Results 17,141-17,160 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (22 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Neither my Department nor the agencies under its aegis, have Government or commercially run canteens, cafes or restaurants on their premises. Consequently, the issue of serving food locally sourced does not arise.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The information sought is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (22 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: No bonuses have been award to staff under the aegis of my Department over the past three years.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (22 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The information sought is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (22 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: My Department has procedures in place to ensure that all correspondence received, including representations made by members of the Oireachtas on behalf of members of the public, is dealt with appropriately. My Department's Customer Charter contains a commitment that all written correspondence will be acknowledged within three working days of receipt, or within one working day of receipt in...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos.1 to 13, inclusive, together. The report of the Bloody Sunday inquiry was published on Tuesday, 15 June. I met with families and representatives of the victims of Bloody Sunday on Wednesday, 16 June and congratulated them on the success of their long and difficult campaign. As Deputies will be aware, we will have an opportunity in the House next week to...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The meeting this afternoon will be an opportunity for me to meet the new British Prime Minister in a formal bilateral meeting. I met him informally at the European Council meeting and referred to the statement he made in the House of Commons on the Saville inquiry report. I told him that what he said and the spirit in which he said it was appreciated by the families and I commended him in...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I note what the Deputy had to say regarding the period 1916 to 1922 and will inquire whether something can be achieved on that matter in the context of the commemoration and the issues that will arise in the course of the preparations for it. On the North-South civic forum, we have been seeking the establishment of this forum for some time and there has been much work and effort to generate...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I outlined earlier, the entire purpose of the commemorations is to signify the significance of these events in the history and evolution of the society and political arrangements we have in this country and how we have developed them thus far, where they have a contemporary resonance. Its purpose for the current generations is to try to put this into the context in which we live today....

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I responded to the last question during a previous Question Time. The situation has not changed in that respect in terms of the reply I made on that occasion. The opportunity for discussion today relates to developments in Northern Ireland and to the bilateral relationship between this country and Britain in general. I wish to begin the political discussion and set up the relationship in a...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I indicated to the Deputy a number of times the matter has been raised by the Government on a number of occasions. I have no problem dealing with those matters. I just do not wish to pre-empt the discussions I am about to have.

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: With yesterday's budget the question of the economic and trade relationship between this country and Britain, which is an important one for both countries, is something I am sure will emerge in the discussions. There is a specific commitment in the programme for government agreed between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in the aftermath of the British general election to examine...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Eames-Bradley process concerned how one deals with the past. It needs to be revisited again and people need to consider how this can be done. There is no doubt that there are many people who have not been able to find a means to move on after tragedies visited upon them. To find a mechanism that would be regarded on all sides of the community as appropriate and which would give them an...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Foreign Affairs has been involved for many years in liaising with all the community groups and Co-operation Ireland in respect of how they can assist with the rebuilding of communities in a divided society. It is a great challenge and it will continue. I take the point that the Deputy made that it is important that we continue to determine where we can assist, logistically...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: They were to get the Deputy's attention.

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will address Deputy Deenihan first. I understand that there was a significant event held at Dublin Castle when the Government made those facilities available to commemorate the anniversary the Irish Countrywomen's Association was celebrating. I agree it is an important organisation that has reflected the societal and social changes in terms of the participation of women in our society to...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am sure the organisation has centenary events arranged for the course of the year and I am not aware that there have been suggestions of insufficient support from Government where appropriate. That is all I can say about that at present. On the matter raised by Deputy Higgins, I agree it is not a question of simply commemorating the events themselves in a suitable political context. There...

Public Service Reform (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The OECD review of the Irish public service published in April 2008 benchmarked the public service in Ireland against other comparable countries and made recommendations as to the further direction of public service reform. It confirmed the many strengths of the system and identified the challenges that needed to be addressed....

Public Service Reform (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The question of the structures we are putting in place for transforming the public service is the subject of a joint memo from my Department and the Department of Finance. I have appointed the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, to both Departments to pull this together. I chair the Cabinet sub-committee which oversees this work. I have outlined the composition of the sub-committee. On...

Public Service Reform (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: They are taking place during the course of this year. The implementation body is set up in the context of the agreement that was reached, therefore, it has its role to play in implementing this agreement. It is why it is called the implementing body and it will ensure that the implementation of the agreement is proceeded with. There are arrangements under the agreement as to how the...