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by my Department on 8 July 2008. NESDO...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP) is a constituent body of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) which is funded by Subhead B of my Department's vote. The provision in the Revised Estimate for this year for the NCPP is €1.175m. Of this, €0.717m relates to pay and €0.458m relates to non-pay expenditure.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The following tables detail the annual expenditure on external legal costs by my Department and agencies under the aegis of my Department in each of the past five years: Department of the Taoiseach Year Annual Expenditure on external legal costs 2009 (Jan- March) Nil 2008 â'¬1,727 2007 â'¬12,197 2006 â'¬60,846 2005 â'¬4,448 2004 â'¬23,270 NESDO Year Annual Expenditure on...