Results 5,601-5,620 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Is Deputy Ring supporting Deputy Kenny this morning?

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: With regard to NAMA, I point out to Deputy Kenny once again that the means by which we deal with the problem of credit availability in the Irish economy is by ensuring that banks get access to funds either through their deposits or through access to wholesale money markets. What the NAMA legislation achieves is to identify the level of distressed assets. Without identifying that level of...

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is not correct to say that there is not support for this proposal. In fact, the NTMA has been able to obtain long-term bond issues, which confirms there is greater confidence from international money markets-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----as a result of the announcement and decision to implement the NAMA legislation.

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Those are the facts about the matter. The availability of credit is very much determined by the amount of credit that can be obtained by the system. The NAMA legislation will provide the means by which that will happen through the issuing of bonds and the ECB providing money at the rates that are currently being discussed.

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: Those are the facts about NAMA-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It provides us with the means by which we can increase credit in the system. That is the situation.

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the announcement by the Ceann Comhairle of his decision to resign, I respect that decision. I respect the fact that it is being done in the interests of this House and the Office of Ceann Comhairle. In light of that decision it is less than seemly to haggle over the arrangements for his early resignation. It is not unreasonable that the Ceann Comhairle should have the...

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I was talking about the EU Commissioner.

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: To return to the point Deputy Gilmore has again made, I did not suggest that the Commissioner would be appointed as a representative of the Government. The Commissioner will be a representative of the country. With respect, the suggestion that if the person to emerge were a member of my party or the Government or a supporter of the Government, it would in some way disqualify him or her or...

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am not. This is an important point. I indicated to the Deputy yesterday and again today, in a spirit of generosity, that if there were prospective candidates who should receive the consideration of the Government in respect of the issue, I am open to hear from the Deputy on the matter. That is a fair and honest assessment of the situation and one that is consistent with what I stated...

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is certainly hard to recall when one is in government, which is fair enough as it is not required. However, in an effort-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will remember that the Labour Party, which was in government at that time - the Deputy was in a different party at that time - was agreeable to that appointment. It is hard to catch up with where everyone was at the time. Things improve as we go along. I have given a fair indication to the Deputy that if he has an interest in this matter and if he forwards names of prospective...

Codes of Conduct. (7 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The code of conduct for officeholders, published by the Standards in Public Office Commission, sets out among other things a framework for acceptance of hospitality. Briefly, the code provides that officeholders should not accept offers of hospitality where to do so would, or might appear to, place them under an obligation. The code also...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (6 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The following table details the annual cost to my Department of Ministerial expenses related to overseas travel engagements for the years 1999 to August 2009. Year Taoiseach & Officialsfrom Private Office Chief Whip & Officialsfrom Private Office Minister of State for European Affairs & Officials from Private Office 1999 € 48,982.95 € 7,110.42 2000 € 201,518.10 € 25,148.88 ...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department commissioned 5 experts' and consultants' reports during 2008. The following table details the reports and their cost. Report Name Cost 2008 Irish Civil Service Customer Satisfaction Survey €69,817.00 Knowledge Management Report -To carry out initial analysis of knowledge management and produce Report and plan. €2268.75 Evaluate and present a report on virtualisation...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: The information requested is set out beneath: Department of the Taoiseach Year Early Retirements Terminations of Contracts Resignations Number *Cost â'¬ Number Cost â'¬ Number Cost 2006 1 - 2 171,509.32 2 Nil 2007 0 - 5 278,293.00 2 Nil 2008 2 - 5 518,643.00 1 Nil 2009 2 - 1 35,849.02 Nil Nil Central Statistics Office (CSO) Year Early Retirements Terminations of Contracts...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: In 2008 my Department entered into a contract, which includes Ministers at this Department, with Vodafone Ireland Limited under the mobile telecommunications framework.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: All Civil Servants retiring from my Department are entitled to an annual pension and lump sum, in accordance with the relevant legislation and conditions of service. Since 2006, there have been two occasions when discretionary arrangements were made in accordance with comparable terms applied previously in similar circumstances, and were so approved by the Department of Finance. In both...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Brian Cowen: No member of staff from my Department has been dismissed over the past five years for misconduct, poor performance or failing to fulfil the terms of their contract.