Results 8,061-8,080 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: First, I say to Deputy Gilmore that I reject again the assertion made forcefully by him this morning that the Government will in some way ensure that the rigours of the law or the full mechanisms that are available for investigation will not be applied or applied independently, respecting the independence of those offices. I reject that. They will be applied. I have confidence in the...

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The political opportunity to suggest otherwise is something that could not be passed this morning.

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I also have confidence in the new chairman of the bank. I have confidence in the integrity of those who were appointed in the public interest by the Government as directors of the bank——

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——including Frank Daly, a former chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Mr. Alan Dukes, a former Minister for Finance——

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——and Mr. Maurice Keane. I have confidence in those people in terms of their commitment to proper corporate governance in the bank. I want to make that clear.

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: In regard to the other matter Deputy Gilmore raised, the Minister was aware from contacts between the Department of Finance and the Financial Regulator over the course of last year that a large overhang of shares as held by a particular investor and related persons, that this was considered by the bank and the market to be a source of instability and that the institution was seeking some...

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——either as Minister or as Taoiseach.

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: Excuse me Deputy——

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164, 167 and 168 together. Three Departments were reviewed in the pilot phase of the Organisational Review Programme (ORP): Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and Transport. In conducting the reviews, three forms of questionnaire were deployed and one-to-one interviews and workshops were conducted involving the staff, agencies...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The report of the independent Review of the Operation of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) was published in July 2008 and is available on the Better Regulation website. The report indicates that, overall, good progress has been made in relation to the implementation of Regulatory Impact Analysis across Departments, with some 74 produced in the period between June 2005 and February 2008. The...

Written Answers — Irish Unity: Irish Unity (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Government is committed to work positively to help bring about Irish unity. In accordance with the will of the people, as expressed in the Constitution following the endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, we will work, in harmony and friendship, to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland, in all the diversity of their identities and traditions,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Office of the Attorney General is accommodated in part of the North Block of Government Buildings in Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2. The area occupied by the Office totals 40,380 square feet. The Buildings are the property of the State and are managed by the Office of Public Works. The notional rent (*) in respect of the Office of the Attorney General accommodation in 2007 was...

Written Answers — Departmental Guidelines: Departmental Guidelines (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to issue such advice or circular.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The total spent on foreign travel in respect of myself, Ministers of State and officials in my Department in 2008 was €536,885. The following table outlines the amount spent on foreign travel in 2008, by offices and bodies under the aegis of my Department. Details Amount spent on Foreign Travel in 2008 € NESDO 32,473 National Forum on Europe 11,750 Ireland Newfoundland...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The number of staff in my Private Office and Constituency Offices since my appointment as Taoiseach on 7th May 2008, broken down by grade, salary cost (including overtime, expenses and allowances), are detailed in the table. There were six staff personally appointed by me. Staff in the Taoiseach's Private and Constituency Offices since 7 May 2008-31 December 2008 Office No. of Staff...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. The information requested by the Deputy regarding Civil Servants employed in the Constituency Office of the Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department (who are solely engaged in Constituency work) is detailed in the schedule below. The Constituency Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs is based in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy regarding expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by my Department is detailed in the table. Name Allowance/Expense paid Allowance/Expense paid May-December 2007 Parliamentary office holder allowance Minister of State meeting allowance Travel expenses Parliamentary office holder allowance Minister of state...

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: To answer the Deputy on the general point, if agreement is reached, obviously a framework document will be published. Discussions are ongoing. I make the point that we set out a framework based on the principles by which we will seek to deal with the situation this country is facing. We will work together in the weeks and months ahead to make sure that we implement policies that meet the...

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: If we want to avoid partisanship, and we should have political competition of ideas, let it be said that the Government's approach is that we will find a method by which we will deal with the situation.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I did not interrupt the Deputy and I am answering his question, which is out of order. Therefore, he might listen with respect to what I have to say.