Results 6,421-6,440 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Programme for Government. (26 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: Is it not clear to Deputy McCormack? It is outlined in the programme for Government. The detail of bringing such a proposal is the responsibility for the Minister of State with responsibility for children. It would be discussed at Cabinet which would then be in a position to make a decision and promulgate it. That is how the process works.
- Programme for Government. (26 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: First, the review will take the form of a discussion between the parties in government and arising from that review, certain decisions will be taken. Second, the Ryan report makes no recommendations regarding the indemnity agreement and is silent on the matter. It makes no recommendations about it.
- Programme for Government. (26 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy asked whether the Government would revisit it in the context of the Ryan report.
- Programme for Government. (26 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: However, there is no recommendation in respect of that issue in the Ryan report. The question of the agreement that was drawn up at the time was examined in some detail by the Committee of Public Accounts, subsequent to that issue becoming public. I also make the point that the criminal law continues to be operative in respect of any issues that arise regarding any offences committed in the...
- Programme for Government. (26 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: It is important to point out that under the legislation it is entirely a matter for the commission to decide whether any information gathered during the course of its inquiry will be forwarded or shared. It would not, therefore, be appropriate for me to comment in that regard. There is also, of course, the decision by the Garda Commissioner that an Assistant Commissioner is reviewing the...
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: Obviously, I do not accept all of the points that Deputy Kenny makes.
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: In relation to PPARS, that was commissioned under Deputy Noonan when he was the Minister for Health. That was when that issue started. In relation to the question of money that could go to a children's hospital, I think that Fine Gael's proposal was that we should build two. The real question to be answered here today of course relates to the decision that was taken by the Irish Prison...
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: -----build, maintenance and financing of the Thornton prison project. That project was unaffordable at the price being quoted by Léargas, as the cost had risen by over 30%. Obviously, the cost of financing such projects under a PPP was a major factor in that change. While this decision has been noted by Government, I want in the strongest terms to say that we are fully committed to...
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: Decisions on how we will proceed-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: -----will then be announced.
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: I would also make the point in relation-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: -----to the question of prison places being an important facet of having a prison system in this country that, during Fine Gael's own term when it was last in office, it cancelled Castlerea and the women's prison. No new prison places-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: Not one new prison space-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: -----was constructed during the Administration of the then Taoiseach, John Bruton.
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: It is clear-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: What is clear-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: It was precisely to make sure we provide value for money that this project did not go ahead under its present guise. It is precisely because the PPARS project was not properly scoped when Deputy Michael Noonan instigated it that we brought it to a halt because it would not have given value for money.
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: It is precisely because we want to get value for money that we made this decision. I reiterate it is our intention to proceed with a prison at the site concerned. The site was purchased as a result-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: It is precisely because of the fact that in managing the Prison Service estate, where 19 acres were sold in Shanganagh for the purpose of funding the purchase of 150 acres at Thornton Hall, that we were able to proceed with a prison there. Legislation was introduced and enacted in this House for this particular project. What is clearly the case now is that because of the increased cost of...
- Leaders' Questions (20 May 2009)
Brian Cowen: It is precisely because of the fact we have that asset in place that we will be able to proceed with a prison, which is needed. The Mountjoy complex is nearly 160 years old and we need to replace it. Therefore, we will proceed with this project in a different way, on the basis of a proposal that will come from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, in the...