Results 7,841-7,860 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is similar with Irish Life & Permanent. I wish to make the position very clear, in case the Deputy seeks to start throwing innuendo to me.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy sought information and then decided it would be unbelievable if I gave a certain answer. The answer is very straightforward.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: Of course I had no knowledge of any untoward goings on between Irish Life & Permanent and the Anglo Irish Bank. The decisions made on 30 September were in the interests of maintaining stability in the banking system and the economy, based on advice from the Governor of the Central Bank, the regulatory authorities and the Department of Finance, and from no other source. I wish to make that...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I simply made the point that when we became aware on the basis of the due diligence that was being conducted as a result of the recapitalisation programme policy statement announced, it obviously had to be taken on board by the regulatory authorities——

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——and by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. I can provide a time and date for the Deputy.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: However, it was not on 30 September as suggested by this Deputy. This Deputy is trying to suggest——

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is trying to suggest something which is simply untrue.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I wish to make clear that the decisions made on these matters were totally on the basis of what was in the public interest at all times, and for no other reason.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The suggestion was made to the contrary that on 30 September there was some knowledge available to the Government. The Deputy suggested it would be unbelievable if I were to suggest that knowledge was not available to the Government. It certainly was not.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have made it clear——

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The total spent on foreign travel during the period 1 January to 31 December 2008 in respect of the Office of the Attorney General was €162,555.56.

Written Answers — Storage Facilities: Storage Facilities (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department has, since 1 January 2008, availed of off site storage facilities. The contract is for seven years, from 1 January 2008, at an annual cost of €2,239.59 [inc VAT]. There are 568 such boxes at present in storage. The files they contain relate to projects which are no longer active but which are ineligible for transfer to the National Archives under the 30 year rule. Their...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department uses the services of two taxi companies. A policy on the use of taxis is in place in my Department which has been circulated to all staff in the Department. The use of taxis in my Department is permissible only for use on official business, usually where other means of transport e.g. public transport, are not available or suitable for the purposes required. The following...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: 12 mobile phones have been either lost or stolen from my Department in the period January 2007 to date. Upon notification or such a loss the devices concerned are immobilised to prevent any further use. No laptops or Blackberry devices were lost or stolen from my Department in this period. The Office of Public Works is responsible for all art works and stock control measures in relation to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Chief State Solicitor's Office tracks fees paid by the Office to counsel representing the State and other State legal expenses paid by the Office for the legal cases in which it is involved. The following table shows the Office's expenditure in 2007 and 2008 (provisional) on State Counsel Fees and State general law expenses, the vast majority of which involved litigation cases. State...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: In the years 2000 to 2008 and to 9 February 2009 the Office of the Attorney General paid travel and subsistence costs for official business abroad in respect of the Attorney General, the Director General, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and staff at Assistant Secretary level. Although not specifically requested I also include, for completeness, details of travel and subsistence costs in...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: There has been no spend by my Department on private consultancy firms to date in 2009. The following table details the consultancy firms used by my Department in 2008, the projects worked on and the cost for each project. One contract was awarded after 14th October 2008 which is highlighted in the following table. Details of payment made in 2008 (Jan-December) Name of Consultant Details...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: No bonus payments have been made to staff in my Department in respect of the year 2008. Civil service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. However,...

Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The question of fairness can be an objective or subjective matter. I do not deny for a moment that this is an imposition on public service workers. It is set against a context in which adjustments are being made across all sectors of the economy, including the private sector, to deal with an unprecedented situation. I must emphasise the seriousness of the situation in which we find...

Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: When the legislation is produced and provided to the House for discussion, the Deputy can examine it in considerable detail. He will find that some of the suggested anomalies will not in fact exist when all considerations and the various credits and allowances are taken into account. In regard to the amounts, the estimated savings take into account the revenue lost on the other side. In the...