Results 14,601-14,620 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: That was the point I was going to make. The Attorney General is being consulted with regard to that point. The Bill raised by the Deputy is awaiting a Second Reading in the Seanad.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: Legislation has been promised in this area but, as the Deputy said-----

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: A question to the line Minister would be the best way of dealing with it.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The matter will be taken forward by the relevant Minister now that it is in the programme.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is usually the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: Both those pieces of legislation are due next year.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: According to the Deputy, the Minister for Finance said he would look at the situation. I am not sure that constitutes a promise to amend the legislation but I will take up the matter and get back to the Deputy.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: One way to calm fears is not to speculate on an issue, as the Deputy did by suggesting what he did.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Merchant Shipping Bill is awaiting Committee Stage.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The heads of that Bill are being worked on at present. It will be some time next year before all the issues are resolved. Regarding the other matter, which was queried before in the House, I understand the Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad. Amendments are being worked upon.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand that matter will be before the Cabinet soon

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I can only refer to recent statements by the Minister of State, Deputy Andrews, on this matter, which concerns all the various recommendations he is working on arising from the Ryan report. It is important to have effective public information and access thereto. The Children First guidelines set out many of these issues. The Minister of State has indicated his intention to put them on a...

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am sure no one will mind the Government seeking to represent to the public the factual position on decisions it has taken. That is normal procedure and I am sure the Opposition will have views on the matter also. It is a question of the Minister for Finance bringing forward his budget. The documentation will be circulated in the normal way and a debate will ensue. Ministers and many...

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The position will be the same as every other year. If the Minister for Finance were to stand up in the House and announce every aspect of the Estimates, in addition to making a budgetary statement, he would be here for many hours.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The complaint from the Opposition would then be that the Minister was not allowing a debate to take place. The issue is that the Minister for Finance will outline the budget and refer to the various documents that will be provided to people. Ministers, in line with their responsibility, will convey the situation as it applies to them. A democratic debate will ensue both inside and outside...

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I cannot do any more for the Deputy than that.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: Rates are a matter for each local authority. Any waivers provided under law are provided by the managers of the local authorities.

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The code of conduct for officeholders was drawn up by the Government pursuant to section 10(2) of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, following consultation with the Standards in Public Office Commission, and was published in July 2003. Deputies will be aware that the Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007 provides for...

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The next set of questions deals with that issue. This question relates to whether there are any changes envisaged in the code of conduct. That code of conduct does not stand in isolation, it stands as part of a wider ethics framework established by the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. Section 10(7) of the Standards in Public Office Act binds...

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: These matters are dealt with in another set of questions with which we will deal later. In any event, to be of assistance I will deal with any questions that arise. In regard to the third supplementary on the issue of allowing the office to initiate an inquiry, I believe a balance has to be struck between a proper investigation where there is a potential breach of guidelines and the good...