Results 15,801-15,820 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: We had a Private Members' motion last Wednesday, in which the Tánaiste set out in detail the various labour market activation measures that have taken place, including the increased resources being applied for training and activation. Those are the facts, but what is being suggested here is that jobs can be created in a vacuum. The quickest way we can effect recovery and bring growth back...

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----is based on the policy direction that this Government is pursuing. International and domestic independent commentators have confirmed that. That is what we are determined to do.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Between now and 2015.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: You must be joking.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: How long more will they have to contend with the Deputy's portrayal of the economy to the effect that nothing good was happening here? The fact is that jobs are being created while jobs are being lost.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I accept that we have seen increased unemployment in net terms. That happens in recessions. The Deputy's party was in Government during recessions, even though he may not have been. The only way we can recover is by improving our competitiveness and getting back into the marketplace to create the goods and services and create the jobs at home. We are pursuing policies that are seeing...

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: In the meantime, there is an incessant Opposition that will not support the restructuring of the banking system on any basis because it does not agree with our policy. That is fair enough, but it does not have a credible alternative.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Opposition has never had a credible alternative. The Labour Party never supported the State guarantee, while the Fine Gael Party did so.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the other hand, Deputy Kenny does not want to give any money to Anglo Irish Bank, even if it means writing a cheque for €65 billion as a result, while-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am sick and tired of this continuous effort by Deputies to claim that any decision we took was based on something other than what we were advised and based on something other than the national interest. This country was facing into a very serious situation, and I defend what we did on that occasion, because we had to ensure that markets understood that the Government was prepared to back...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The corporate procurement plan in place in my Department was developed to implement the requirements of the national procurement policy framework published by the Department of Finance. It reflects my Department's commitment to effective and efficient resource allocation and service provision as prescribed by the Public Service...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will be obliged to obtain that detailed information for the Deputy.

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The national public procurement operations unit was established in the Office of Public Works in April of last year on foot of a Government decision. It is taking a lead role in modernising procurement practices across the public sector. The report of the task force on the public service recommended greater use of shared services in the area of procurement. The Government recognises the...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: In recent weeks I held meetings with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works at which we discussed the issue of procurement. The main aim of national policy on procurement is to achieve value for money while also having regard to probity and accountability. While price is very important in determining value for money outcomes...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The development of small and medium sized enterprises is very important to the national economy and it is recognised that public procurement can be an important source of business for them. The national public procurement policy unit in the Department of Finance promotes policies which facilitate SME participation in public procurement and the national public procurement operations unit...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The unit we set up in the Office of Public Works, which will be 12 months in existence in April, has been pulling together and avoiding the silo effect of having individual departmental public procurement operations. There is a need to co-ordinate and pull together in order to leverage on behalf of the taxpayer the best possible value for money. Savings have been identified and that will...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The new office will complete its first 12 months in April. It is part of the office's statement of strategy that it will outline to various finance committees how it is operating. The issue can be further examined and scrutinised in that context.

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should direct his detailed questions on public procurement to the Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works. I do not deal with that area. I just sought to be helpful in terms of broadening out the question beyond my Department's procurement plan, which was the question asked. I am sure we can get the details and...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The McCarthy report contained a number of recommendations. I am pleased to hear the Labour Party supports some of them. They provide the background against which budgetary decisions were taken this year and they will continue to be considered in the context of any further work that is to be done. Specifically on the matters raised by the Deputy, I do not recall a discussion on procurement...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore challenges me all the time. What is his problem?