Results 17,621-17,640 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is what occurred and there was a refusal to continue with software development to see whether they could be handled.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I stated in my first reply that the €50 million will not now be put to use because those voting machines will not be brought into operation. To associate that with costs in the health service is a political point the Deputy wants to make. We have had to consider prescription charges due to the increasing cost of our drugs bill in this country, which has gone from €300 million to almost...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The legislation that was required to bring in e-voting was supported by both parties in Opposition.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The expert group found that the voting machines were fit for purpose and that software could have been reworked to achieve it, but a decision was taken by the Government not to proceed along those lines because it became a matter of public confidence as to whether the machines could be used here.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: E-voting is used in many other countries.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The number of spoiled votes that are allowed for under the current manual system is greater than the difference between the winning and losing of the last seat in a constituency. The purpose of e-voting was to eliminate that error and to provide a better way of dealing with it. Regardless of the fact that e-voting has legislative support in the House and that the expert group found that the...

Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive together. I should start by saying that I totally condemn Monday night's car bomb attack in Derry. The people who have perpetrated this attack are not representative of the will of the people on this island and they will not be allowed to succeed in undermining the peace process. The ongoing co-operation between the Garda Síochána and...

Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I know what I and Deputy Kenny had to say in regard to this most recent incident and all the activities, if one could call them that, of dissidents is shared by all Members. They have no support in the community, they defy the settled will of the Irish people, North and South, as expressed in the adoption of the Good Friday Agreement, and they have no democratic mandate whatever. Whatever...

Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: First, sufficient resources are being applied by the Garda Commissioner. At no stage has there been any indication to the contrary from the Garda Commissioner that the gardaí are not in a position to do this important work. They are adept at it and are a very experienced police force in this entire area, as the Deputy can imagine. It has never been indicated to me that this has been...

Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said, the formal process of working out the details of issuing an invitation would have to be worked through. That is not done at this point.

Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, I have pointed out that the Clerk of the Dáil has written to the Clerk of the House of Commons, arising from the Oireachtas resolution, and, as I have said previously, any follow-up of this should be considered in consultation with the parties and be raised with the Whips. Obviously, there is always an ongoing effort at official level to resolve...

Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the issue of animal health, even prior to the establishment of the Good Friday Agreement, there has always been a very good practical and pragmatic relationship between the Departments of Agriculture, North and South, on the issue of brucellosis. If the Deputy reads the progress report of the joint secretaries to the North-South Ministerial Council - the communiqué issued after the...

Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I indicated formally in my meeting with the British Prime Minister that I do not see any obstacle to the exchange of visits between the Heads of States of neighbouring or friendly countries. The question of a formal invitation, etc., is a matter that would be dealt with in the event of a visit proceeding. No formal invitation has issued. Invitations only issue in the event of something...

Freedom of Information (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 19, inclusive, together. A total of 56 freedom of information requests were received in my Department in the first six months of the year. This number rose to 74 by end-August and 81 by end-September. The comparative figures for the first eight months of each year since 2002 are: Year Total 2002 84 2003 127 2004 27 2005 28 2006 41 2007 54 2008...

Freedom of Information (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: In my Department, of a total of 1,537 freedom of information requests received between the enactment of the legislation and the end of September 2010, only 109 were the subject of internal review. One in 15 was considered for review and they have to be in compliance with the Act. I do not have a detailed breakdown as to the subject matter of the requests. They are dealt with by the freedom...

Freedom of Information (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am sure he or she does.

Freedom of Information (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not have the supplementary information to hand. If the Deputy directs that question to the line Minister, he will get that information. It is being attended to but it is not yet ready for ratification.

Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 24, inclusive, together. While fluctuations in spending occur from month to month and some expenditures do not fall due until the end of the year, I am satisfied that overall spending by my Department for 2010 will remain within the agreed revised Estimates for the year. Work on implementing the recommendations of the Special Group on Public Service...

Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Estimates campaign is ongoing. Discussions between the Department of Finance and the Taoiseach of the day are traditionally brief and the Taoiseach usually takes on board what the Minister for Finance has to say in terms of leading by example.

Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The questions the Deputy tabled do not relate to that. They relate to my own-----