Results 6,201-6,220 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Legislation is not promised in this area but it is a cause for reflection for us all.

Order of Business. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Bill is on Committee Stage but I am not aware it is intended to have it completed this term. I will ask the relevant Minister to come back to the Deputy on this matter.

Order of Business. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: The mental capacity Bill will be published later this year. A parliamentary question to the relevant Minister will answer the Deputy's query regarding the convention itself. The second matter will be in the course of the year.

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Of course that is not the case. Regarding a recent case that arose, the wish of the parents is that it would not be discussed publicly. There is no question of any emergency operations required not going ahead. There are issues on paediatrics generally and how we get greater co-operation and integration of services across the three hospital sites in this city. More than €200 million is...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I state once again to that there is no question - we have received an assurance - of urgent cases not being dealt with in terms of surgery required or whatever. That is not the case.

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I also want to make the case that hospitals are delivering more treatments to patients than for the same period last year. The question of wards or beds being closed during the summer is a feature of our acute hospital system. On a yearly basis that happens for various reasons. Specifically on this question of urgent or emergency cases, they are being dealt with and will be dealt with....

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Looking at the overall economic situation, we are borrowing €70 million a day to maintain present levels of services against a background in which we are trying to bring about financial stability and this is a process that will be ongoing. It is an argument that can be made all the time, but it is important to point out that in this specific issue the Minister contacted the schools...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not lay the question of our public finances at the door of these children or any of our children. It is a question of finding a way forward that will be sustainable in future. It comes against a background of much development in this area. I will come back to the specific points the Deputy raised, but I need to make the general point that over 11% of our total education budget, over...

Order of Business. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 4, Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and that business shall be interrupted on the adjournment of Private Members' business, which is No. 73 – motion re unemployment, to be taken for 90...

Order of Business. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand that apart from Front Bench spokespersons and Ministers, only two or three people have indicated a wish to speak on Second Stage of the Bill. On that basis, we should be able to complete our business for 7 p.m. this evening.

Order of Business. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: All I am saying is that the level of business that is suggested for the Bill, based on the number of people indicating a wish to speak on it, means that we should finish it by 7 p.m.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The expenditure incurred by my Department in respect of the Moriarty tribunal from 1 January 2009 to 31 May 2009 was €1.78 million. Total expenditure in my Department from the establishment of the tribunal in September 1997 to 31 May 2009 was €36.25 million.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: In the latter part of 2004, the sole member of the tribunal formed a view that, in the context of increased pressures on the tribunal, a solicitor with experience in commercial practice and litigation from the private sector was required in addition to the tribunal's existing solicitor on secondment from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. As the Department wished to avoid the cost of...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: Following the Government decision of July 2008, the Minister for Finance wrote to his Cabinet colleagues with responsibility for tribunals stressing that it was essential that tribunals and inquiries conclude their business as early as possible and that legal costs were managed in the interest of the taxpayer. He requested them to inform the chairs of the main features of the Government...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I cannot comment on that really. It is a matter for the chairperson to adjudicate on in due course as to its significance, relevance or otherwise. It is not a matter for me to engage in. As regards the ongoing work, it is expected that public hearings will take place during the course of this month. In so far as one can gauge, it will not be beyond this month. That is my best information....

Tribunals of Inquiry. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: All I can say is that the sole member of the tribunal will not turn his mind to the question of third party costs until such time as he concludes his deliberations on the report. We await the report's findings and, as part of his job, the sole member will then make further legal decisions on those matters.

Public Relations Contracts. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. These questions relate to the findings of the Quigley report, which was published in 2005. That report highlighted the need for special care in cases where a proposed consultancy comprises an element of direct service to a Minister or Minister of State, particularly in the public relations or communications area, and-or where a...

Public Relations Contracts. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: If there are any particular public awareness campaigns related to a Department, they should be referred directly to that Department. I do not have any information on those campaigns. As I said already, there is no group that oversees PR contracts. These are matters for individual Ministers and Departments. Arising from the Quigley report, a need was identified to bring forward guidelines....

Public Relations Contracts. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: That was about a sub-group consisting of representatives from the Department of Finance and the Government contracts committee, which carried out a review in accordance with the Quigley recommendations regarding the engagement of consultants. Guidelines consolidating various elements of previous guidelines, and augmenting them where appropriate, were prepared and published and circulated....

Public Relations Contracts. (16 Jun 2009)

Brian Cowen: I will provide the information I have here. The guidelines put in place a procedure that must be followed when a proposed consultancy or a contract for services comprise a significant element of direct service to the Minister or Minister of State, particularly in the PR or communications area, specifically providing advice or briefings, or where the Minister or Minister of State has provided...