Results 3,521-3,540 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The luxury of being in Opposition means Deputies do not have to worry about budgets or what money is coming into the coffers.

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is a great luxury not to have to worry about budgets while being able to set out rhetorically that the Deputy would defend public services by providing for more public servants, more money and more services while, in the meantime, the taxpayer has to borrow €400 million per week to keep present levels of service going. We do not have the same room to manoeuvre so we have to work within...

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Had I proceeded along the lines suggested by Deputy Ó Caoláin and avoided the decision on the overall public service pay and pensions bill, which we believed was necessary, the curtailment of services would have been all the greater. The Deputy cannot have it every way. He cannot tell us to maintain services and avoid reductions in pay while continuing with a budgetary strategy in respect...

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: You did not.

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am sorry, I had a look at Sinn Féin's economic policy-----

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----and I heard it articulated on radio and television over the weekend.

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree with it. I listened to the Deputy's leader as he extolled the virtues of his party's economic policy but I think it is wrong. More taxation would increase unemployment.

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: In regard to the idea-----

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----that he is not going to control the public service pay bill while increasing services, the Deputy must believe in a bigger deficit and taxpayers taking on more debt in the current circumstances. He believes in paying more interest on debt and increasing the burden on the State to fund these services.

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: There is so much we can do as a State in the current circumstances. The Deputy referred to a stimulus package of €3.2 billion but we have already put in place a package worth €6.4 billion.

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will not get into an argument on the matter. I am making the point that the Deputy is not correct to suggest we do not have a strategy. I am not prepared to walk away from the budgetary strategy which the Government has set nor am I in a position to do so. No responsible Government in our position would do that. However, I am interested in finding a realistic basis on which to engage...

Public Service Reform. (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The role that the Government will play in this matter will be consistent with our budgetary strategy while at the same time providing a means by which people can constructively engage with us on these matters. I am not here to negotiate in public or to suggest that the matrix or form which the Deputy is suggesting is comprehensive in terms of the full agenda that needs to be addressed....

Written Answers — North-South Bodies: North-South Bodies (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: There are six North South Bodies in operation - Waterways Ireland, InterTradeIreland, the Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency), the Special EU Programmes Body, The North/South Language Body (which comprises Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency), the Food Safety Promotion Board and Tourism Ireland Ltd. The British Irish Agreement which formally established the...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. I will write to the Deputy with the information requested as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: A multi annual framework for the centenary anniversaries leading towards the centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016 is being prepared. The founding of the Irish Volunteers in 1913 was a very significant development in the political life of the nation and will be included in this commemorative programme. The proposed commemorative framework will be discussed in due course with the All Party...

Written Answers — Postal Voting: Postal Voting (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Permanent Defence Force by virtue of the nature of their duties and the likelihood that they could be posted away from their home base or overseas for lengthy periods, have a particular need for postal voting. While members of the Reserve Defence Force play a valuable role in the military organisation, the same considerations do not apply to them. The Electoral Act, 1992 provides for...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I regret to advise the Deputy that, due to industrial action, it is not possible to provide a response to his question at this time.

Written Answers — Army Nursing Service: Army Nursing Service (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The redress of wrongs process for the Army Nursing Service is set out in Defence Force Regulations A. 14. Under the provision of those regulations if a member of the Army Nursing Service thinks herself wronged a complaint may be made to her Commanding Officer and, if she thinks herself wronged by the Commanding Officer, either in respect of her complaint not being redressed or in respect of...

Written Answers — Airport Security: Airport Security (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: An Garda Síochána have the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, an Garda Síochána), which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations, the provision of certain...

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The adjustments to pay for people in receipt of salaries similar to grades in the Civil Service affected those advisers as they did everyone else. They had to take cuts in pay, as was the case in other related grades. That goes without saying. On the question of responsibilities, Mr. Oliver O'Connor, special adviser, provides advice to the Minister for Health and Children and more...