Results 4,261-4,280 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Northern Ireland Issues. (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: People are speculating in that regard. I have seen statements from the deputy leader of the DUP that there is no such diverse opinion in the party regarding the conduct of the negotiations and that Mr. Robinson enjoys the full support of his party. Negotiations are taking place about finding a resolution to all the problems so all parties can give their support to new arrangements. That...

Northern Ireland Issues. (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Secretary of State was confirming, as has been the case in successive US Administrations, the support of the Administration for a successful outcome that would ensure the institutions are sustained and operated as envisaged under the agreements that have been reached between the Governments and the parties. Prime Minister Brown and I were seeking to bring sides together to indicate ways...

Northern Ireland Issues. (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The last point is the salient point. It is more likely to succeed if the parties agree among themselves. If, however, that is not possible, the Governments must take on their responsibilities and respond to public opinion with Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland, whereby people want to see the talks concluded successfully, with the institutions they have voted for working as...

Northern Ireland Issues. (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: In response to Deputy Gilmore, I understand his point. However, the fact of the matter is that if there is a difficulty in the process and the Governments, as co-guarantors of the agreements, wish to see full implementation of these agreements with the participation of the other parties, particularly in the context of the devolution of policing and justice given the steps that must be taken...

Northern Ireland Issues. (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: There are a number of issues and it is important not to reduce outstanding issues to just two. There are a number of matters relating to implementation of the agreement that must be addressed. In talking about steps to devolution, the justice Bill for the creation of a justice department has been passed by the Assembly and once agreement has been reached between the parties the following...

Northern Ireland Issues. (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: In my original reply I explained the position in respect of those inquiries. We have experience of the commission inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. While much was achieved, it did not resolve the issues for the relatives. We also have the work of the Eames-Bradley group. There are also issues that have arisen where legal proceedings have been initiated. A number of relatives...

Northern Ireland Issues. (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It has been raised at a political level by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, who is dealing with these matters on ongoing basis. We have been supportive of trying to find an investigative mechanism that is required for the Pat Finucane issue. I met the family on a number of occasions. I am mindful of the fact that the Eames-Bradley group provides us with an...

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 27, Arbitration Bill 2008 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 28, Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 4, Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Private Members' business shall be No. 82, motion re gangland crime (resumed), to conclude at 8.30 p.m. if...

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the question on the ESRI report, the first part of the report constitutes a response to the environmental report on the strategic environmentalist process in respect of the proposed section 60 policy direction on the incineration cap and ancillary matters. The second part constitutes a response to the international review of waste management policy undertaken by Eunomia consortium....

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: No, I do not have that information as yet. I am seeking it for the Deputy but I did not have an opportunity yesterday from the time I was in the House and attending parliamentary party and other meetings. I am having the matter investigated and I will obtain the information for the Deputy as speedily as possible. From memory the numbers are in the order of 655.

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am getting the exact figures for the Deputy.

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: No. What is involved is that the allocations are being given to the funded bodies and it is a matter for the funded bodies to decide how they will maintain a service with the reduced allocations they are receiving because of the economic and financial realities we have to contend with, no matter what Government is in power. In each case they must decide how best they will deploy those...

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand the figure is less than €5 million but I will obtain that information for the Deputy. It is a total spend of——

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: ——on a total spend of €20 billion.

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have every confidence in the commitment and competence of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, who has responsibility in this area. He has displayed a very clear commitment and has engaged very intensively with all stakeholders in the area of mental health. I support him and have been supporting him in every way I can to deal with the question of the historical...

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Regarding that matter, the Minister of State has indicated that the HSE and HIQA have agreed that progressive non-statutory implementation of the HIQA standards will now commence and will become the benchmark against which the HSE assess both its own directly operated facilities and other facilities funded by the HSE. Challenges exist to moving immediately to full statutory implementation of...

Leaders' Questions (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The January live register will show an increase, as it has done every year for the past ten years. The headline total will be 436,900, reflecting five weeks activity. The month on month increase will be 13,300 or 3.1% and the year on year increase will be 110,600 or 33.9%. The year on year increase has fallen again in January, having declined from the peak of 194,700 reported in June 2009....

Leaders' Questions (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny's accounts of despair are not where the people are at. They recognise that the country is being led in the right direction by taking the necessary——

Leaders' Questions (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Regaining our competitive edge is essential to protect jobs and to grow jobs in the future. Driving forward with enterprise, exports and employment is the only way forward, but the stabilisation of the public finances is an absolute prerequisite for that. This country is doing that. It is being referred to both at home and abroad as the right way forward to deal with the situation we are...

Leaders' Questions (3 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: People are referred to the FÁS employment action plan and 60% of them leave the live register. Of 70,000 referrals, 50,000 came off the register. We have to continue with the increased training and supports we are providing. More than 128,000 people received them in 2009 and will do so again in 2010. The bottom line is the Government wants to make sure we regain competitiveness in this...