Results 14,021-14,040 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the changes currently under way, more than 20,000 additional day-case treatments have been delivered by our health services so far this year, compared to the same period last year.

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: If it is about increased activity to deal with waiting lists, which was the premise of Deputy Gilmore's question, the idea that they can only be dealt with by the provision of additional beds flies in the face of the facts.

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The reforms which have been implemented have seen a more efficient and effective utilisation of beds in the system currently.

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Those co-located hospitals for which there is project agreement, subject to planning permission and the availability of finance, will proceed. The question of existing bed complements is not a static situation. Efficiencies have been and are being achieved by an increase in the number of day-cases and shorter stays by patients in surgical units.

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is the issue. The detail on the up to date position can be provided by way of letter.

Northern Ireland Issues. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together. Together with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, I met with Gerry Adams, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and representatives from Sinn Féin on 8 July last. I then met with Mark Durkan, Minister Margaret Ritchie and their SDLP colleagues on 9 July. At these meetings we discussed recent developments...

Northern Ireland Issues. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I said in my reply there have been a number of meetings involving both Governments and the Northern Ireland parties in recent weeks. The main focus of those talks has been the financial package to support the Northern Ireland Executive once devolution of policing and justices has taken place. The Prime Minister has taken a close personal interest in those discussions and I am grateful to...

Northern Ireland Issues. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the bill of rights for Northern Ireland, I reiterate the commitment of the Government to ensure the full and effective implementation of all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrew's Agreement. In that context we attach importance to a specific bill of rights for Northern Ireland as envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement. The Government has consistently...

Northern Ireland Issues. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: To respond to the last point made by the Deputy regarding the activities of our Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who has joined me here this morning, the seminar last Monday, at which he met Mr. Goggins, was precisely about the issue of cross-Border criminality - smuggling, working with Customs, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Assets Recovery Agency etc., North and South. The...

Northern Ireland Issues. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I said in reply to an earlier question, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring the full and effective implementation of all aspects of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements. We attach importance to the provisions of a specific Bill of rights for Northern Ireland as envisaged in the Agreement. We have consistently communicated that point and position in contacts with the current...

Northern Ireland Issues. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The financial aspects of the provision of devolution of policing and justice to Northern Ireland - the financial package to support the Northern Ireland Executive once that devolution has taken place - is to be published today. I am pleased this correspondence will be published today and that people will see that a commitment has been made to ensure it happens. A few more steps will have to...

Northern Ireland Issues. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Tá Acht na Gaeilge faoi chúram an Executive sa Tuaisceart, ó 2007 nuair a bunaíodh an Executive. Mar sin, is ceist í sin atá á phlé ag Aire an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Éamon Ó Cuív, lena comhleacaí sa Tuaisceart i dtaobh cén dul ar aghaidh atá le déanamh againn ar an ábhar sin. Regarding the specific questions about claims being made by...

Programme for Government. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 18, inclusive, together. The revision of the programme for Government has been completed and it will serve us well in the years to come. The new programme sets out the development of the country over the remainder of the Government's term up to 2012 and is designed to act as a blueprint to meet the challenges we face. We have worked well together, as...

Programme for Government. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The review of the programme for Government does not replace the budgetary process in any given financial year but the overall parameters under which the programme for Government operates remain the same as have been outlined in the budgetary statement by the Minister for Finance in overall terms in April. The overall economic realities remain the same and it is important to point out that...

Programme for Government. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It was in the high seventies under the rainbow coalition-----

Programme for Government. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: What the Deputy is asking for is the outcome of Estimates discussions which are ongoing. I explained for illustration purposes the composition of public expenditure in terms of three broad headings. I have indicated to the Deputy that it is not possible to deal with the scale of the problem we face by regarding any aspect of that expenditure as immune from consideration for cuts. I have...

Programme for Government. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is the position of the Government. The Government has made that clear. The an bord snip nua report has been under consideration since September by way of bilateral discussions between the Department of Finance and independent Departments and discussions in this regard are ongoing. The Deputy has been previously involved in the Estimates discussions and will be aware they take time....

Programme for Government. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am sorry; what was the question?

Programme for Government. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I explained to the Deputy last week that this programme is subject - as is every programme, including those introduced when Fine Gael itself was in Government - to the overall financial parameters in which we operate. The programme sets out priorities and the areas and initiatives that need to be considered and in which progress needs to be made. However, the overall position is that we are...

Programme for Government. (21 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept the figures given by the Deputy for the site acquisition tax and others, because there is much work to be done before we can even see what the rates will be. The Deputy also leaves out the fact that all tax expenditures are being considered in the context of the Commission on Taxation report. Many tax expenditures take place at the moment as part of our effort to achieve an...