Results 5,801-5,820 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Northern Ireland Issues. (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not have the technical detail on the A5 to hand. The National Roads Authority is more specifically the body involved as these are technical engineering issues. I know issues are being raised by Deputies in the area and I can get an update in this regard. On the question of what will happen in Middletown, I ask the Deputy to accept I will have the Minister set out the up-to-date...

Northern Ireland Issues. (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: The general economic situation was discussed and it was in this context that the issue of NAMA arose. It was part of the discussion. I emphasise to Deputy Burton that her surmise regarding comments attributed to the First Minster is not correct. I am sure the First Minister was accurately quoted about his various concerns and I explained in a previous reply the context in which those...

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: I join with Deputy Kenny on the first point. As I have already stated, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Government and I have indicated that the safeguarding of the welfare of our citizens abroad at all times must be a particular priority of any Government. We attach the highest importance to securing the safe and timely release of Sharon Commins and her Ugandan colleague, Hilda...

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: No. The receipt of the report is awaited by the Minister for Finance this week and will be considered by Government in due course. As everyone is aware the setting up of the report is part of the preparations for the budgetary process for 2010.

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: The position of the Minister for Finance was at all times that this was a priority for his Department. As the Deputy will be aware it is a very arduous and complex task in terms of bringing forward the structure for the implementation of the decision and also the legislative basis underpinning it. He has indicated that a target of July has been set for the bringing forward of the...

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: We have not brought forward the heads.

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: The sale of alcohol Bill will be introduced later this year. As I informed the Deputy last week the heads of the health information Bill were approved by Cabinet recently and we are proceeding with further detailed preparation of the legislation. In answer to Deputy Ó Caoláin's earlier question, we have authorised the completion of the NAMA Bill as quickly as possible.

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have already outlined that it is expected that we will have the Bill published in July with a view to coming back to enact it in September. That remains the target of the Minister and that is the information I can bring to the House. I am surprised to hear the argumentation continuing from Deputy Burton who raised the matter on Leaders' Questions. I thought I explained clearly that the...

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: There are commitments under the social partnership framework to consider the publication of those Bills by the end of July and we are working to that timetable.

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is telling the wrong people.

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is a matter for the Whips. I point out to the Deputy there will be an opportunity to debate European Union matters this week as part of the referendum Bill. The referendum will seek to ask the people to ratify the treaty of Lisbon, which has increased scrutiny powers for national parliaments. The Bill could facilitate the Deputy's wish to raise the views of the committees on those...

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is hoped to have the legislation for the next session and this work is being undertaken. The question of talking to people and listening to their views and negotiating are two separate matters.

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the industrial relations (amendment) Bill, we have a commitment to try to have it available before the end of July and we are seeking to meet that timetable. The question on the other legislation, the agency Bill, needs to be put to the line Minister.

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand it will be done by way of secondary legislation.

Order of Business (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Bill will be published soon and issues with regard to its content or scope can be dealt with on Second Stage.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: The following table details the cost of my Departmental mobile telephone for the periods May to December 2008 and January to June 2009, it includes the percentage of the cost relating to data and roaming charges: Period Cost Data Charges as % of Total Roaming as % of Total May to December 2008 â'¬ 1,482.80 2.3% 40.3% January to June 2009 â'¬ 478.37 2.4% 39.3%

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: In 2008 my Department appealed a decision of the Commissioner for Environmental Information that on foot of Directive 2003/4/EC on Public Access to Environmental Information, a document that records discussion at a meeting of the Government should be released notwithstanding the terms of the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No 133 of 2007)...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department has not paid any rent costs in the past three years. The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) has paid an annual rent cost to OPW of €588,295 which has been a fixed amount for the past three years. A rent review took place last year resulting in no change to the current situation.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: The amount of money paid in respect of delegates allowance to officials in my Department in accordance with the terms specified by the Department of Finance for each of the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 to date are detailed as follows: Year Amount Paid 2006 â'¬20,459.50 2007 â'¬15,301.87 2008 â'¬10,554.55 2009 (6 Months) â'¬5,824.21

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Cowen: No printing contracts have been awarded by my Department to companies based outside the State. In one case, a Dublin-based Irish publishing company, with whom my Department has a three-year contract (since January, 2008) for the production and distribution of a newsletter, has sub-contracted printing work in respect of five recent editions of that newsletter to a firm based in Northern...