Results 5,681-5,700 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is a priority for the Government to ensure that the membership of the new structure is highly authoritative, expert and experienced in all of the key areas required for it to effectively discharge its responsibilities. As Members are aware, the Government has already announced the appointment of Professor Patrick Honohan as governor. A director of financial supervision will be appointed...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The new structures will provide improved levels of enforcement, more responsible and transparent lending policies and ensure a financial sector that acts in the interest of the customer rather than with an eye to short-term gain. Most of the Opposition Deputies have concentrated on the risk to the taxpayers that NAMA will not recover sufficient funds to pay back the bonds issued. They have...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The High Level Group on Labour Market Issues was established earlier this year and has had one meeting to date. The Group is chaired by my Department and its membership is comprised of officials from the Departments of Enterprise, Trade & Employment; Social & Family Affairs; Education & Science; and Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs; and two nominees each from the Employer, Union,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The budget for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for each year 2005 to 2009 is as follows: Year Budget '000 2005 €33,656 2006 €33,635 2007 €35,795 2008 €44,522 2009 €41,101

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: Since 2002 my Department has maintained a database which records details of all contracts awarded after a tendering process, including year, name of successful tenderer, and contract value. The schedule below details all companies which have been successful in tendering for contracts for my Department and the contract value since 2002 to date. It is not practicable to provide all of the...

Written Answers — National Partnership Agreement: National Partnership Agreement (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 162 together. Social partnership is a structured approach to engagement between the Government and the Social Partners, organised in the following five pillars: Employer/Business, Trade Union, Farming, Community and Voluntary and Environmental. This engagement leads to periodic agreements based on a shared analysis of the needs of the economy and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the Incentivised Career Break Scheme and the Incentivised Early Retirement Scheme are set out in the tables listed below. Department of the Taoiseach Title of Scheme Number who applied under the Scheme Incentivised Career Break Scheme 5 Incentivised Early Retirement Scheme 3 None of my Department's staff have been made redundant in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, and the decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department is based in Government Buildings, Dublin 2. It does not have a physical presence in County Louth, and accordingly, the question of staff on permanent or temporary contract, cost of accommodation, expired leases etc does not apply.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: Strand II of the Good Friday Agreement sets out arrangements for the establishment of the North South Ministerial Council to bring together those with executive responsibilities North and South to develop consultation, cooperation and action within the island of Ireland. The Council meets in different formats, in plenary format twice yearly, in sectoral format on a regular and frequent basis...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: There are currently no civil servants from this Department in receipt of a fee, salary or remuneration and expenses for holding a position as a member of a board or agencies including commercial and non-commercial state body.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The amounts spent by my Department on advertising and promotions from 2004 to date are set out in the table beneath. 2004€ 2005€ 2006€ 2007€ 2008€ 2009€ 31,071 12,988 377,045 277,365 65,525 10,329 Expenditure was incurred for a variety of purposes including advertisements in the national media in relation to: · commemorative events such as the National Day of Commemoration and...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no discernible cost to my Department's vote in administering the cycle to work scheme. The bicycles and equipment are paid for by way of salary sacrifice by those acquiring the bicycles. There are minor costs in processing forms and in carrying the up- front costs until such time as those are offset by the gradual deductions from salary. Neither of these is quantifiable. The only...

Written Answers — Ministerial Expenses: Ministerial Expenses (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The amount claimed in expenses by each of the Taoisigh and the Ministers of State in my Department from 1997 to 2008, is detailed in the tables below: Taoiseach John Bruton (January 1997 to June 1997) Expenses claimed 1997 â'¬ 1,697.03 Minister of State Donal Carey (January 1997 to June 1997) Expenses claimed 1997 â'¬ 15,542.29 Minister of State Avril Doyle (January 1997 to June...

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: This Bill is being brought forward for one purpose, namely, to provide a stimulus to this economy by means of the mechanism we have devised. Making populist statements about it or misrepresenting it does not help anybody but if that is what the Deputy wishes to convey, I cannot dictate that. Since last April the Minister for Finance has been very clear about putting forward this proposition...

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Minister's offer has been open for months.

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: I believe this is the right proposal.

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: The position is we will commence the Second Stage debate and a detailed outline of the position will be given by the Minister for Finance in the next few minutes and I would like the House to hear that in detail.

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: This is about the Government presenting bonds, which will provide access to ECB funds to provide a stimulus to the economy for the purpose of improving the lending capacity of our banking system. Throughout the last session, week in and week out, we discussed the insufficiency of lending in the economy. We are seeking to address that issue through this proposal. We are not in a position to...

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Cowen: This is supported by financial institutions, which will help us provide a stimulus to our economy. It is on that basis that we put the proposal. We have considered all the options as we have seen them. We have brought forward this proposal and we have dealt with all the issues in so far as we can. We are open to dealing with any issues raised in the debate in so far as that is appropriate...