Results 8,001-8,020 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is the purpose of the debate. Regarding future decisions to be made by the Government and to be brought to the House and debated, that option is available to us and, I am sure, will be availed of in the coming weeks and months as well. It is a question of the House giving an opportunity to all Members to set out what they believe to be the issues and the means by which we can sustain...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: On this item, section 5 of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000 requires that the commission's report must be published within the specified period. That specified period is due to expire at midnight on 31 January next. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 200 (Section 5) (Specified Period) Order 2009 will extend the specified period of the commission for a further...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is in accordance with Standing Orders.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I was making the point to the Deputy that in respect of the gap that has emerged in the public finances, they cannot simply be dealt with by way of expenditure cuts alone, and clearly during the course of this five-year adjustment period there will obviously need to be adjustments to the tax base as well. I cannot anticipate the outcome of the discussions ongoing at the moment, as to what...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: Obviously, it is not intended that a special budget will be required during the course of this particular year, but discussions are taking place at present to see how we may build consensus on the arrangements to be made in 2009 and the years following. We are indicating, first of all, that the immediate requirement relates to the €2 billion saving that has to be obtained, and discussions...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The information is not available yet, but I shall get it for the Deputy as soon as possible.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is not anticipated that the Bill shall be required to come back to the Dáil, as I understand it. It is being taken in the Seanad, as we speak. A clarification matter arose, as a result of a contribution here in the Dáil that was checked last night, and this has enabled the Seanad to take the Bill this morning.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand that it is published, and that we are awaiting Second Stage.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: That will be a matter for the Whips.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: For the purpose of clarification from our viewpoint, as the Deputy knows, once the Bill is published it comes off the list and is put on the Order Paper. Section D of the legislative programme, as I understand it, outlines those Bills that are on the Order Paper as a result of publication——

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——which includes that one. The present situation, as regards the status of the Bill, is that it will be a matter for the Whips to decide when the Bill's Second Stage will be taken in the House.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Bill has been dropped pending a way being found to deal with the issue that may avoid the necessity of taking that particular legislative route.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I note the proposals to which Deputy Stagg referred. The Government intends to bring forward a comprehensive set of proposals which will address the need for Dáil reform. A working group for that purpose has been set up, so it will not just address the issue in a piecemeal way on the day-to-day operations of the Dáil, which can be addressed by adherence to Standing Orders of the Dáil....

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The legislation to which Deputy Costello refers is being worked on and there has been much consultation with the social partners in an effort to find agreement on these matters, which has not been easy to achieve. We will continue to work on that and detailed questions to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coughlan, during Question Time would enable more debate and...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for bringing forward that legislation. I know what the Deputy has had to say about it. A number of legislative priorities have been outlined in the legislation programme for this session. In many cases when work begins on a Bill other priorities come into play regarding trying to deal with issues that arise according as problems arise. A parliamentary question to the...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: These are policy decisions that have been taken and which Ministers in their Departments must progress. The question of how quickly they will happen depends on the specific issues that arise for the mergers in each Department. These matters are being dealt with by Ministers as we speak.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: Yes, I will ask the Minister and we will see what the story is.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I will ask the Minister to contact the Deputy in his capacity as chairman of the committee as to the status of the legislation in the Department and what progress can be made.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: Which Bill is the Deputy asking about?

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Minister is dealing with several Bills in this area. Deputies can put questions to Ministers to inquire in detail about any aspect of policy. With respect, the Order of Business is not the means to amplify that to any great extent. Under Standing Orders, I am required on the Order of Business to indicate what stage legislation has reached, not to give detail of the legislation or the...