Results 5,541-5,560 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The committee can discuss how it wishes to deal with the debate on the NAMA Bill in the context of the time available and it can make sure the important sections are debated. The purpose of trying to do it that way is to facilitate that. With regard to the pre-budget outlook, a report that examined every area of expenditure was available to the Opposition at the same time it was available to...

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: As a former member of Government, the Deputy will be aware that until the deliberative process is completed regarding a budget, the Government has to deal with that itself in its own time. What is different in respect of the question raised by the Deputy is we have had an extensive examination of every area of expenditure and very significant proposals have been suggested as part of the...

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for the second Bill and I am not in a position to give a date. I understand the mental capacity Bill should be taken in the new year.

Order of Business (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The legal costs Bill will be brought forward some time next year. I understand the heads of the other Bill mentioned by Deputy Durkan are being worked on.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables. Department of the Taoiseach 2008 2009 (to 30th Sept) Overtime â'¬523,037 â'¬350,421 Non-core pay â'¬442,954 â'¬248,376 Central Statistics Office 2008 2009 (to 30th Sept) Overtime â'¬231,089 â'¬123.884 Non-core pay â'¬188,789 â'¬116,228 National...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: In the context of the moratorium on recruitment and promotion which is being implemented across the public service there are no vacancies in my Department or any of the agencies under its aegis. Where necessary, responsibility for the work of any officers who have left since the moratorium was introduced is dealt with by way of reorganisation and restructuring of work allocations and...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: 46 foreign trips were undertaken by my predecessor and I from 2007 to end September 2009. The table below provides the date of each trip, location and the number of officials in each delegation. Date Event Number of People in Delegation 14- 20 January 2007 Gulf Region Trade Mission, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates 11 30 January 2007 Meeting with British PM, London 6 4 February...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (13 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Last November, I launched the Government Statement on Transforming Public Services, which sets out an ambitious programme of renewal for the entire Public Service. TPS represents the blueprint for a new type of unified public service, focused on common goals, with greater cooperation and reduced boundaries between sectors, organisations and professions, with a much greater integration of...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) are taking part in the cycle to work scheme. The implementation of decentralisation has no impact on participation in the scheme for my Department or its agencies.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is due next year.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It has also been suggested that the Minister was acting as a block to reform. In fact, he has stated there is a need for further consideration of the proposed composite allowance scheme before it is introduced in any regulation because he wants to ensure that we address the question of verification.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The road traffic Bill will be published shortly. The management proposals announced by Aer Lingus will now be the subject to a six week consultation period with staff representatives and unions. This is not a result of the imposition of a particular tax but because of the general aviation situation. The viability of the company is an important objective for all and we hope for a positive...

Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: That Bill is before the House and it is open to any Deputy to raise issues. On Committee Stage, further opportunity will be provided for that to happen. Budgetary strategy is being discussed by Cabinet. When decisions are taken as to how we intend to proceed, we will inform the House.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: That legislation is still on the Order Paper and will be taken next year at the earliest.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The first Bill the Deputy mentioned will be introduced next year but we do not have dates for the other two Bills.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The fixing of debates is a matter for the whips. The Bill the Deputy asked about is due in the middle of 2010.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is a huge project and it is not possible to give dates for when it will be introduced. I remember chairing a committee set up to look at Committee Stage of a companies Bill back in the late 1980s and we spent months doing it. Consolidation of 13 Bills relating to company law is a major task, as I remember.

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: In regard to the matter the Deputy raised, I understand that Bill has gone through all Stages in the Seanad. As for when it will be debated, it will be a matter for the Whips to make arrangements in due course.

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am answering the question. It is a matter for the Whips to deal with.

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The position is that it is a matter for the Whips and the Minister for Finance as to when it will be taken. Regarding the whole question of thresholds and limits, the threshold of €650 had not been increased since 1995. The idea was to make sure that it would be dealt with in a way that did not involve the commission in the valuation of every gift that would be obtained. On the question...