Results 5,561-5,580 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Bill does not do that. Legislation is already in place which deals with gifts to Ministers in the performance of their duties. That is covered. This relates to the question of people who, when they are not in the public performance of their duties, receive gifts from friends or associated people. It covers a much wider and different situation than the public performance of duties....

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The issue has been dealt with through the Houses of the Oireachtas and has not been proceeded with. When it will be taken is a matter for the Whips and the Minister for Finance. The issue of what thresholds would apply now is matter for decision on Committee Stage. The idea behind it was that there was a gap in the situation regarding people who provide gifts who were friends of an...

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: When Deputy Gilmore raised his first matter, he expressed his disappointment at the failure of the Minister for Finance to approve a proposal that had been made. I remind him that the Minister has expressed his views on whether the proposal meets the transparency requirements he considers necessary in this case. The suggestion being made - that the Minister's failure to approve the proposal...

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: We will leave it at that. Although it was suggested that the Minister was blocking an improvement, the truth is that he wanted to advance it beyond what has been suggested. That is the first point. Given that the Minister's position was not being reflected in full, it is only fair to speak in his defence. The second point relates to the question of ministerial expenses. As I have said,...

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: When figures are provided, it needs to be explained that legitimate or valid expenses are required to do the job.

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: If it is done otherwise, the complaint that is made at the moment will be made in reverse. The problem is that all of these matters are sometimes portrayed in a manner that is unfair on everybody. It is important for the public to understand that the moneys spent by those who act on behalf of taxpayers are accounted for in a transparent manner. I am totally in favour of such a system. If...

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I thank the Chair. In the absence of advance notice, I cannot answer specific questions that would be best addressed to individual Ministers. Officeholders can have representational roles in respect of State agencies, in addition to their departmental responsibilities. One may be required to promote the interests of the agencies under one's aegis. It should be acknowledged that the...

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Finance reviewed the code of practice for the governance of State bodies and issued a revised and updated code on 15 June to include revised guidelines on travel policy for Departments and State bodies which take due account of the recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts. I understand a further report on FÁS is due to be issued in respect of the internal...

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, together. Expenditure by my Department from January to the end of June 2009 was €11.574 million compared to a total Estimates provision for the year of €32.686 million. While fluctuations in spending occur from month to month and some expenditures do not fall due until the end of the year, I am satisfied that overall spending by my...

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The role of the Department of Finance does not rule out the need for us to assign people to these areas because we have co-ordinating, leadership and other responsibilities. I do not accept the contention that the social partnership process has been abandoned. It is an important function in terms of providing a structure within which relationships and interests can be negotiated. It is...

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have answered questions on the communications unit ad nauseam. They are the same answers to the same questions.

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have explained the role of the communications unit. A conspiracy theory is constantly propounded by Deputy Kenny's side of the House regarding the unit. He seems to have an obsession with it. He continues to ask questions about it and I continue to give him the answers. If that is how he wants to use Question Time, that is fine.

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have always indicated that the official referred to by the Deputy is paid by my Department because of the work done in terms of co-ordinating between the Department of Health and Children and my office.

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not have the specific up-to-date supplementary on the Moriarty tribunal. As I recall, the report is expected by the end of this year or early in the new year. As the Deputy will be aware, there was a number of developments during the course of this year in terms of recalling people for further questioning or whatever investigation goes on there in terms of the method that he uses, but...

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the budgetary process, my Department will co-operate with the Department of Finance in identifying savings in my Department that are commensurate to what is required overall from Government. That is a role the Department of the Taoiseach must play the same as every other Department in obtaining the savings on an agreed basis, either by adopting any recommendations of the McCarthy report...

Departmental Bodies. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. I appointed the Innovation Taskforce on 29 June last. The task force has been asked, in the context of the Government's framework for sustainable economic renewal, Building Ireland's Smart Economy, and the strategy for science, technology and innovation, to: examine options to increase levels of innovation and the rates of...

Membership of the Innovation Taskforce (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I can get for the Deputy the full details of how they have divided up their work. They are looking at the question of innovation, research and development, how one interacts with the education system and how one can do all of that in terms of culture and tourism as well.

Membership of the Innovation Taskforce (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is important to point out that we have learned lessons as we have sought to address this area. Unfortunately, ten or 15 years ago we were providing little or no money into this area. It is now a significant part of investment. On the question of Science Foundation Ireland being set up, I note how highly credible is the good peer review that goes on there and how well it is regarded....

Membership of the Innovation Taskforce (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Opportunities for development of the green economy generally are central to the vision for a smart economy, which recognises the need to move to a low-carbon society, drawing on our natural resources to tackle the inter-related challenges of climate change and energy security. We are making progress on the question of how we can build a sustainable energy industry in our own country....

Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 13, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the Convention on the European Forest Institute; and No. 21, National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009 - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 12 and 13 shall be decided without...