Results 2,621-2,640 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Minister of State is fully committed to providing the best possible practice. New arrangements have been in place since January of this year, which were needed. The Minister of State is reviewing the programme since the Children First guidelines came into being. He is seeking to have the report made available. He has involved some of the best and most respected people in this area in...

Leaders' Questions (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: On 8 March the Minister of State announced the fact that there was an independent review group being set up.

Leaders' Questions (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Minister of State has been committed to providing a better system of accountability in this area, to ensuring that we have the facts and he is arranging to obtain them with the experts he has appointed. We will do whatever is necessary in the House to provide the legal basis for that to happen. In the meantime, the HSE has indicated that it will validate the exact figures as soon as...

Leaders' Questions (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: It has indicated that it will do so by the end of June. This involves ensuring that we have an accurate and factual basis on which to hold that discussion. It is important to ensure this is the case. The Government is committed to full transparency in this situation.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 8, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings; No. 9, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of three interim economic partnership agreements; No. 10, technical motion re further Revised...

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: We are asked to approve the terms of the interim agreements as soon as possible. All other member states have signed them and the European Community is anxious to implement them in order to ensure compliance with World Trade Organisation rulings.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is expected that this will be dealt with by the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs. We have been asked to put the agreements forward for approval. I can undertake that the matters can be debated in the House when they have been dealt with at committee.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the question on mental health facilities, I ask the Deputy to table a question to the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Moloney, who can update him regarding those matters. I do not have that information available to me. The legislative amendment we talked about bringing forward this morning at our meeting related to making sure there is a...

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I have said, the Government has neither discussed nor made any decision on that matter. People are giving their views, when asked, but there is nothing additional to be said in this regard until the Government makes some decisions.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the other point raised by Deputy Gilmore, I understand the Moriarty tribunal may be in touch with the Oireachtas. I am not aware of any interim report being prepared. The tribunal chairman will probably outline to us what his plans are to progress matters, depending on what timeframe might be involved. We shall see what emerges in that regard but I do not have any knowledge of an...

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The implementation plan was actually initiated in July last year. That anniversary takes place in July, but the Minister of State is available to discuss the matter in the House, with the agreement of the Whips. It cannot be dealt with this week, but I am sure during the course of next month some type of arrangement can be made for that to happen.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: He will do that, but it cannot be facilitated this week.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: It may not be next week, but it will be soon. Off the top of my head I cannot say what the business of the House will be next week.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: We can expect the Bill very soon, possibly next week or the week after. As regards the prior matter, the Minister of State, Deputy Andrews is in discussion with the NGOs to try to see how we might be able to provide a service in that respect. The discussions are ongoing.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Attorney General is examining the issue of whether legislation is required. I do not have information on his final deliberations in that regard, but I can check this. Unfortunately, he is away for a couple of days. On the other matter, this will be dealt with by the authors of the report themselves. I understand they are making progress with that report, but I am not aware when we...

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The terms of reference of the report will be determined by the HIQA guidelines for such investigations under the new arrangements that were introduced in January. I can only refer the Deputy to those. Obviously, I cannot anticipate the length of time it will take people to conduct the report, in line with those guidance criteria. I am not aware of any confidentiality issues that might...

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is an independent group, comprising three persons, presumably from a panel of 15. It will determine, based on the HIQA guidance criteria, in what way the child care provisions of the legislation and so on were dealt with in this case and whether it was done properly. I can only refer the Deputy to the HIQA guidelines.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: Those guidelines inform every such investigation.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I cannot anticipate the findings of the report.

Order of Business. (25 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy was suggesting-----