Results 17,881-17,900 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: When is she returning to her seat?

Order of Business (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: Thanks. As I said, the programme for Government commitment relates to that area. It will probably require legislation. I am not the line Minister. If a question is put down, the Deputy will get the update of where things are. I am sure it will be brought forward as quickly as possible. It is being prepared.

Order of Business (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand it will be introduced next year, as was communicated last week.

Order of Business (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have answered this on a number of occasions. It is on the record of the House.

Order of Business (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will explain the situation to the Deputy. Ireland is one of the first countries to have signed that convention, subject to ratification. There will be no undue delay in providing for ratification and it is the Government's intention to do so as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary requirements under the convention are being met. Ireland holds to...

Order of Business (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is on the record of the House.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: My Department has a contract with Vodafone for the provision of mobile services and products procured through the Department of Finance Mobile Framework Agreement. My Department also has a contract with Eircom for the provision of fixed line voice services through the Government VPN Plan. My Department is currently in the process of reviewing its telecommunications requirements and as part of...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: My Department does not have any contracts in place with energy providers as its energy is supplied through the Houses of the Oireachtas system which provides for the needs of the Government buildings complex. Electricity and gas for the complex is provided by ESB Independent Energy Limited and Bord Gáis respectively. The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: In considering requests to participate in the Civil Service Worksharing Scheme my Department considers its operating requirements and endeavours to tailor workloads to allow for flexible attendance patterns that accommodate the business needs of the Department and the personal responsibilities or choices of those who wish to participate in it. Currently 32 members of staff in my Department,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As recommended by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure separate programme funding for the work of the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership and the Active Citizenship Office ceased in 2009. The separate Offices in these areas have been discontinued which has given rise to savings on my Department's Vote of approximately €308,000 per annum. The National Forum on Europe...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Active Citizenship Office was established in 2008 under the aegis of my Department, as recommended by the Taskforce on Active Citizenship in its 2006 Report. The Office was discontinued in 2009 and the active citizenship function transferred to the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in May, 2010. The administrative budget for the work of the Office in supporting the...

Written Answers — State Companies: State Companies (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: No new state-owned companies have been established or have come under the aegis of my Department since 2007.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: While no staff in my Department are currently e-working on a full-time or part-time basis, 53 have blackberries, laptops or remote access. The Department will review the potential for further use of e-working in the light of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014. On the wider issues, the Smarter Travel Plan 2009-2020 recognises that flexible and e-working policies can contribute to reducing...

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is the objective on every occasion to ensure whatever allocation is made in the service plan this year, which is being exceeded in respect of when the plan was drawn up earlier this year, front line services are provided to the greatest extent possible with the money provided. The framework of the Croke Park agreement provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to ensure the changes...

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Croke Park agreement provides us with the framework to ensure we can make changes on the ground that will minimise the impact at the front line. The current Estimate for health is approximately half of the total receipts coming into the national Exchequer.

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: My first reply reiterated that patient safety is of the highest priority. Many of the structural changes and financial constraints in the health service have led to a response from the health service employees that has ensured patient safety remains the highest priority.

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The service that is provided is in excess of the service plan agreed at the beginning of the year. That service planning is crucial if one is to apply resources properly and ensure every area of the health service is funded to meet the basic requirements. Patient safety is of the highest priority. We have an industrial relations framework, through the Croke Park agreement, that will see...

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: We would not have had the process or mechanism by which this could happen. Redeployment is a key factor in maintaining services to the greatest extent possible for the funds provided. Patient safety is the highest priority for the professionals who work in the service.

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: First, Deputy Gilmore will be aware from the briefings that his finance spokespersons have received that data is currently being compiled for the plan. When the plan has been agreed and approved by Government in due course, it will be published and can be debated in the House. We can set out the various assumptions that are in the plan. Deputy Gilmore was talking about forecasts being...

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: In broad terms, what has emerged is that growth prospects for the future from 2011 on are less now. When we have finalised the production of the data, we will convey it and deal with it. The reason the forecasts from 2011 to 2014 have to change from what was predicted in 2010 is that the borrowing costs of sovereign debt have increased, and which need to reduce. The reason we need to...