Results 2,661-2,680 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the problems in aviation as a result of continuing volcanic activity in Iceland, it is up to the Whips to decide how to deal with that. It can be discussed at committee or could be taken here at some stage during Thursday. On the second point, these are people we cannot but sympathise with but a product liability case is ongoing at the commercial court and until the legal liability is...

Order of Business. (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will look into that for the Deputy.

Order of Business. (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: At the risk of encouraging the Deputy, I will look into the matter.

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: This phrase has been used in other agreements and has been clarified by the facilitators of the agreement when clarification was sought by the public sector trade unions. There is a full understanding on its meaning and content. It is important to point out that if this agreement is ratified, then the Government as an employer will implement the agreement in a bona fide manner. I do not...

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: This agreement sets out the commitments being entered into on both sides, namely, pay commitments by the Government and commitments by employees on the transformation of services.

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: No, that would not be regarded as an unforeseen circumstance.

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The clarification has been given by the facilitators. It is the expressed intention and expectation of the Government that there will be no further reductions in the remuneration of employees in the public service for the lifetime of this draft agreement, subject to compliance with the terms of draft agreement. Paragraph 1.28 of the draft agreement states that the "implementation of this...

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I agree that the draft agreement and the clarification provide a basis upon which a consultation is being undertaken by trade unions with their membership. They should be allowed to proceed with that and conclude their arrangements for the organising of ballots and the results that will ensue. I agree that is a wise course of action. I wanted to ensure there had been reasonable...

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have no information on the status of that issue in the Labour Court at the moment. I would need to check it out for the Deputy and come back to him. As he says, there is speculation. I am not aware that there is a basis for that speculation. I do not know where it came from. We introduced the minimum wage and there is a process by which it is reviewed and referred to the Labour Court....

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will need to check that and come back to the Deputy.

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: As Deputy Ó Caoláin said, a general moratorium on recruitment and promotion was applied to most of the public service and incentivised early retirement and career breaks schemes were introduced. The way to deal with the situation outlined by the Deputy is through agreement on redeployment. Reduction in public service numbers is one aspect of the way we will deal with transforming the...

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said to Deputy Gilmore in regard to the minimum wage, there is a process and mechanism in place by which that matter is reviewed and looked at. I do not intend to interfere with the process. In regard to the wider issue, a detailed health sector agreement is set out in chapter 2 of the draft public service agreement which specifically sets out, in such great detail that one could not...

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I can only speak generally with regard to the draft public service agreement. We must wait to see if the agreement is ratified by the membership. The public service committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions must confirm the outcome before this is implementable. However, in the coming weeks, those ballots will be finalised. We have the prospect of a very important series of changes...

Social Partnership (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: Specific questions on particular disputes should be put to the line Minister and I am sure a detailed update from the Department could be obtained in that way. The questions I have been asked relate specifically to discussions we have been having with public service trade unions generally in the context of the draft agreements we are now discussing.

Order of Business. (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re by-election for Waterford; No. 6, Euro Area Loan Facility Bill 2010 - Second and Remaining Stages; and No. 20, Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010 - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that in the event of No. 12, the motion re by-election for Waterford being moved, the proceedings shall, if not previously...

Order of Business. (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Tánaiste, the Government and I have outlined on a number of occasions in the House in recent times the position relating to the amendment and where the work of the Government is currently in relation to it. That work continues and we will consider and deal with the matter as soon as the work is completed. In relation to the question of Mr. McAnaspie, the circumstances were very, very...

Order of Business. (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: I cannot anticipate the decision of the Government. Obviously, the Tánaiste gave the Deputy the benefit of her views on the matter. The Government will make a decision in due course.

Order of Business. (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputies are asking me to anticipate work that is ongoing and to give a timeline for it. In relation to how the Deputy has portrayed what the Minister of State for children had to say, the Minister of State made the point - it is not a criticism, but a statement of fact - that the committee took two years and three months to reach its final conclusions. The Government is not asking or...

Order of Business. (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: No, I am not suggesting that at all one way or the other. I have simply stated that the legislation is in preparation and is being worked on in that Department. It will be duly prepared, brought to the Government for consideration and dealt with in the normal way. I am not in a position to give the Deputy specific dates on that issue. I can only say the programme for Government refers to 2010.

Order of Business. (19 May 2010)

Brian Cowen: As regards the first matter raised by the Deputy, the Minister of State for children set out in his speech precisely when this matter was first discussed. The normal processes apply. When a report is published, it is sent out to Departments for their consideration, to examine the implications of the proposed wording for their individual areas of responsibility. They are also asked to...