Results 13,221-13,240 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: All I can say is that the sole member of the tribunal will not turn his mind to the question of third party costs until such time as he concludes his deliberations on the report. We await the report's findings and, as part of his job, the sole member will then make further legal decisions on those matters.

Public Relations Contracts. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. These questions relate to the findings of the Quigley report, which was published in 2005. That report highlighted the need for special care in cases where a proposed consultancy comprises an element of direct service to a Minister or Minister of State, particularly in the public relations or communications area, and-or where a...

Public Relations Contracts. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: If there are any particular public awareness campaigns related to a Department, they should be referred directly to that Department. I do not have any information on those campaigns. As I said already, there is no group that oversees PR contracts. These are matters for individual Ministers and Departments. Arising from the Quigley report, a need was identified to bring forward guidelines....

Public Relations Contracts. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: That was about a sub-group consisting of representatives from the Department of Finance and the Government contracts committee, which carried out a review in accordance with the Quigley recommendations regarding the engagement of consultants. Guidelines consolidating various elements of previous guidelines, and augmenting them where appropriate, were prepared and published and circulated....

Public Relations Contracts. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I will provide the information I have here. The guidelines put in place a procedure that must be followed when a proposed consultancy or a contract for services comprise a significant element of direct service to the Minister or Minister of State, particularly in the PR or communications area, specifically providing advice or briefings, or where the Minister or Minister of State has provided...

Public Relations Contracts. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Not to my knowledge. Regarding the criteria used by the Secretary General to the Government in considering consultancies, he is concerned that not even the perception of impropriety can arise. Within that broad principle there is full flexibility to have regard to any relevant considerations. I am not aware of any of the cases to which Deputy Gilmore refers.

Proposed Legislation. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together. The Statute Law Revision Bill was published on 29 May 2009. This Bill is the only item of legislation relevant to my Department on the A list of the Government legislation programme for this session. It is hoped the Bill will be debated in the House in the autumn session.

Proposed Legislation. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I commend Deputy Gilmore for his sense of fascination.

Proposed Legislation. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy's definition is far wider than mine. It is important to point out that while this is the only Bill within my Department's remit, the wider issue concerning the Bills on the Order Paper and the A and B lists are dealt with on an ongoing daily basis, as the Deputy would be aware, with monotonous regularity on the Order of Business. I can only deal with the Bill before me, which is...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 12, inclusive, together. The total amount spent on the McEntee commission of investigation was €2,632,702. All costs with regard to the commission of investigation have been discharged.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I stated in earlier replies that the motion was noted but there has not been any formal response to date.

National Forum on Europe. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 15, inclusive, together. The decision to close the National Forum on Europe has been taken against the backdrop of the current budgetary position in which the Government finds itself, and the necessity to review all areas of expenditure. Since its establishment in 2001, the forum has provided a platform for debate and discussion on Europe in Ireland....

National Forum on Europe. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I stated in my reply, I commend those who worked in the forum, its chairmen, all who served it and those who regularly attended it. However, while the forum had many good sessions since the first Nice referendum, from which the Government's initiative for the forum arose, its impact on public awareness of the intricacies and detail of how the Union works was no greater perhaps to any...

National Forum on Europe. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Recently, the aforementioned Oireachtas sub-committee worked very well for the specific purpose for which it was set up. It had a focus and a timeline, as well as being a well-chaired and well-worked committee. All its members are to be commended on the commitment they showed while on the sub-committee and on their ability to do a specific job, which was well done. It was good to see those...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Of course that is not the case. Regarding a recent case that arose, the wish of the parents is that it would not be discussed publicly. There is no question of any emergency operations required not going ahead. There are issues on paediatrics generally and how we get greater co-operation and integration of services across the three hospital sites in this city. More than €200 million is...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I state once again to that there is no question - we have received an assurance - of urgent cases not being dealt with in terms of surgery required or whatever. That is not the case.

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I also want to make the case that hospitals are delivering more treatments to patients than for the same period last year. The question of wards or beds being closed during the summer is a feature of our acute hospital system. On a yearly basis that happens for various reasons. Specifically on this question of urgent or emergency cases, they are being dealt with and will be dealt with....

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Looking at the overall economic situation, we are borrowing €70 million a day to maintain present levels of services against a background in which we are trying to bring about financial stability and this is a process that will be ongoing. It is an argument that can be made all the time, but it is important to point out that in this specific issue the Minister contacted the schools...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not lay the question of our public finances at the door of these children or any of our children. It is a question of finding a way forward that will be sustainable in future. It comes against a background of much development in this area. I will come back to the specific points the Deputy raised, but I need to make the general point that over 11% of our total education budget, over...

Order of Business. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 4, Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and that business shall be interrupted on the adjournment of Private Members' business, which is No. 73 – motion re unemployment, to be taken for 90...