Results 1,261-1,280 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: No decision was taken on this matter. It was an informal meeting of EU Finance Ministers and decisions cannot be taken at such meetings.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: A discussion took place on this matter. The concept is to try to find ways and means of capturing the civic sentiment of society in the aftermath of the tsunami and other tragedies. It is a question of how one encourages civil society to respond in addition to countries trying to meet their overseas development aid commitments. Part of the discussion was about debt relief and setting...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is not something to which I would subscribe. Ireland's overseas development aid commitment has increased by over 240% since we took office. Donation relief, which was first introduced in the Finance Bill of 1996 and subsequently amended in this year's Bill, is a means of encouraging people to make donations to NGOs or other bodies working in the developing world. It makes tax relief...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy knows, the Bill was published on 20 December 2004 and is currently awaiting debate on Second Stage. It is a matter for the Whips to include it for discussion.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I would never be so courageous as to instruct the Whip.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand that the charities Bill is due next year.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Interdepartmental discussions are continuing to bring forward that legislation. We are anxious to create a modern legislative framework for charities, but there are issues involved of which the Deputy may or may not be aware.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am sure that Deputy Crawford is so aware, but Deputy Sargent, the man who calls me a chancer at weekends, might not be aware of them.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Crawford's first question concerned a register of persons considered unsafe to work with children. As I said in a previous reply to Deputy Sargent, that matter comes under the aegis of the North-South Ministerial Council. Some moments ago, I replied as to where that stands. It is not imminent.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The natural gas regulation Bill, which is due next year, will give effect to the restructuring of the natural gas industry.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware that such is required or enters into the setting up of the second committee of inquiry. Obviously there are legal issues involved regarding the report to which the Deputy referred but it is not customary to publish the Attorney General's advices which are issued to the Government.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The heads of the medical practitioners Bill were approved by Government in June 2004. Further heads are expected this year and the Bill should be published early next year. With regard to the matter raised by the Deputy, everyone would be concerned about circumstances in which elderly people have a less than happy experience in their interaction with the public services, whether the health...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Everyone will be aware of the difficulties the postal services, particularly An Post, have experienced in recent years.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Thankfully, some improvements have been made but much more remains to be done. The matter is before the industrial relations machinery. The recommendations it makes will be critical and I hope they will meet with the approval of all sides with a view to addressing this question. The social partnership agreements provide a possibility to claim inability to pay. I hope the health of the company...

Estimates for Public Services 2005: Motion. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I move: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 152 (1) or (2) of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business, or the Order of the Dáil of 24th February, 2005, the following Further Revised Estimate for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2005, be presented to the Dáil on 17th May, 2005, being a date later than that prescribed for the presentation of...

Public Expenditure: Motion. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "commends the Government on: —making available unprecedented levels of investment to urgently tackle infrastructural priorities, including investment of €36.3 billion planned for the period 2005-09; —the steps which they have taken to promote more efficient and effective management of public...

Public Expenditure: Motion. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: That is an accurate reflection and I heard no one proposing the motion making those balanced points.

Public Expenditure: Motion. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I did not interrupt any Opposition speakers. Every time a Minister speaks, people have more to say. Opposition Deputies were listened to with respect and they should reciprocate. The establishment of the cost estimation function and the expertise that has come with it are showing results. The committee further acknowledged that contracting procedures had improved since my predecessor...

Public Expenditure: Motion. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: No, what had to be done was all those costs had to be included. Otherwise, there is a false argument. It was never the case that the bypass referred to by the Deputy would cost €21 million. When the project was ready for tendering, no price was mentioned. The Deputy's argument has only one logic: the project must be undone and taken back.

Public Expenditure: Motion. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The new guidelines provide for a clearer definition of the respective roles and responsibilities of Ministers, the Department of Finance, other Departments and public bodies involved in the management and appraisal of capital programmes and projects. In arriving at policy decisions on either investment programmes or individual projects, Ministers must take all relevant factors into account,...