Results 16,961-16,980 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Obviously, I do not agree with the Deputy's suggestion. We are giving statutory expression to a practice already in place in regard to the jobseeker's allowance, both in respect of the requirement to take up an offer of suitable employment and the payment of a reduced rate of jobseeker's allowance or supplementary welfare allowance for claimants who refuse to participate in an appropriate...

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Bill will be taken this session. I do not know if it has been agreed by the Whips as to when it will be taken but in the normal course the social welfare Bill will be taken as a matter of priority in this session.

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: To answer Deputy Burton's point, the report of the Governor of the Central Bank arrived last night. The Minister for Finance has to read it, consider it and bring it to Government in the normal way. I made the point that we should use the days ahead for the purposes of preparing draft terms of reference in order that we can make all that information available, including the publication of...

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am simply making a point about the composition of the deficit. What we are seeing from the Deputy's party's is a reduction of its commitment in regard to the deficits on expenditure programmes and also its bringing forward taxation proposals even though the party claims to be a non-tax raising party at this point.

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I was referring to the current deficit for next year, not to the total debt.

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Are you all right, Paul?

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Let Deputy Connaughton not worry about that. I will stand up. It is no problem. As Deputy Connaughton knows, the ten year derogation in respect of those bogs is up this year. They are raised bogs under the habitats directive. I do not believe any responsible Member of the Government - or Deputy Connaughton, if he were one such - would suggest that we should expose the taxpayer to obvious...

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I ask the Deputy to allow me put on the record the position of the Government rather than have him misrepresent the position. First, we have made arrangements for those on the 32 raised bogs affected by the decision this year to meet their short-term fuel needs for the course of next winter through the setting up of a fund of €1 million. Second, we will continue discussions with...

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should calm down.

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The information Bill will be in the autumn.

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I answered the question. I merely make the point that there are citizens of our country in another part of the world at the moment concerning whom we are to start a debate at 4.45 p.m. I ask that we might get on with that debate which will enable us to deal with other issues tomorrow.

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is aware that the Government, as a matter of priority, is bringing forward, in addition to the steps it has already taken which have led to the demise of many head shops, legislation to underpin the decision now and for the future. That is being worked on as a matter of urgency in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: My Department has 7 websites. SITE ANNUAL SUPPORT &MAINTENANCE CHARGES www.taoiseach.gov.ie €1,815.00 www.onegov.ie(formerly www.bettergov.ie) €1,815.00 www.betterregulation.ie €1,815.00 www.orp.ie €1,815.00 www.activecitizenship.ie €1,815.00 www.inp.ie NIL *www.forumoneurope.ie NIL *The www.forumoneurope.ie website is no longer active but will continue to be available as...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together. Meetings of the North South Ministerial Council are scheduled in agreement with the Northern Ireland Executive. I will meet with Sinn Féin and the SDLP this week and I expect to meet with Prime Minister Cameron shortly. The next meeting of the North South Ministerial Council will take place on Monday, 5 July. At that meeting, as is the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The eCabinet system is in operation across all Government Departments and Ministers' Offices and at Government meetings. Work on it began in 2002 and it was implemented on a phased basis between 2004 and 2007 at a cost of some €5m. A breakdown of the costs, including licensing, maintenance, etc. per year, to date in 2010, will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly. The system electronically...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: My Department outsourced its payroll administration to the Department of Finance from 2004 to January 2008. The costs associated with the issuing of payslips to staff of this Department by the Department of Finance during this period will be included in the Minister for Finance's answer to this question. In February 2008, my Department outsourced its payroll administration to the Financial...

Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. I attended the sixth European Union and Latin American Caribbean Summit in Madrid on 18 May. This summit takes place every two years so that the two regions can discuss important and pressing global issues and strengthen their strategic relationship. It brings together Heads of State and Government from 60 countries, representing...

Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: We have serious reservations regarding the decision to re-engage in negotiations with the Mercosur countries - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. While it is the European Commission's decision to relaunch the negotiations, we note that there are major differences between the expectations of both sides. We are, therefore, doubtful that there is a sound basis for a positive engagement...

Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith, has been very prominent in setting out Ireland's position in respect of the relaunching of the Mercosur talks. The Minister obtained a commitment from the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Dacian Ciolos, to the effect that he will be vigilant in the context of carefully monitoring the situation. In...

Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The EU-Latin American and Caribbean Summit had its own agenda and the issue specifically of competitiveness of the European economy comes up in the context of Question No. 2 where the Deputy asked whether the agenda for the European Council meeting has yet been finalised. As I said, the EU 2020 strategy is being brought forward for further discussion at the Council meeting. The question of...