Results 13,741-13,760 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The position is we will commence the Second Stage debate and a detailed outline of the position will be given by the Minister for Finance in the next few minutes and I would like the House to hear that in detail.

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: This is about the Government presenting bonds, which will provide access to ECB funds to provide a stimulus to the economy for the purpose of improving the lending capacity of our banking system. Throughout the last session, week in and week out, we discussed the insufficiency of lending in the economy. We are seeking to address that issue through this proposal. We are not in a position to...

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: This is supported by financial institutions, which will help us provide a stimulus to our economy. It is on that basis that we put the proposal. We have considered all the options as we have seen them. We have brought forward this proposal and we have dealt with all the issues in so far as we can. We are open to dealing with any issues raised in the debate in so far as that is appropriate...

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: We have to do that and that is the total motivation behind this proposal. There is no other motivation behind that it but that.

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is not a question of seeking to mortgage the future of taxpayers. We are seeking to crystallise the losses that have to be transparently shown now in order to ensure that international finance will continue to fund our banking system and return it to a viable future for our country. That is what we are seeking to do. The Bill is again being portrayed as an attempt to mortgage futures....

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----and continued to reduce debt. These are the recorded facts.

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The people want to know where we are going from here and I am here to say that the initiatives we are bringing forward are seeking to address that problem. Regarding the question of expenditure that was wasted, no Member of the House can stand over wasteful expenditure since it is taxpayers' money. We have seen accountability being exercised through Comptroller and Auditor General reports...

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have said unequivocally on many occasions - maybe not to Deputy Gilmore's satisfaction - that I accept responsibility for every decision I have taken in government and that I did so at the time from the best advice and my best judgment, and that every initiative I took-----

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----was for the purpose of improving the common good in this country. If, as happens every year, a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General, who holds that constitutional position, demonstrates-----

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----that there are instances where taxpayers' money is not used to best effect, of course I have to take responsibility for that. However, it is a situation that is part of the accountability mechanism in this House. No one can stand up here and say with certainty that the €55,000 million that is spent on current programmes in this country is spent exactly as it is sought to be spent from...

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: In every case, on every occasion, we seek to effect the principle of accountability so that if something goes wrong we bring in changes to make sure it does not go wrong again. That has been the constant effort of Government, the constant role of the Committee of Public Accounts and the constant job of every Comptroller and Auditor General since the foundation of the State. I take full...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The High Level Group on Labour Market Issues was established earlier this year and has had one meeting to date. The Group is chaired by my Department and its membership is comprised of officials from the Departments of Enterprise, Trade & Employment; Social & Family Affairs; Education & Science; and Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs; and two nominees each from the Employer, Union,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The budget for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for each year 2005 to 2009 is as follows: Year Budget '000 2005 €33,656 2006 €33,635 2007 €35,795 2008 €44,522 2009 €41,101

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: Since 2002 my Department has maintained a database which records details of all contracts awarded after a tendering process, including year, name of successful tenderer, and contract value. The schedule below details all companies which have been successful in tendering for contracts for my Department and the contract value since 2002 to date. It is not practicable to provide all of the...

Written Answers — National Partnership Agreement: National Partnership Agreement (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 162 together. Social partnership is a structured approach to engagement between the Government and the Social Partners, organised in the following five pillars: Employer/Business, Trade Union, Farming, Community and Voluntary and Environmental. This engagement leads to periodic agreements based on a shared analysis of the needs of the economy and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the Incentivised Career Break Scheme and the Incentivised Early Retirement Scheme are set out in the tables listed below. Department of the Taoiseach Title of Scheme Number who applied under the Scheme Incentivised Career Break Scheme 5 Incentivised Early Retirement Scheme 3 None of my Department's staff have been made redundant in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, and the decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department is based in Government Buildings, Dublin 2. It does not have a physical presence in County Louth, and accordingly, the question of staff on permanent or temporary contract, cost of accommodation, expired leases etc does not apply.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: Strand II of the Good Friday Agreement sets out arrangements for the establishment of the North South Ministerial Council to bring together those with executive responsibilities North and South to develop consultation, cooperation and action within the island of Ireland. The Council meets in different formats, in plenary format twice yearly, in sectoral format on a regular and frequent basis...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: There are currently no civil servants from this Department in receipt of a fee, salary or remuneration and expenses for holding a position as a member of a board or agencies including commercial and non-commercial state body.