Results 4,821-4,840 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: An independent review in line with the terms of Towards 2016 of the operation of regulatory impact analysis, RIA, was commissioned to assess the effectiveness of the RIA model across Departments. The report was published in July 2008 and it is available on the better regulation website. It indicates overall that good progress has been made in the implementation of RIA across Departments,...

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The code of conduct for officeholders was drawn up by the Government pursuant to section 10(2) of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, following consultation with the Standards in Public Office Commission, and was published in July 2003. Deputies will be aware that the Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007 provides for...

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The next set of questions deals with that issue. This question relates to whether there are any changes envisaged in the code of conduct. That code of conduct does not stand in isolation, it stands as part of a wider ethics framework established by the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. Section 10(7) of the Standards in Public Office Act binds...

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: These matters are dealt with in another set of questions with which we will deal later. In any event, to be of assistance I will deal with any questions that arise. In regard to the third supplementary on the issue of allowing the office to initiate an inquiry, I believe a balance has to be struck between a proper investigation where there is a potential breach of guidelines and the good...

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the progress towards enactment of the Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Bill, such inquiries are best directed to the Minister for Finance whose Department has responsibility for this area. The Bill has completed all Stages in the Seanad. The taking of the Bill in this House is a matter for the Whips who arrange the business of the House. The House has been dealing with legislation on...

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not have before me the foreign travel policy guidelines 2009 which were issued by the Department of Finance. It would be best to submit a question to the Department to obtain the detail directly. The Government speaks as one on these issues.

Ministerial Travel. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. The 2009 estimate for travel for my Department, including home and foreign travel, is €731,000. Expenditure from January to the end of November 2009 for me and officials in my private office was €148,482. In respect of Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, it was €15,014 and in respect of Minister of State, Deputy Dick...

Ministerial Travel. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: Yes. In the last set of questions I dealt with the fact that there are revised travel guidelines in place for the purpose of ensuring that things are done as one would expect. Not alone are facilities made available to the Government, but in certain circumstances they are made available to members of the Opposition where it is appropriate as well, and it is only right that this is the case....

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: It remains the objective of Government to effect savings of that order vis-À-vis the public sector pay bill for 2009 compared to 2010. The Government has made clear that the public service pay bill must make a substantial contribution to the fiscal adjustment required for next year. This is a structural adjustment and, therefore, the savings will be permanent. The public services committee...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: If the Deputy listened to my response - obviously, he did not - he would have heard that there are discussions taking place, progress was reviewed, the Government indicated its position and the public service unions sought to continue with the discussions, which we are continuing in good faith with a view to obtaining the objectives which I have set out. If Deputy Kenny's wants to promulgate...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: If I may be allowed-----

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: If I may be allowed-----

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is sufficient being said about it for me to be able to clarify the position. The level of savings that we seek to obtain remains of the order of €1.3 billion in terms of a reduction between the cost of the public service pay bill this year compared to next year. That remains our position and we wish to discuss with the trade unions on that basis. Those discussions are not complete....

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: It has always been the position of this Government that it is preferable, if possible, to obtain an agreed way forward, in the interests of maintaining services, by proceeding with adjustments which are necessary in the budgetary context and to which the Government remains committed. As regards these negotiations, it was at the unions' request that they sought to put before the Government...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is the Government's position.

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The second point is that in their current form these proposals do not provide the basis for an agreement. Until they do, we do not have the basis for an agreement, but we want to continue with those discussions. The third point is that the savings will be in 2010. They will be permanent on the basis that the Government is not in a position to continue with a public service pay bill of the...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: As regards the proposals, which are emerging from the continuing discussions, on how to ensure that one does not disrupt services, it may be required in some instances - if this were to be developed into a proposal that provided the means of an acceptable solution - for people to take that leave back over a period of years. That would be precisely to avoid a disruption of services. If we are...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The whole purpose is not to delay reforms, but to accelerate reforms in the public service. It is about everyone being committed to an integrated public service.

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is about new policies for deployment and a whole range of other issues, which have been locked for years and have held up reforms. It is a question not only of dealing with the 2010 issue, but also of dealing with the need for an integrated public service that will be smaller over a period of time. It will have all the flexibility on redeployment that we need in order to effect modern...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The savings in the public service pay bill will be delivered in 2010. It will be done on an agreed basis, if possible, to obtain it before the budget, or it will be done by the Government in another way. That is the position. That is what is going to happen.