Results 13,201-13,220 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Order, a Cheann Comhairle.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Order.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. a9, motion re Ryan report on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 4.45 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted not later than 7 p.m.; the sitting shall be suspended from 1.30 p.m. to 2 p.m. today; the proceedings on No. a9 shall, if not previously...

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I thank all Members for ensuring an agreed motion and it is appropriate that this is the case. It follows on the unanimous motion agreed in the House a couple of weeks ago. As has been stated by the Government in its statement in the aftermath of a formal Government meeting, the question of an implementation plan being brought to Government in respect of the Ryan report recommendations is...

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the first matter, the committee on legislation will meet today and I expect we should be ready to publish that Bill in a matter of weeks. Second, concerning the Bill now before the Seanad the Government has brought forward its proposals. It will listen to the ongoing debate and see if it is possible to consider any further Government or Opposition amendments in this area.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Regarding that matter, the Presidency is proceeding with bilateral meetings during the course of the day. It is its business to proceed with this and make progress in this area. There has been a great deal of contact and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, is working on the matter. We intend that the political understandings reached in December will form the basis of the...

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for the legislation sought by the Deputy. The other matters are for consideration in the future.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is not correct to characterise the ongoing discussions as the Deputy as done. The normal, intensive discussions that take place before a Council meeting are proceeding and the Presidency, with which we have been in constant touch, is handling the issues. It is for the Presidency to decide on the nature of how discussions proceed. Our Minister for Foreign Affairs has been in intensive...

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Child Care Bill is due this session and Second Stage debate will take place on it.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: The second piece of legislation mentioned concerns consolidation and work is being done on this currently, but there is no date for it. Two Departments, the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Health and Children, are working on the first piece of legislation mentioned and giving priority to that given recent events.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Legislation is currently before the Seanad for Committee Stage. I would point out that all sectors of the economy have had to make a contribution to assist those most in need in terms of funding in order to maintain public services. The Minister for Finance, being as fair as possible, looked at the areas for additional tax revenues in the context of the fiscal challenges the country faces....

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not have the information before me and must ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to revert to the Deputy on those issues.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no plan for a supplementary health budget. The plan to contain costs within hospital's budget allocation, which focuses on savings in indirect costs and seeks to protect front line services, is currently being negotiated. That does not involve the curtailment of cancer services at the hospital.

Local Government (Rates) (Amendment) Bill 2009: First Stage (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: No.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Reviews of Commercial Rents) Bill 2009: First Stage (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: No.

Ryan Report on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (11 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I move: That Dáil Éireann: - accepts the conclusions of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and in particular the failure of the State and the religious congregations running the institutions to protect the children who were placed in these institutions from abuse; - acknowledges the pain and suffering endured by the former residents of institutions and that the...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The expenditure incurred by my Department in respect of the Moriarty tribunal from 1 January 2009 to 31 May 2009 was €1.78 million. Total expenditure in my Department from the establishment of the tribunal in September 1997 to 31 May 2009 was €36.25 million.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: In the latter part of 2004, the sole member of the tribunal formed a view that, in the context of increased pressures on the tribunal, a solicitor with experience in commercial practice and litigation from the private sector was required in addition to the tribunal's existing solicitor on secondment from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. As the Department wished to avoid the cost of...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Following the Government decision of July 2008, the Minister for Finance wrote to his Cabinet colleagues with responsibility for tribunals stressing that it was essential that tribunals and inquiries conclude their business as early as possible and that legal costs were managed in the interest of the taxpayer. He requested them to inform the chairs of the main features of the Government...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I cannot comment on that really. It is a matter for the chairperson to adjudicate on in due course as to its significance, relevance or otherwise. It is not a matter for me to engage in. As regards the ongoing work, it is expected that public hearings will take place during the course of this month. In so far as one can gauge, it will not be beyond this month. That is my best information....