Results 13,901-13,920 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny is being disingenuous as usual. The fact is the tax initiatives contained in the programme are about rebalancing our tax system to keep taxes on labour as low as possible. They require a good deal of preparatory work and will be implemented over the lifetime of the Government. Some initiatives will be undertaken in that timeline too. It is important to point out the removal...

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is important to point out that advancing the programme for Government commitment requires further detailed consideration over the coming period and a range of important issues must be addressed. No definitive or detailed framework for the implementation of the commitment can be spelled out at this point. The final approach will be the subject of a Government decision on the basis of...

Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Detailed work must now be done to work up and design a scheme that would provide for the attainment of this objective over time. The policy consideration must take account of the fact that in the absence of any incentive or disincentive effect in terms of the use, we see a good deal of water wasted and used disproportionately in certain households compared to others. We must find a means to...

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. a12, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; and No. 20, National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009 - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted not later than 10.30 p.m.; No. a12 shall be decided without debate; and (3)...

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: As regards the tragedy yesterday evening, at its meeting this morning the Government, through the Minister for Defence, conveyed its sincere sympathy to the bereaved families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time. The necessary investigations are being proceeded with and the results will be brought forward in due course. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy,...

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is on 9 December.

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is not the situation. First, I understand the Minister for Finance has to attend an ECOFIN meeting on 1 and 2 December. As the Deputy will be aware, many important issues are taking place at European level. The following week is the best time to take the budget and it is the right time to take it. Second, the debate in the House will not end before or immediately after Christmas. It...

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The unified Estimates budgetary process is in place.

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Members will have the pre-budget outlook.

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The purpose of using arrangements similar to the Finance Bill is to assist debate and to make sure we move well beyond the interpretation sections of the Bill and deal with the substance. The Minister is anxious to facilitate debate within the confines of the need to proceed with the Bill as a matter of great national urgency.

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: By the same token, the Minister wants to facilitate debate. The way to do so is provided by the allocation of time motion, similar to the Finance Bill arrangements. The detailed points can be worked-----

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Sometimes that happens and it is a totally avoidable outcome.

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The committee can discuss how it wishes to deal with the debate on the NAMA Bill in the context of the time available and it can make sure the important sections are debated. The purpose of trying to do it that way is to facilitate that. With regard to the pre-budget outlook, a report that examined every area of expenditure was available to the Opposition at the same time it was available to...

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: As a former member of Government, the Deputy will be aware that until the deliberative process is completed regarding a budget, the Government has to deal with that itself in its own time. What is different in respect of the question raised by the Deputy is we have had an extensive examination of every area of expenditure and very significant proposals have been suggested as part of the...

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for the second Bill and I am not in a position to give a date. I understand the mental capacity Bill should be taken in the new year.

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The legal costs Bill will be brought forward some time next year. I understand the heads of the other Bill mentioned by Deputy Durkan are being worked on.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables. Department of the Taoiseach 2008 2009 (to 30th Sept) Overtime â'¬523,037 â'¬350,421 Non-core pay â'¬442,954 â'¬248,376 Central Statistics Office 2008 2009 (to 30th Sept) Overtime â'¬231,089 â'¬123.884 Non-core pay â'¬188,789 â'¬116,228 National...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: In the context of the moratorium on recruitment and promotion which is being implemented across the public service there are no vacancies in my Department or any of the agencies under its aegis. Where necessary, responsibility for the work of any officers who have left since the moratorium was introduced is dealt with by way of reorganisation and restructuring of work allocations and...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: 46 foreign trips were undertaken by my predecessor and I from 2007 to end September 2009. The table below provides the date of each trip, location and the number of officials in each delegation. Date Event Number of People in Delegation 14- 20 January 2007 Gulf Region Trade Mission, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates 11 30 January 2007 Meeting with British PM, London 6 4 February...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Last November, I launched the Government Statement on Transforming Public Services, which sets out an ambitious programme of renewal for the entire Public Service. TPS represents the blueprint for a new type of unified public service, focused on common goals, with greater cooperation and reduced boundaries between sectors, organisations and professions, with a much greater integration of...