Results 4,901-4,920 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Proposed Legislation. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the second point, I am not aware there is any connection between those two issues. The Deputy had better ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, about the Inland Fisheries Bill. The person to whom Deputy Kenny referred, who appeared before a committee, indicated subsequently that he was not opposed to the policy but that he was just giving...

Proposed Legislation. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I take the Deputy's point. As the Bill is still on the Order Paper, it is a matter for the Whips and the organisation of the House to decide how and when it can be taken. The Department has been dealing with many other important pieces of legislation which are of a higher priority. It remains on the Order Paper and I understand Second Stage has not yet been taken.

Proposed Legislation. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I cannot recall the exact provisions of the Bill as it is a long time since it was discussed in the Seanad, but I understand it relates to an issue which arose at the time, that is, people who receive support from people other than family members or those working in an official capacity.

Proposed Legislation. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the legislative programme, since the Government came to office after the last general election on 14 June 2007, some 73 Bills have been enacted. There was not a pre-existing raft of legislation that was coming from the previous Dáil as all of that legislation was cleared. It enabled us to enter the 30th Dáil without that backlog of work to be conducted as well. In the summer...

Proposed Legislation. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is important to point out that the role of patron does not involve any executive function in the management of schools. In many cases the positions have arisen from the historical involvement of religious denominations - not a particular church - in education. I have explained to the Deputy that this structure has evolved and changed over time to reflect the social changes that have...

Proposed Legislation. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the flood relief schemes, etc., as I stated last week there is approximately €34 million being spent in programmes this year. Deputy Ó Snodaigh mentioned Clonmel. Phase one of the Clonmel scheme has been completed. Phases two and three are gone to tender, with construction probably due to start in March. On my visit there one could see the significant benefit of that project. It...

Financial Services Sector. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. My Department has supported the international financial services industry in Ireland since the establishment of the IFSC in 1987. It does so through the mechanism of the clearing house group and the working groups in the areas of banking and treasury, funds, insurance, pensions and a task force on asset management. These...

Financial Services Sector. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The financial regulation legislation is being incorporated in the context of the Central Bank reforms that will take place. The need to review fundamentally our whole financial regulatory structure arose in the aftermath of the financial crisis, which began to emerge in autumn 2008 and came to a very serious turn this autumn. It is important to recognise - and I am sure the Deputy does -...

Financial Services Sector. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The clearing house group is a technical group of people from various Departments as well as the Revenue Commissioners and the Stock Exchange, which identifies whether there are operational issues arising that need to be addressed. It has met for that purpose on a number of occasions this year. It also provides an informal opportunity to determine whether other opportunities might be...

Financial Services Sector. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: While I know Mr. Barnier, we have not as yet have had discussions with him. He has not as yet been appointed Commissioner. He has been nominated for the position and will not be in situ , probably, until February next year, when all the various hearings have been completed. I am sure he will be successful since he is a former Commissioner, as well as a former Minister for Agriculture in...

Financial Services Sector. (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: While some jobs have been lost in this sector because of the overall environment, the IFSC has withstood the worst aspects of the financial crisis creditably well. Significant numbers of people are still employed there in well-remunerated jobs. At individual company level, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are supporting an increasing number of multinational and indigenous financial...

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have been very clear on this matter. The State's job is to ensure everybody is equal before the law and that applies to institutions and individuals. The State must also ensure that best practice in this entire area will be promoted in the future. From this and previous reports, we have confirmation that there was an horrific deficit of accountability and these matters were not handled...

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny asked about the Department's position on what happened. It is a matter of regret that the Holy See was not in a position to provide a substantive response to inquiries from the commission of investigation of the Dublin Archdiocese. It is important to be clear as to how and why this occurred. The commission of investigation wrote to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith...

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the first part of the question raised by Deputy Gilmore, I was simply setting out the position that these matters are dealt with in that way. A diplomatic note was sent to the Murphy commission but it was not followed up thereafter, which is unfortunate. Had the Department of Foreign Affairs or another Department been asked to pursue the issue, perhaps a solution to the problem...

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I made the point to the Deputy that while the patron has overall responsibility for the ethos of the school, the implementation of child protection guidelines are primarily the responsibility of the board of management of each school. The Education Act 1998 makes no provision for the removal of a patron from a school. The Department of Education and Science has issued guidelines on child...

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----in terms of the child protection policies which apply in our schools. This issue has been raised in the context of the Murphy report. There is a wider policy context which I agree needs to be addressed and can be addressed by consultation, which is ongoing. On the Murphy report, the Minister of State, Deputy Andrews, has made it clear that we await the HSE audit in respect of the...

Requests to move Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: On a point of order, for the information of the Deputy, a correction was issued by the Irish Independent the following day because the quote attributed to me had no foundation whatever. Perhaps the Deputy would apologise to me in response.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 11, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimate [Vote 41]; No. 12, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimate [Vote 41] to select committee; No. 13, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the accession by Ireland to the terms of the Agreement for co-operation in dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by Oil and...

Order of Business (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is trying to "haddock" every way now.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The business has been ordered for tomorrow, as has been explained. The Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which needs to be enacted before the end of this session, is important in terms of inward investment. All I can do is refer the matter to the Whips to see if there is a possibility of rescheduling tomorrow's business. If it is possible to get some commitment on the Companies...