Results 8,441-8,460 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Proposed Legislation. (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware of the public announcements concerning this matter. The Bill will reflect the announcements made at the time. The welcome reform of the fee arrangements with general practitioners has enabled us to ensure that the impact will be minimal on those who were in receipt of medical cards in the past, regardless of means. Those in that age group who require medical cards...

Proposed Legislation. (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: This week.

Proposed Legislation. (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Edited slightly.

Proposed Legislation. (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle is being a little punitive. I am making an effort to be co-operative.

Proposed Legislation. (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I could have sought the protection of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle but——

Proposed Legislation. (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Perhaps the word "precedent" should be struck from the record. I refer Deputy Kenny to the statement made by Government at the time on these matters. It involved a commitment to work to see if we could bring forward a provision under the Competition Act that would be consistent with EU law. That is where the issue must begin and that was in the public statement. The organisation concerned...

National Economic and Social Forum. (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. The fifth periodic report on the work of the National Economic and Social Forum was published in July of this year. As required under Section 8(2)(c) of the National Economic and Social Development Act, the report was submitted to Government prior to publication. Copies of the report have also been laid in both Houses of the...

National Economic and Social Forum. (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept the contention that there has not been major investment in young people in this country. On the contrary, billions of euro are being expended in respect of child care and early child care supplement. There has been a doubling and more in the education budget in recent years together with an historic capital investment programme to improve the working environment in which...

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The legislation referred to by Deputies Gilmore and Morgan——

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The consultation process with the social partners is ongoing and it is unlikely the legislation will come before the House until early next year. While I did not see the programme concerned, its contents were reported to me. Any exploitation taking place in this area must be very much condemned and needs to be dealt with. It should perhaps bring some urgency to the consultations currently...

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The family law Bill is due to be published next year.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Different issues apply in regard to all these matters. The fact that there are a number of agencies to be rationalised and merged does not equate to the number of Bills that would be required to effect that. The state of readiness of the legislation, where it is applicable in various Departments, would vary from place to place. The important point is that a decision has been taken to...

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Unfortunately, there is no date for it at the moment.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Legislation is promised in this area. Everyone will be aware that a very public consultation has taken place on the Green Paper on Pensions and discussions will continue between the Ministers concerned.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept that at all.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Bill is waiting to go to Committee. I cannot give the Deputy an answer to that question. I will inquire and establish what is the position.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is likely, given that the legislation is about to be given priority for the remainder of session, that it will not be taken this session.

Order of Business (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The health information Bill is the legislation that refers to that issue. A consultation process has just been completed and is currently being analysed.

Agreements with Members. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: If I may say so, that was a long way of stating the obvious. One enters an agreement for the purposes of support for a Government, if one withdraws support from it, then obviously the relationship changes. That is obvious. There is nothing surreptitious or sinister about it. In regard to specific areas of policy, the Government has outlined its intentions in this and other respects. In...

Departmental Expenditure. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. Expenditure by my Department from January to the end of June 2008 was €16,813,000. At the end of October, total expenditure was €26,986,000 compared to a total Revised Estimates provision for the year of €42,240,000. While fluctuations in spending occur from month to month and some expenditures do not fall due until the...