Results 17,661-17,680 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand the mental capacity Bill will be introduced in this session. Other legislation on mental health is due next year. I accept what the Deputy has to say. Sometimes there is difficulty with legal definitions in terms of amending legislation in that the question of insanity is a legal term in legislation.

Order of Business (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand that point. Perhaps it is an issue that could be raised on Second Stage for consideration on Committee and Report Stages. If one is amending existing legislation it is very difficult to avoid the use of such terms in order to ensure one moves to a new more modern framework by amending the existing terminology.

Order of Business (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, that matter is being examined. We are seeking a way forward in regard to it.

Order of Business (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The road traffic (amendment) Bill is due this session.

Order of Business (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: That issue is being considered by the National Transport Authority.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only agency under the remit of my Department. I understand that no pensions, other that pensions being paid by the Paymaster General's Office, are being paid to any staff member who retired from the Office. Some staff who left the office when their contracts ended, as distinct from retiring from the office, may be in receipt...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: In 2009 eight staff members attended in-house Irish language classes which were organised by my Department. In 2010 six staff members attended these classes. As all of these classes were provided by Gaeleagras na Seirbhíse Poiblí, there was no cost to my Department. In 2009 two staff members attended Gaeltacht courses organised by Gaeleagras, and a scholarship of €125 each was paid by...

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. There are four staff assigned to the communications unit, two executive officers, one staff officer and one clerical officer. The projected cost to date of the unit for 2010 is €181,701, with €84,156 being a direct cost to my Department and the balance being paid by three other Departments from which staff have been seconded...

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The www.MerrionStreet.ie website relates to the totality of Government activity and not simply that relating to the Department of the Taoiseach. The website was specifically developed for this purpose. As stated earlier, we must use all the modern Internet tools that are available in order to ensure that information is provided by the Government in a user-friendly way. I am of the opinion...

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the question of information, we meet members of the media directly and I did not realise that one cannot use a Government website to disseminate information. Regardless of whether it is the media or a website, one can use these channels in whatever way one wishes.

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will have to check with those who deal with the service in order to answer the Deputy's first question. A suggestion was made in this House, on foot of a question which was probably tabled by the Deputy, that we might consider appointing a single information provider. I examined the matter and provided a detailed reply to the relevant question confirming the position in this regard.

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: Every area of expenditure is looked at in the context of Estimates and what is available for the following year. As I said, this area has contributed to a reduction of 27% since I came to office.

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do interviews with the media all the time on any subject and where any issue can be raised. This medium of the Internet was used to set out the work of the day, what took place at meeting and its relevance to the Irish public. As I understand it, I am not obliged to pick and choose what media I deal with. I deal with them all, including the Internet. There is no more to it than that and...

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: What is the Deputy's basis for this claim?

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: That covers it so.

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore makes the charge of propaganda but does not give an example. That is an interesting way of making political assertions. The website has been well commented on by media sources, both international and national, as a good source of information. Most websites of this nature are text-based while this one introduces an audio-visual element to make it more user-friendly. No one...

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: It has to be propaganda because Deputy Gilmore says so.

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: If Deputy Gilmore says it, it must be true then.

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore would know more about propaganda himself. He is harking back to the old days of political instruction down in a little cottage in County Meath over a weekend.

Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I apologise. Deputy Gilmore's crowd was more interesting than Deputy Ó Caoláin's. While Deputy Ó Caoláin's just took it all in, Deputy Gilmore's boys had to be trained. The old Stickies' days.