Results 7,221-7,240 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Hold on one moment. The process has begun and the Government must make the decisions. I am providing the estimates emerging from the Department of Finance as of this time. It is a matter for the Government to make a final decision on the matter. We are in a budgetary process which is not complete, which has recently begun, and which is supplementary to the process in which we engaged last...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. My Department will effect the 8% reduction in professional fees for services provided or funded by the Department. Preparations are in hand on the final arrangements to give effect to this decision and the details will be announced in due course. It is not possible to estimate the expected savings at this stage. As a result of...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the engagement of consultancy services, as I have indicated, we have significantly reduced consultancy services in recent times. The reduction is considerably more than 8% and may be more than 50%. Some time ago, I answered a question on that specific point to that effect. On the Deputy's specific question on professional fees, the reduction will include professional fees incurred in the...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: A Revised Estimate will not be presented before the supplementary budget which will take precedence. A Department of Finance circular on the implementation of the 8% reduction in professional fees has been issued to all bodies and programmes in the Department's Vote. The Department is reviewing contracts in place for professional services to revise fees downwards by 8% from 1 March 2009 for...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Caitheadh €275,000 ar seirbhísí comhairleachta an bhliain seo caite. Tá an figiúr níos ísle — €118,000 — i mbliana de bharr cinneadh an Rialtais. The figure is, therefore, €118,000 rather than €275,000. Tá laghdú de 57% i gceist ón Meastachán a fhoilsíodh i 2008. A small number of possible consultancy requirements for 2009 have been identified to date. I am...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Baineann na ceisteanna seo le rudaí atá faoi chúram Roinn an Taoisigh. Níl figiúirí ginearálta agam.

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Cén figiúrí arís?

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is important to mention the context. We are talking about a total spend by Government, throughout all Departments and agencies, of €55 billion. Consultants are required for particular areas of expertise, perhaps for very complex projects and so on. Consultants are employed from time to time to protect the taxpayer's interests. If the figure of €90 million mentioned by the Deputy is...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As the Ceann Comhairle says, it is outside the remit of the questions. As the Deputy knows, we need to recognise the constitutional position and not say or do or indicate anything that would in any way interfere with the independence in the role and functions of those important public servants in the Judiciary who serve us well. I do not wish to say anything more about it, but I am trying...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: In the context of overruns and budgetary pressures, the question of reducing costs to the Exchequer is not a matter of diverting funds but of saving them in budgets that are already under stress. The Minister for Health and Children outlined in last night's debate the extent of the overrun and the fact that a certain amount has been catered for in the service plan. The net figure she gave...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not think they can be balanced against each other. The overall budgetary pressures on health — for example, the reduced contribution from the health levy due to the lower numbers of people in employment — are a countervailing pressure point to the saving obtained due to the 8% reduction in professional fees. If the Deputy understands my point, in the context of the full budget, the...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It will not be going anywhere.

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I cannot give the specifics as to when the report, which is still in preparation, will be published. However, the Department of Finance circular, which sets out the rules for the implementation of the 8% reduction, has been issued to all bodies and programmes within the Department Vote, as I said. Our Department reviews contracts in place for professional services to revise the fees down by...

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——in respect of work done on and from that date, not beforehand.

Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, I do not.

Programme for Government. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. The position is exactly as I outlined to the House on 18 February 2009 in reply to questions on the programme for Government. As its title suggests, the Programme for Government 2007-2012 is a programme of priorities to be delivered over a five-year period. Progress in delivering the programme is kept under review. On 24...

Programme for Government. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I have stated on previous occasions, the work of the Government is focused on the issues of today in terms of dealing with the supplementary budget and setting out our priorities. I have made it clear that the programme for Government, which was predicated on a growth rate of 4% per annum, clearly cannot be fully implemented during the course of this term. It is obvious we are in a...

Programme for Government. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Ar an gcéad dul síos, tá reachtaíocht á ullmhú ag na hAiríéagsúla maidir leis an chóras cheadúnais bus agus ná hábhair chomhshaoil eile a luaigh an Teachta. B'fhéidir go mbeadh an Teachta níos fearr as ceisteanna díreacha maidir leis an dul chun cinn atáá dhéanamh leis na polasaithe éagula a chur faoi bhráid na hAirí atá freagrach astu. B'fhéidir go gheobhadh sé...

Programme for Government. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Tugann siad, ach ní bhíonn an Teachta ag éisteacht.

Programme for Government. (11 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Bíonn an Teachta ag caint nuair atá siad ag freagairt.