Results 16,841-16,860 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will have to get back to the Deputy with that information.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: It has been confirmed in the House on a number of occasions that a sectoral approach would be taken to whistleblower legislation.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is the situation as has been outlined to date. The Director of Public Prosecutions made some comments on this matter in recent times. I understand the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Deputy Ahern, spoke to the Law Society recently about measures to be taken with regard to white-collar crime, which did not relate specifically to whistleblower legislation. I am not aware that there...

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: We are hopeful that Bill will be published this session. On the other issue, the Deputy was in the House for the previous debate on these matters where it was made clear that there are legal issues involved that we must resolve. We cannot give a direction contrary to the law but must instead bring in new legislation to deal with the situation, which is what we are doing. I have also...

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will get back to the Deputy with that information.

Written Answers — Interdepartmental Committees: Interdepartmental Committees (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security met twice in 2009, on 29 April and 7 October. The Committee's first meeting of 2010 is scheduled to take place in early June. Issues relating to Climate Change negotiations at EU level are also considered when appropriate by the Cabinet Committee on European Affairs, while relevant issues are discussed regularly at meetings of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table beneath. Name of Body / Agency 2007Outturnâ'¬000 2008Outturnâ'¬000 2009ProvisionalOutturnâ'¬000 2010Revised Estimateâ'¬000 National Economic and Social Development Office 5,812 5,371 3,401 3,332 National Forum On Europe 2,076 3,058 506 0 Newfoundland and Labrador Business Partnership 373 334 291 0 Task Force on...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The table below details the surplus that was surrendered to the Department of Finance for each year from 2007 to 2009 and the estimate provision for my Department for each year. Year Surplus to Surrender Estimate Provision 2007 €8,568,825 €43,736,000 2008 €9,308,252 €45,394,000 2009 €8,450,714 €32,686,000 2010 N/A €28,756,000 I have provided a breakdown showing the...

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I made the point yesterday that the numbers sought to be validated not only relate to those who died in State care, but were widened to include those people who were brought to the attention of services and who may have passed away subsequently and, also, people who had passed the age of 18 years but who had passed away between that age and 21 years and who may have required after care...

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is neither, because Deputy Kenny's premise is incorrect. As usual, he brings forward some unrelated section of another Act and suggests that we should do the same in this case, as if all circumstances are the same. ...

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: Yesterday, Deputy Gilmore raised a legitimate query and asked if a section 4 direction would be possible. A direction under the Child Care Act would not be possible because it is not possible to give a ministerial direction contrary to the law.

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: Other legal provisions impinge upon the privacy of the individual. There are certain consent requirements for guardians, and so on. This is not a simple area of law. It must be dealt with properly. The best way to give legal certainty and provide the necessary information for the review group is to bring forward a change in the law that would allow for the exchange of information between...

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I must make sure we have the legal means to enable the review group to do the job for which the Minister set it up-----

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----and meanwhile, that we get all necessary information, not just about those who died in State care but also those who were brought to the notification of the services and who subsequently passed away, or those who between 18 and 21, having reached the age of majority, may have required after-care services. That look-back over the past ten years has to take place.

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The review group was set up on 8 March and in a subsequent letter to the chair of the HSE on 12 March, the Minister asked him to nominate a HSE employee to liaise with the review group in order to facilitate the work of Ms Norah Gibbons and Mr. Shannon. That person was nominated. The HSE had indicated to the office of the Minister of State with responsibility for children that it had met...

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The HSE first shared this legal advice with the Department of Health and Children on Monday of this week. The difficulties identified relate to section 31 of the Child Care Act 1991, the in camera rule, data protection legislation and the issue of consent to the disclosure of personal or confidential information, including, as appropriate, the consent of surviving relatives. Having...

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: Really, Deputy McCormack's remark is ridiculous. It is not appropriate to throw out that sort of comment although it is a usual remark from him. I do not know why I reply to him because he should never be taken seriously. Everyone here is committed to getting the necessary information so that the people can carry on their task. That is why the review group was set up. It was the Minister...

Leaders' Questions. (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the substance of the Deputy's arguments, there is a requirement under the nursing homes Acts to notify the coroner in the event of a death of a person in care. There was a provision in the Coroners Bill in that regard also. That would not deal with the look-back situation; it is not retrospective in any event. There has been a new system in place since January. There were 23 deaths up...

Ethics in Public Office (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Code of Conduct for Office Holders 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. A review of the code will be carried out, in consultation with the Standards in Public...

Ethics in Public Office (26 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is not a matter for the Cabinet handbook; it is a general principle to which we all subscribe.