Results 2,281-2,300 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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,...

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...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I note what the Deputy had to say regarding the period 1916 to 1922 and will inquire whether something can be achieved on that matter in the context of the commemoration and the issues that will arise in the course of the preparations for it. On the North-South civic forum, we have been seeking the establishment of this forum for some time and there has been much work and effort to generate...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I outlined earlier, the entire purpose of the commemorations is to signify the significance of these events in the history and evolution of the society and political arrangements we have in this country and how we have developed them thus far, where they have a contemporary resonance. Its purpose for the current generations is to try to put this into the context in which we live today....

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I responded to the last question during a previous Question Time. The situation has not changed in that respect in terms of the reply I made on that occasion. The opportunity for discussion today relates to developments in Northern Ireland and to the bilateral relationship between this country and Britain in general. I wish to begin the political discussion and set up the relationship in a...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I indicated to the Deputy a number of times the matter has been raised by the Government on a number of occasions. I have no problem dealing with those matters. I just do not wish to pre-empt the discussions I am about to have.

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: With yesterday's budget the question of the economic and trade relationship between this country and Britain, which is an important one for both countries, is something I am sure will emerge in the discussions. There is a specific commitment in the programme for government agreed between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in the aftermath of the British general election to examine...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Eames-Bradley process concerned how one deals with the past. It needs to be revisited again and people need to consider how this can be done. There is no doubt that there are many people who have not been able to find a means to move on after tragedies visited upon them. To find a mechanism that would be regarded on all sides of the community as appropriate and which would give them an...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Foreign Affairs has been involved for many years in liaising with all the community groups and Co-operation Ireland in respect of how they can assist with the rebuilding of communities in a divided society. It is a great challenge and it will continue. I take the point that the Deputy made that it is important that we continue to determine where we can assist, logistically...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: They were to get the Deputy's attention.

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will address Deputy Deenihan first. I understand that there was a significant event held at Dublin Castle when the Government made those facilities available to commemorate the anniversary the Irish Countrywomen's Association was celebrating. I agree it is an important organisation that has reflected the societal and social changes in terms of the participation of women in our society to...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am sure the organisation has centenary events arranged for the course of the year and I am not aware that there have been suggestions of insufficient support from Government where appropriate. That is all I can say about that at present. On the matter raised by Deputy Higgins, I agree it is not a question of simply commemorating the events themselves in a suitable political context. There...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos.1 to 13, inclusive, together. The report of the Bloody Sunday inquiry was published on Tuesday, 15 June. I met with families and representatives of the victims of Bloody Sunday on Wednesday, 16 June and congratulated them on the success of their long and difficult campaign. As Deputies will be aware, we will have an opportunity in the House next week to...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The meeting this afternoon will be an opportunity for me to meet the new British Prime Minister in a formal bilateral meeting. I met him informally at the European Council meeting and referred to the statement he made in the House of Commons on the Saville inquiry report. I told him that what he said and the spirit in which he said it was appreciated by the families and I commended him in...