Results 17,601-17,620 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not mean to disappoint the Deputy but I am unable to add to what I have already said on the matter.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is clear the Deputy did not read the statement.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As the Minister for Finance set out clearly in his banking statement last week, his Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, is working on resolution and reorganisation legislation which will enable the implementation of reorganisation measures specific to Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society, which will address the issue of burden sharing. In...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand there is no legislation promised.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: That legislation referred to is awaiting Committee Stage and I hope it can be organised soon.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I cannot give a blanket assurance of that kind. It is a matter for the ordering of the Dáil business by the Whips on the proposition of the Government Whip. We will try to ensure we can provide adequate time but I cannot give that commitment.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: That will be coming to Government shortly.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not know the reason without notice and no one else would know the reason for the inordinate delay without notice. It is surprising the Government of the day did not lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Department of the Taoiseach has no Directives awaiting transposition.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: In 2004, the Government published the White Paper, 'Regulating Better'. The White Paper provides the basis for work on the Better Regulation agenda. Some of the key areas outlined in the White Paper relate to specific sectoral issues for which responsible Ministers report directly to the House. The Better Regulation Unit in my Department is tasked with the overall promotion of the Better...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Minister for Health and Children was simply pointing out that an internal audit by the HSE had uncovered this situation, which has been referred to the Garda. That is an exercise in accountability. The Comptroller and Auditor General is also dealing with the matter, and it will be discussed by the Committee of Public Accounts. When the full facts are provided in that forum, discussion...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As the health service has a budget of €15.2 billion, it is important that every aspect of that funding is used for the purpose of providing health services to the people of the country. No Government, or responsible manager, could condone any waste of public funds. It must be dealt with, and is being dealt with.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The internal audit of the HSE uncovered this situation, which is being investigated.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: All procedures will be followed so that the full facts may be known. The problem is with administration expenses and other expenses that were drawn up for a programme intended to provide career paths for up to 32,000 care assistants and others in the health service, 9,000 of whom have already participated. The programme itself, and its use by staff to enable them to upgrade their skills and...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said, we are spending €15.2 billion on the health service, which represents almost half of the total tax take this year. There is a large spend on health - quite rightly - but we must make sure it is provided in the best possible way. There have been real improvements, including in the provision of cancer services, the number of people undergoing day-case surgery and the number of...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As is typical, Deputy Kenny speaks about the dismantling of structures without providing an alternative.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The centralisation of services in the HSE, and particularly acute hospital services, was a far better approach than the regional system was ever capable of providing in view of the need for a properly organised national system of primary, secondary and tertiary care.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is not a question of blind eyes being turned. As I have stated in this House in regard to many debates on health, the Opposition consistently argues for the status quo rather than accepting the need for reform. Every reform we propose is fought tooth and nail because various interests have a view of it.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is not correct to say a blind eye is being turned to these matters. The agreement reached in Croke Park last June provides us with the means for redeployment, which is necessary, and all the practices and flexibility we need in order to deal with issues which could achieve efficiencies and savings without affecting patients' quality of care. In terms of skills mixes, ratios of staff,...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The costs that have been associated with the e-voting machines are of the order which the Deputy pointed out and clearly they will not be used in this country. The question of their disposal is under consideration. It is true that they represent a loss to the Exchequer, which is a great disappointment. The decision not to proceed was taken by the Government on the basis that it would not...