Results 4,181-4,200 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: In his first question the Deputy asked when we were officially notified of the redundancy announced yesterday. I have explained when we were notified. With regard to bank operations generally, the Department of Finance and the Central Bank monitor the banking situation on an ongoing basis. This credit institution is not part of the State guarantee.

Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is a subsidiary of a large bank, which as we all know has suffered significant losses. Clearly, the banking strategy and business model for that bank is changing, not just with regard to its subsidiary, but also its parent. As people will know, the British Government has taken a significant stake in the parent bank. The situation from our point of view is simple. It is that this...

Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----and Gala Networks networks announced 100 new jobs the previous week. While this major announcement of job losses by the bank is a matter of concern and regret for all of us, it reflects the economic and banking realities as they exist here.

Constitutional Referenda. (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions 1 to 3 together. The renewed programme for Government envisages the following potential referenda during the lifetime of the present Dáil, subject, of course, to appropriate Oireachtas approval: to consider children's rights, based on the work of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children; to consider amending Article 41.2 of the Constitution,...

Constitutional Referenda. (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: No. There have been two interim reports on the work of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, which was established in November 2007 and is chaired by Deputy Mary O'Rourke. The first interim report, which recommended the Government establish a statutory scheme for Garda vetting for the regulation of the collation, exchange and deployment of hard and soft...

Constitutional Referenda. (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the first interim report which was issued on 1 September 2008, as the Deputy said, the office of the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is preparing the heads of the Bill for submission to Government at the earliest date. The preparation of legislation on soft information...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: This commitment in the Programme for Government was made in the context of the ongoing work of the Innovation Taskforce which is looking at opportunities for Ireland to strengthen its position as a location for innovation and commercialisation in order to support sustainable employment in the context of ongoing investments under the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 139 together. No company has been granted a contract for projects worth more than the amounts stated above by my Department in the period 2000 to 2010.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: At present there are two consultancy firms working in my Department. The Organisational Review Programme (ORP) engaged the services of IPSOS MRBI for the administration and analysis of survey questionnaires to all staff of the four organisations (Central Statistics Office, Department of Health and Children, Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Property Registration Authority) being...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is the policy of my Department and NESDO that all portable electrical equipment used complies fully with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 299 of 2007. A programme of regular inspections in relation to portable electrical equipment covered by the scope of the regulations is in place in my Department and NESDO where necessary...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Seven civil servants have signed up for the Cycle to Work scheme in my Department. There is no discernible cost to my Department's vote in administering the cycle to work scheme to date in 2010. The bicycles and equipment are paid for by way of salary sacrifice by those acquiring the bicycles. There are minor costs in processing forms and in carrying the up-front costs until such time as...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Nothing relating to these matters was concealed. The IMF supports the establishment of NAMA. As regards the issues arising from information contained on the Department of Finance website, a specific paragraph relates to the fact that NAMA will result in a significant increase in bank lending in Ireland. This is on the basis of our encouraging the adoption of a NAMA-type initiative even if...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny has again misquoted the situation. Professor Honohan in his statement stated that the overall thrust and macro-economic policy and the pace and scale of budgetary adjustments appeared to him about right as a basis for building a sustained recovery. He also stated that interest rates on Government bonds are much lower than they were only a few months ago because of the degree to...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny continues to misrepresent the situation. The Deputy is suggesting the Government is writing a €54 billion cheque but it is not.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: We are presenting to the Central Bank bonds which will be backed by assets on the basis of the reduced value NAMA will pay for them. The first losses will be taken by the banks and creditors. No matter how many times the Deputy says it, I will still keep saying what the true situation is. As regards the question of how we deal with providing sufficient credit to the economy, it is by taking...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Unless we operationalise NAMA and arrange for those assets to be transferred, the Deputy's argument is a circular one because we will never get out of the trouble we are in unless we proceed as we have set out.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand that Bank of Scotland (Ireland) is to make the announcement this evening. I regret the fact that those workers will lose their jobs. I understand that redundancy terms will be offered. It is part of a bank restructuring worldwide, with institutions pulling back from markets which are not profitable for them. I am pleased that a substantial part of the business of Bank of...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I just explained to the Deputy, it has the potential to create many thousands of jobs.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The IDA is leading that project and is working with the digital hub. IDA personnel are working on that matter and when it emerges, if they can bring forward a proposal for consideration by the board, it will of course obtain budgetary support though the IDA's grant in aid and all the other facilities we have available to assist enterprise supports. We are providing over €200 million this...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy does not want to hear anything because his view is-----