Results 3,561-3,580 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is consolidation legislation, as the Deputy stated, and therefore does not have the same priority as new legislation that would be more urgent. It is certainly an ongoing exercise but there is no date for the publication or enactment of the Bill.

Order of Business (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand it is a consolidation Bill and does not contain any new provisions. It is simply consolidating the existing legal framework. Therefore, the existing legal position will continue regardless of whether the new legislation is introduced. The latter is just for the purpose of consolidating the corpus of law in the area.

Order of Business (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have no intention of introducing any divisiveness whatsoever in regard to this or any other matter. It is a matter for the Oireachtas to order its own business. The Dáil and Seanad dealt with the report in question by way of statements of 4 February and 18 February, respectively. On 3 March, the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food rejected a motion brought before it....

Order of Business (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: In regard to the Deputy's other question, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, has communicated his intention to resign from the Government and from public life in the context of the serious back condition from which he suffers. It is my intention to advise the President to accept his resignation on a date on which other matters relating to the Government, and which I am...

Order of Business (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Not until 2012.

Order of Business (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Minister for Finance, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and other relevant Ministers have been working on this issue and have put forward initiatives in the budget and on other occasions to assist people who are experiencing difficulties. Codes of practice are in place to deal with these matters and measures to assist people have been outlined in the House....

Order of Business (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputies will have an opportunity on Report Stage of the Finance Bill, which will commence shortly, to raise directly with the Minister for Finance his intentions in regard to this matter. There will be further opportunities to have a debate once NAMA is in operation and further policy decisions are taken in regard to the restructuring of the banking system or anything that arises as a...

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. There are currently seven special advisers in my Department. Under the direction of my programme manager, Joe Lennon, who is my principal special adviser, their primary functions are to monitor, facilitate and help secure the achievement of Government objectives and to ensure effective co-ordination in the implementation of the...

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny's questions are not relevant.

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am just making the point that the questions relate to the duties and responsibilities of special advisers in my office. I referred to the appointment of an individual who is a special assistant to the Attorney General and his functions. That is not germane to the supplementary question.

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The questions relate to whether the Attorney General has any political adviser or assistants in respect of matters that are germane. This is why I took questions Nos. 1 to 8 together. They do not refer to general staff. One such assistant was appointed to the Attorney General. The assistant acts as a liaison between the Attorney General and other Departments on items relevant to legal...

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----although I am informed that it is line with the question set out. Question time is about eliciting information germane to the questions asked. A trend is arising here every week whereby the Deputy asks questions regardless of what is before me and he has decided I am here to answer them. If he wishes to table a question on matters germane to my responsibilities I will answer them but I...

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: No he has not, nor is it his function to do so.

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have just explained that the liaison function relates to his interaction with the Attorney General and the Departments that deal with him. It relates to the question of reports and legal advice. The Attorney General provides legal advice and it must be considered. It is not a question of the Attorney General being unable to provide the legal advice.

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Ministers and the Attorney General would keep me acquainted. Those are the persons who attend at Cabinet. The question here is-----

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Matters generally relating to that function are dealt with by that person on the Attorney General's behalf. The person works to the Attorney General, not to me. I have my own list of advisers on matters generally. It is not a question of lack of staff in the Attorney General's office.

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: No.

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: He does not have a political adviser.

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: He is a special assistant. He does not provide political advice at all.

Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: He is a special assistant to the Attorney General. I will get Deputy Gilmore the details of his qualifications in due course.