Results 9,121-9,140 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: I can be of some assistance. The Deputy is referring to a recent ruling by the Information Commissioner regarding environmental information that ordered a release of a record disclosing Cabinet discussions. Following consultations with the Attorney General's office, it has been decided that an appeal should be taken in that case.
- Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: The Information Commissioner found that the directive on public access to environmental information does not contain any provisions that enable Cabinet discussion on emissions into the environment to remain confidential. In her view, the regulations that transpose the directive, as well as the provisions in the Constitution in respect of Cabinet confidentiality, conflict with the directive....
- Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: I will check into the last point made by the Deputy. I do not think that Tyrone playing Kerry was an international match either.
- Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: The wider general policy questions raised by the Deputy are best directed to the Minister for Finance, who has oversight responsibility. I replied earlier to the Leader of the Opposition on the question of fees where a successful appeal is made to the Information Commissioner. Rather than restating my reply, an appeal to the Information Commissioner is a quasi-judicial process. I am unsure...
- Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: My earlier response was that it is important to note that a person who appeals to the commissioner may receive a preliminary decision which gives a good indication of the likely final decision. Even at that late stage in the process, the requester can withdraw the appeal and obtain a full refund of fees. That option is used in 30% of cases as a means of getting a refund prior to receiving a...
- Social Partnership Agreements. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 11, inclusive, together. The Government and the social partners recently finalised the formal review of Towards 2016 as provided for under the agreement. This report has now been published and is available on my Department's website. Copies have also been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. Given that the terms of the pay agreement for the...
- Social Partnership Agreements. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: Regarding the first question, it is out of our respect for and in view of the importance of assisting the social partnership process that the Government is indicating that it is prepared to provide that the levy will not apply to incomes up to the level of the national minimum wage. I do not have the figures in front of me but approximately 850,000 workers are outside the tax net, some 36%...
- Social Partnership Agreements. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny raised a number of matters. First, the Minister for Finance outlined in the Budget Statement his intention to move on public sector reform. As I said, there is a task force which will provide the implementation plan in coming weeks. This will implement and sequence the OECD report on reform of the public service and how to integrate public services in order that we can improve...
- Social Partnership Agreements. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: I will make a few points in reply to the Deputy's comments. We live in exceptional economic circumstances. The income levy is a progressive effort to ensure those on high incomes pay proportionately. The progressive nature of the levy, which applies to gross income, would not have been possible to achieve if one had used the tax rates, given the availability of shelters and allowances. The...
- Social Partnership Agreements. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: To answer Deputy Gilmore's question, as he knows, this is a levy on gross income and, therefore, in respect of anything above that, the levy is applied on the full amount. That is the way it operates. A person on â¬18,000 a year, beyond the minimum wage, will be asked for a contribution of â¬180 for the year, or â¬3.50 tax. In the past, Deputy Gilmore was a member of a Government which...
- Social Partnership Agreements. (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: It is not. A reduction in payroll costs provides for getting a 4% reduction over 2008 outturn levels in 2009. It provides management with the necessary flexibility to deal with that matter rather than a more blunt instrument like an embargo where many exceptions are sought and catered for in respect of emergency workers, etc. In respect of that way of doing things, even this year the...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: The announcement made this morning was for the purpose of allaying the concerns of the people involved in this situation. As I stated, approximately 95% of people who had cards in the past will retain them under the new arrangements. The core decision and the requirement for a core budget arithmetic to be respected is incorporated in the revised scheme brought forward in the interests of...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: Instead of the graduated response for the others, as per the original proposal, we are now extending medical card eligibility, as I have stated, right up to those who have income of â¬700 per week for a single person or â¬1,400 for a couple. For those reasons, this is a comprehensive response by Government in the face of such concern to allay it, dispel it and deal with it. With regard to...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: It is the stated position of the Fine Gael Party that with no tax rises, a deficit of 5.5% would require further cuts of â¬4 billion.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: That is a fact.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: Sticking to the point that is of particular concern to people today, that is the background I wish to mention. The fact is we are dealing with that situation comprehensively, providing for savings to be obtained by reason of the fact there will be people who will not be entitled to the card as they are over those eligibility limits on 1 January. That will provide a saving. From next week...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: Peddling untruths and scaremongering is not an example of principle or courage.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: It does not reflect very well.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: If the purpose is to find a response that allays concern, what the Deputy has saidââ
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)
Brian Cowen: ââis a patent untruth since there is no question of other free schemes being in any way involved or dependent on the medical card.