Results 12,941-12,960 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----will then be announced.

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I would also make the point in relation-----

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----to the question of prison places being an important facet of having a prison system in this country that, during Fine Gael's own term when it was last in office, it cancelled Castlerea and the women's prison. No new prison places-----

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Not one new prison space-----

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----was constructed during the Administration of the then Taoiseach, John Bruton.

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is clear-----

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: What is clear-----

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It was precisely to make sure we provide value for money that this project did not go ahead under its present guise. It is precisely because the PPARS project was not properly scoped when Deputy Michael Noonan instigated it that we brought it to a halt because it would not have given value for money.

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is precisely because we want to get value for money that we made this decision. I reiterate it is our intention to proceed with a prison at the site concerned. The site was purchased as a result-----

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is precisely because of the fact that in managing the Prison Service estate, where 19 acres were sold in Shanganagh for the purpose of funding the purchase of 150 acres at Thornton Hall, that we were able to proceed with a prison there. Legislation was introduced and enacted in this House for this particular project. What is clearly the case now is that because of the increased cost of...

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is precisely because of the fact we have that asset in place that we will be able to proceed with a prison, which is needed. The Mountjoy complex is nearly 160 years old and we need to replace it. Therefore, we will proceed with this project in a different way, on the basis of a proposal that will come from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, in the...

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I confirm to Deputy Gilmore that it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the building of a prison on that site-----

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----and to do so on the basis of a proposal to be drawn up by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The prison will meet the functionality and requirements of a prison in a way that will provide better value for money than that which is currently available under the existing arrangements and on the basis of the current design. On the question of the development of Mountjoy,...

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The proposed development at Mountjoy will proceed once Thornton Hall has been completed.

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: A prison.

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The reason I mentioned the Shanganagh sale was to clarify the position in case people were under the impression that the €40 million was obtained from the Estimate from the Department of Finance. It was obtained by the management of the prison estate.

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am delighted to hear that it sold the prison to the local authority.

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Of course it is public money.

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Is it being suggested that it should not have been obtained for that price and that the €40 million was received from somewhere else?

Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The point should be fairly made in the interests of accuracy-----