Results 15,681-15,700 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: This year.

Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Who?

Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept - far from it - that we are not affected. We are all affected by this. Obviously, Ministers have ministerial duties to perform and, thankfully, we have been able to do that to the best of our ability. We have an ongoing industrial relations dispute here which is affecting all Members in one way or another. I do not accept the contention that certain people are being...

Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: We are working on two Bills. The Central Bank (consolidation) Bill is a large project and will be published towards the end of the year. Another Bill will come in this or in the next session to deal with some important and immediate reforms in integrating the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority model with the Central Bank one to form a Central Bank commission, reforms which the...

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The informal meeting of the European Council on Thursday, 11 February was the first meeting presided over by the new President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, under the new Lisbon treaty arrangements. It was also the first meeting since the appointment of the new Barroso-led European Commission, which includes Mrs. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn as Commissioner for the important...

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: That was not my fault.

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Perhaps if the Deputy had been with me, we would have got there. We just missed it.

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is unfair. It is not like Deputy Costello.

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Ably provoked by Deputy Costello.

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputies relating to appointments made by me to State boards and agencies since I became Taoiseach on 7 May 2008 is contained in a schedule that I propose to circulate with the Official Report. Schedule for Inclusion in the Official Report in reply to Parliamentary Question Numbers 48401/09,...

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is right.

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not contacted concerning every appointment to every board. As regards appointments to the Seanad, I am obviously satisfied about Senator Ó Brolcháin's suitability for the post. The fact that someone is a current or former public representative does not disqualify them from service.

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am sure there are many other occupations, including accountants, solicitors, farmers and doctors, which may be suitable depending on the tasks undertaken by a given board. That should determine the suitability of any person to be a member of the board. I have no reason to believe that, in respect of any of the organisations the Deputy mentioned, those people would not be qualified to do...

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The point I was making was that membership of the boards is not limited to specific personnel or people of a specific background, nor does it exclude people with a political background. The majority of the people appointed to the boards are not known to me personally, but if they are vouched for by the relevant line Minister as people he believes suitable for appointment, I accept that the...

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I thought I made it clear that appointments to some boards do not require my consent. I do not micro-manage board appointments by Ministers. Certain appointments to statutory bodies must come before Government, other appointments are dealt with by Ministers. There may be some occasions when a board is being constituted where discussion takes place with me, but in the main I leave the...

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I commend the Deputy on his dexterous attempt to introduce a supplementary question that has nothing whatever to do with the question. I cannot answer any speculation about that matter and I have no comment to make on it. With regard to the question that was relevant, I stated previously in the House that the detail and scope of the legislation envisaged in the programme for Government has...

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: That relates to the two leaders of the Government and the Tánaiste where appropriate. Programme managers are put in place to deal with some of the mechanics of these issues. To return to the Deputy's points on the legislative basis for systems of appointments to public bodies, that will have to be pursued and the scope will have to be worked out in the first instance. It will then be...

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: A commitment has been made to put it in legislation.

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: No. There is already a Broadcasting Act provision that relates to a reference to Oireachtas committees in respect of appointments to boards. Some issues arose even when the committee dealt with that issue so there is a need to ensure the matter is handled properly and appropriately.

Appointments to State Boards. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have stated in previous replies that the scope and detail of this legislation have yet to be worked out. To give any commitment before that is done would be rather speculative, so I will not do that. I have already outlined the approach for the bodies provided under the Broadcasting Act 2009. Different boards require different approaches, and each needs to be treated on an individual...