Results 17,161-17,180 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Public Service Reform (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am listening.

Public Service Reform (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The agreement has been made and it is for all of us to proceed with its implementation and the wider transformation of public services agenda. There is an acknowledgement from everybody that the status quo will not enable us to maintain and develop public services based on the Exchequer arrangements. The moneys available are such that this must happen. The purpose of much of this work is to...

Public Service Reform (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, the public services committee of Congress ratified the public service agreement at its meeting of 15 June last. That agreement provides a comprehensive agenda for public service transformation. It provides a framework for public service pay determination over the period to 2014. It provides a framework for the detailed discussions that will now take place at local...

Public Service Reform (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: According to the latest EU Commission e-government benchmarks, we have improved our ranking from 17th to seventh over the past two to three years. The same benchmarks place Ireland in the top two for e-procurement services. Examples of on-line services that have been progressed in the recent past include the census information and search facilities; the on-line system for the payment of...

Public Service Reform (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I chair a Cabinet committee which has that overall responsibility but one must have an operational framework and an agreed way forward. It is best to do this on an agreed basis, where one sits down in partnership with employee representatives and management working off an agreed template as to how one is going to implement changes. A level of transformation has been agreed with regard to...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: We have not even begun budget discussions yet.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny comes in here every week and asks me to confirm or deny the following before we discuss the budget or anything else. I know exactly what is in the programme for Government and that is what informs Government policy. Deputy Kenny asks me on 29 June 2010 to confirm what is or is not in the budget in December 2010.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy indicated he is opposed to this, that and the other. In fact-----

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: In fairness, the Deputy is consistent.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The question asked of me, in the strong new persona of the new leader of Fine Gael, was to tell him now, "Yes" or "No", what is in the budget. I cannot do it, sir.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy noted, food prices in Ireland have decreased significantly since that survey was conducted last year. The latest bulletin from the Central Statistics Office, which is the statutory agency for these matters, indicates that the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages fell by 6.3% in the 12 months to May 2010. That compares to an increase in food prices of 1.5% over the same...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Tánaiste, as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, spoke to the large supermarket chains at the time those issues were being raised. Indeed, she personally raised them with the National Consumer Agency. There was a reduction of prices on a range of products across the board as a result because the retail sector had to take on board the fact that the differentials were not...

Order of Business. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 10, Revised Estimates for Public Services 2010, Votes 1 - 41, (back from committee); No. 11, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Post-Release (Restrictions on Certain Activities) Orders Scheme 2010 (back from committee); No. 12, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (back from committee); No. 13,...

Order of Business. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand that matter will be dealt with by the Whips.

Order of Business. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Whip has indicated to his colleagues the workload for this and next week. It is unfortunately the case that there are Bills which must be dealt with before the end of term and we want to proceed with them. The House will conclude the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010 today. Second Stage of the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 [Seanad] will be taken later this week. The House will...

Order of Business. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Work on that Bill is proceeding. This issue was raised last week by Deputy Deenihan at which time I brought him up to date on the matter.

Order of Business. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: As stated previously in this House and again recently, work on that matter is continuing. The matter is receiving the priority of the of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for children who is liaising with the Attorney General's Office. A Cabinet committee is also working on the matter. As soon as all of the relevant issues have been cleared...

Order of Business. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I reject the Deputy's assertion. Work on this matter is ongoing. The Government is seized of the issue and is proceeding to deal with it. The Deputy will be aware that the bringing forth of a referendum is an important and serious matter which must be given due consideration by any Government, including this one.

Order of Business. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Bills are published having been duly decided upon by Government. There is no set trend in this regard on the part of Government. Bills come before Government and are published. It is then a matter for the Whips as to when they will be taken in the House. The Deputy will be aware there has been a great deal of work before the Oireachtas as a result of the economic situation in recent...

Order of Business. (29 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The outcome of the Copenhagen conference in December has meant that preparatory process has taken longer than expected. The Cabinet committee meets when there are decisions to be taken. A great deal of work is being done at a technical level and a policy level in preparation for this sort of legislation. It is important that we get it right. That ongoing work is at an advanced stage. I...