Results 8,801-8,820 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not here to get into an issue with Mr. Hamilton.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: He is head of the DPP's office. He was in receipt of increased allocations over the past number of years, the same as everyone else.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Every other Department of State——

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not getting involved. I am outlining Government policy——

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——which is unlike the Deputy's policy to exempt certain areas according to factions.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The DPP can continue with his work, based on the allocations provided.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The DPP's office worked in the past on lower budgets. If the Deputy believes there is fat everywhere except in the DPP's office, that is his view but it is not my view. If one wants consistency and a situation where every Department——

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Is the Deputy answering the questions or am I? Which way does it work?

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I listened in silence and the minute I open my mouth, the Deputy is interrupting.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The bottom line is people have to manage the resources available to them, the same as everybody else. People in every Department and agency could make an argument for more funds. The taxpayer has no more funds. The taxpayer is providing €6.5 million less in tax revenues this year than last year.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The same as everyone else in business or a family on a budget, one has to cut one's cloth according to one's measure.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: No one's job is being compromised or undermined in any way by the allocations they have received. The 3% payroll cut is required across the public service. People in many organisations can have a different view. It is predictable that people working in various offices and agencies have a certain view of what their allocation should be. The taxpayer does not have infinite resources. We...

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: In 2006, the Department of Finance carried out a review of staffing in the DPP's office, arising from which 28 additional posts were approved to bring the staffing complement to 206. The office currently has six staff vacancies. This number will reduce to five upon the filling shortly of a vacant post in the library. With regard to the 3% payroll expenditure cut in 2009, I am informed by...

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not blaming Deputy Gilmore. The fact is he does not like the answer. The answer available to me is the up-to-date position.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: This is the up-to-date position. I have explained to Deputy Gilmore that the DPP's office has come back and indicated where it will make the 3% savings. It has indicated that it is confident of achieving that without having an adverse impact on front-line prosecution services. How simple is that? Where is the doubt in it?

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: People in top management positions must manage their budgets. That is the way it is.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The factual situation is clear. The only fair and transparent way in which one can achieve 3% payroll savings is to impose that obligation on everybody. Everyone can make a case. Within the ceiling of the overall 3% payroll savings, which are necessary and must be obtained, one can, if an area has a problem, work through the Department of Finance and the public service. People listen to...

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not indignation.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not. He must manage.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny spoke of lecturing or hectoring. I say in response to him that the up-to-date position is that there have been discussions on how to implement the 3% payroll cut. I have explained to him how it is intended to proceed. That is the latest position, whatever people's views of what it might entail.