Results 9,441-9,460 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Appointments to State Boards. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No. I do not support the Deputy's contention regarding all things being equal. I have never approached an issue relating to a State board on that basis. I do not believe such criteria are necessary or should be used. If the Deputy wishes to check the position, he may discover that I have appointed far more non-party members than anyone on the benches opposite did when in government. I do...

Appointments to State Boards. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The point was made about two local authority members serving on a State board. Should the fact that these individuals are councillors be held against them? I do not understand that mentality, particularly when one considers that the people in question are members of our profession. Every case should be taken on its merits. If a person has anything for which to answer, he or she should do...

Appointments to State Boards. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: There must be public confidence regarding the appointment of boards and their competency in respect of the way they conduct their affairs. That is important.

Appointments to State Boards. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are many who make contentions to the contrary. Perhaps the Deputy has a number of particular boards in mind. I recall an instance that might be regarded as enhancing transparency when, out of a political compromise, a judicial appointments board was put in place. That happened when I was a member of a previous Government. The need to appoint the board arose out of a political...

Departmental Agencies. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. In accordance with the initiative I announced in my 2008 budget speech, an efficiency review of my Department's expenditure and related activities was undertaken earlier this year. The review identified a number of proposals which, when fully implemented, will result in greater administrative efficiency in my Department and the bodies for...

Departmental Agencies. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Minister of State has been asked to examine this issue by the Minister for Finance within the Department of Finance and the public service. What is informing the exercise generally in terms of the principles to apply relates to the OECD report on the public service and the task force currently drawing up an action plan to implement and sequence the report's recommendations in a way that...

Departmental Agencies. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: That requires political agreement. It is important that there is a structured institutional architecture between the North and South in advancing the objectives of the Good Friday Agreement. In the past, it was suggested co-operation could be considered on a case by case basis, which could well depend on the relative enthusiasm or commitment of the incumbents in office and the relevant...

Departmental Agencies. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Tourism Ireland is an all-island body that provides for the international marketing of the island as a whole. Our different tourism support agencies within the island could be examined, but one requires political confidence building to achieve advances in that area. Tourism Ireland is an excellent example of the common sense nature of the all-island approach.

Departmental Agencies. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will understand that I cannot anticipate any Government decisions that have not yet been taken in any of these matters. The aims of the NESDO value for money review is to analyse the output of the grant-in-aid funding provided to NESDO, to determine the impact of the development of public policy in line with the objectives of the Department of the Taoiseach and other relevant...

Departmental Agencies. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy knows from his own internal organisational review, about which I have been reading, everyone will be informed at the appropriate time.

Departmental Agencies. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Ó Caoláin should always check with the referee before looking at the scoreboard.

Departmental Agencies. (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The purpose of the OECD study of the public service is to examine how integrated and relevant is the service and the extent to which we can get people to work across organisational boundaries to improve the service to citizens and to examine the question of how we make it more citizen friendly. The idea behind setting up some of these agencies was to grant a specific remit in terms of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Cowen: Civil service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. The operation of the scheme is overseen by the Committee for Performance Awards. The funding for awards is based on 10% of the payroll for the posts covered by the scheme. Within this overall limit, payments of up to 20% can be made to individuals. Details of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189, 192 and 195 together. The Deputy will be aware that there are no proposals to decentralise my Department or any of the agencies or bodies under its aegis and that the Department of Finance has responsibility in Government for the overall Decentralisation Programme.

Written Answers — Compulsory Purchase Orders: Compulsory Purchase Orders (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Cowen: None of the Agencies under the remit of my Department has the power to issue compulsory purchase orders.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Cowen: All members of staff of my Department, who have portable electronic data devices issued to them for work purposes, are issued with a specific policy which they must read, sign and return for records purposes. This policy details the terms and conditions associated with securing the usage of this portable equipment. It is available on my Department's internal system. In addition to this, all...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Cowen: No computer, desktops, laptops or other data devices, such as blackberries and memory keys, have been reported missing or stolen from my Department to date in 2008.

Leaders' Questions (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Cowen: With respect, I am trying to be as helpful as possible. The statement that issued this morning before the markets opened was a statement of principle, with clarity, by the Irish Government as to what its intentions were in relation to maintaining the stability of the Irish financial system. What we are bringing forward today — I appreciate the co-operation of the House in this matter —...

Business of Dáil: Motion (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Cowen: I apologise for this situation. As I understand it, Fine Gael seeks the final version of the Bill before proceeding with the Second Stage debate.

Business of Dáil: Motion (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am just making the point——