Results 3,961-3,980 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: To deal with the matters that he raised, the question of the surplus housing stock we have and the need for long term leasing is an initiative that the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, has brought forward and that will require the full co-operation of all of the housing departments of local authorities to ensure that, rather than the traditional way of constructing housing, we have the...
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: With regard to housing, the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, is not the only initiative. There always has been a rental sector to help deal with local authority housing lists. In many cases that arrangement, more than others, suited people. That arrangement will continue and it is not the only means available. As I mentioned, there is the question of acquisition and long-term leasing...
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: -----more treatment in primary care settings and more use of medical assessment units for people with chronic conditions rather than trauma. While the report rightly points to an acceptable waiting time for patients waiting to be admitted, it is also true that 94% of patients who did not require admission were treated and discharged within the HSE's maximum target of six hours. The...
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: On the Deputy's second matter, I will raise it with the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, and ask him to correspond directly with the Deputy.
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore will not get as many scalps as he thinks. Long-term leasing is part of the housing issue. There is a far greater variety of approaches being taken by local authorities now in respect of housing need than was the case when I was on the council many years ago. It is all for the better because different people have varying needs and requirements. Acquisition is ongoing, with...
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: The acquisition of private housing is good, and we have seen it in community-based models of care for people formerly in mental institutions now being well cared for in the community. There are various means and methods, although the process requires housing officers and departments in all our local authorities to be up to speed and open to some of these changes. The changes could be tried...
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: It is a about trying to ensure we use the resources available to us to benefit the greatest possible number of users. If the authorities only acquire houses and do not get involved in leasing arrangements, there would be no opportunity to pay over a period. There would be up-front costs.
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: Given the level of housing need and the variety of approaches adopted, none of which is exclusive from the other, if we were to talk exclusively about purchasing as suggested by the Deputy rather than long-term leasing, it would only be possible to procure with the allocation far fewer houses to meet a growing need on the housing lists.
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: It is not the same.
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: No. As I have indicated, the housing stock would be acquired over a much longer period. It is a basic fact that the capital up-front cost of purchase, if used as an exclusive approach, would by definition provide far fewer houses than would be the case through the other.
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: We have to provide housing need.
- Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: This is a very important and ambitious project for the north inner city and there is no question or doubt about that. I have been to the location and spoken to the people involved and I commend them for the work done so far. The benefits for the DIT are significant in terms of reducing rental costs and being able to acquire a more integrated campus arrangement than is currently the case,...
- Programme for Government. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 9, inclusive, together. The review of the programme for Government was completed last October. As Deputies are aware our initial programme for Government made clear that its delivery was based on an annual growth rate of 4.5%. It was negotiated prior to the worst global downturn since the 1930s. The renewed programme for Government takes account of the...
- Programme for Government. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: The issue of donations is being proceeded with in the context of overall electoral reform. The smart economy document is far from being a white elephant. About 34 recommendations have been completed and 68 are being implemented at the moment. Work is ongoing with other recommendations. It is not correct to say that no action is being taken on the smart economy document. The issue of...
- Programme for Government. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: I have no comment on internal party matters in respect of the first issue. It is not referred to in the programme for Government and is not relevant to supplementary questions at all. We are in favour of resource management in the area of waste management generally. The Minister has indicated his concerns about using a section 60 procedure regarding the prospect of capping levels of waste...
- Programme for Government. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: In respect of people in European Commissioners' cabinets or otherwise, it is a matter for the incumbent to decide such issues. That is the case here as it was in previous situations. The Deputy chooses his own cabinet and does not go around advertising it. I am sure none of his party members was aware of it if he did. There is a statutory basis under which top level appointments to public...
- Programme for Government. (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: It is part of policy but the issue has always been what is the relevant capacity and what is the best management of the resource that will ultimately require incineration in some form.
- Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: It may be news to Deputy Kenny that neither Governments nor State bodies can act unlawfully.
- Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: The Government, as owner of DAA, is like any other shareholder in that it cannot direct a company in which it owns shares to breach a contract. To do so would amount to inducing a breach of contract and would be unlawful and render the Government liable to damages to Aer Lingus for all losses suffered. Let us put a few facts on the table.
- Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)
Brian Cowen: The licence agreement is a binding contractual agreement for which a competition was held. It was contracted in November. Ryanair did not compete to take the hangar which it contends will play such a part in creating these jobs. We can create the 300 jobs at Dublin Airport. Hangar three, which is similar to the one in Prestwick, is available. We can build a facility similar to the...