Results 7,361-7,380 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, it is not.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am answering the question. The Deputy asked me a question.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Let me answer the question.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The first question Deputy Ó Caoláin asked was why we did not, as part of our overall negotiation programme, negotiate with the Independents when we were agreeing our programme for Government. With all due respect, my answer to him is that we shall decide how to negotiate our programme for Government. The second point is that we decided to negotiate a programme for Government with the...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the change of Administration, when I became Taoiseach, having been Minister for Finance, I indicated I would continue to implement those arrangements with Deputies on the basis of their continuing support, which was the understanding they had on entering into the agreement in the first place.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As regards south Kerry, without referring to the Ceann Comhairle, the people there have indicated their level of support for Fianna Fáil candidates and our party in the last election——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——and made it very clear that they associated much of the progress and development with our party, in Government——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: —— while retaining confidence in the Independent Deputy concerned. I am glad to see all of them back in the House. That was the outcome there and the people made a decision in relation to that matter. The next question asked by the Deputy was about why I was not being transparent, but I am being transparent with him. The confidentiality of the agreements will be respected. The...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Deputy's curiosity. I know he would, perhaps, like to see a leather bound copy, but one is not available.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, I am nor surprised.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It becomes the Deputy.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It does not.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As the Ceann Comhairle has indicated, that is outside the remit of this question. However, as a former Minister for Health, I am very proud of my association with the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland. I was glad to have been associated with ensuring that a team was trained in Newcastle-upon-Tyne at the time to ensure that a lung and heart transplant team could, inter alia, be made...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is a grave injustice to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy can take up the question of the allowances with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. That is not an issue with which I deal. On the question of allocation of time, there is a contact person in my Department for them to deal with if they wish to deal with that person directly, in addition to the Chief Whip.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is an arrangement that does not require an allocation of time motion or anything else. It is a simple enough sort of arrangement.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Only whatever time is necessary consistent with dealing with these representations, as they would be dealt with for the Deputy or anybody else.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not know.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 10, inclusive, together. The total cost incurred by my Department in respect of the Moriarty tribunal since 1997 up to 31 January 2009 was €34.91 million. For 2008 the figure was €4.01 million. The recently published Comptroller and Auditor General report estimates that, including third party costs, the final cost will be in the region of €100...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: There are not arrangements made to recover it as it is not necessary. As I said, the fee was agreed in June 2002 and the Attorney General's advice on the matter concluded that it would be inappropriate to withdraw the higher rate of fee which had been formally notified. He advised that the tribunal lawyers should be notified that the €2,500 rate had been notified in error but that in all...