Results 5,141-5,160 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is mistaken. At the European Council meeting, it was very clear from all who spoke that it was unlikely that a legally binding deal will be made at Copenhagen given the rate of progress thus far, but that we will seek to establish a political framework that will enable the technical and legal drafting to take place thereafter on the basis of a committed deal by all partners. If...

Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is incorrect for the Deputy to suggest everyone was suggesting at the European Council meeting that there would be a legally binding deal. That was not the case.

Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: We have indicated our preparedness to travel on the basis of the work that is ongoing and that we hope we will be in a position to pursue a deal at Copenhagen. Obviously, all Heads of Government are indicating their preparedness to travel on the basis that a deal will be possible. We must await the outcome of the negotiations.

Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for Nos. 57 and 58. No. 56 will probably be introduced next year.

Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is a matter for the Houses.

Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is a matter for the House.

Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: Legislation is being prepared on the proposal to bring together the Central Bank and the financial regulatory agency. I cannot state the date when it is expected to be published because obviously it must be considered by the Government. The work is ongoing and will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Ministerial Staff. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is not.

Ministerial Staff. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree with a few of the points made by the Deputy. I did not say it was small money; I said in the overall context of a total public service pay bill of €20 billion it is important when emphasis is put on the cost of special advisers that we see that it is a very small part of the total public service operation, both in the Civil Service and the wider public service. That is a...

Ministerial Staff. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not have that information. I have no problem in finding it out for the Deputy. The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 obviously post-dates the introduction. When the introduction of these posts came into place I am sure they were aligned with some range of responsibilities and subsequently-----

Ministerial Staff. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, I believe it was higher than that, with respect.

Ministerial Staff. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no point in me giving an opinion or reflecting back that far without checking out the facts. I can get them for the Deputy.

Regulatory Reform. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together. The Government published the White Paper, Regulating Better, in 2004. It provides a framework for advancing the better regulation agenda in Ireland. Some of the recommendations and actions outlined in the OECD report and the White Paper relate specifically to individual sectors and relevant Ministers are responsible for reporting directly...

Regulatory Reform. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is a process in place regarding the reduction of administrative burdens and a group on business regulation is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It has set out a programme of work that would seek to reduce the regulatory and administrative burden significantly. The question of regulation constantly arises. On the one hand, one needs...

Regulatory Reform. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Minister for Finance has been outlining the Government position on the second matter Deputy Gilmore has raised in an earlier programme. With regard to the questions raised by Deputy Kenny on the question of outsourcing and using private companies for the purposes of training programmes, to work in partnership is a good thing, although there have been some recent controversies in this...

Departmental Expenditure. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3 together. The projected cost of the communications unit in 2009 is €257,432, of which €119,270 is a direct cost to my Department while the balance is borne by three other Departments whose staff are seconded to the unit. The cost of the unit from June 2007 to date has been €725,951. The projected cost for 2009 represents a reduction of almost...

Departmental Expenditure. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I answered this on several occasions. The Deputy appears to have a continuing fixation about it. A review was undertaken to see how we might provide this service most effectively. It is being provided at a lesser cost on a continuous basis as a result of the need to be mindful of expenditure in this or any other Departmental area at this time. Individual Ministers also have their own...

Departmental Expenditure. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I can have the details on individual staff costs, and so on sent to the Deputy. The overall objective is to ensure that all parts of Government are aware of key issues across a wide range of media outlets. The media, the Opposition and the citizens expect Ministers and officials to be fully up to date on such issues so that they can respond to them. The situation was assessed by a panel of...

Departmental Expenditure. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: It was a question of putting the team together. We can arrange to get that detail to the Deputy in terms of its cost, etc.

Departmental Expenditure. (17 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: Regarding Mr. McCarthy's committee, he identified €5.4 billion in areas he considered could be modified, eliminated, cutback or whatever out of a total spend - he only dealt with the current programme - of €57 billion. This is an indication that not everything that is being done is something that needs to be changed. Some 90% of what has been looked at throughout all of the programmes...