Results 10,121-10,140 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is the position.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am sorry, but I have just outlined the position. The other question was about disability services. Since 2004, we have seen multi-annual budgetary commitments being made to the disability sector. These were instigated in my own time and I continue to show a commitment to them. We have seen a consistent increase in the numbers being provided with services. This year, we are providing...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are still problems, but it is not fair or accurate to portray constantly the necessary reforms in the health service as bringing about a continuous disimprovement in services. It is a narrative that continues all the time.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is a review taking place on manpower policy.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: No. This has been practically completed and it involves a very detailed assessment of how we can make sure that the configuration of personnel is more at the front line than in the administrative area. It also recognises, in fairness to those who work in support services, that the actual allocation of resources for people in those services is not totally out of kilter with international...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am trying to answer questions raised by Deputy Kenny. I can answer other questions when those Deputies are in a position to raise them as well. The OECD confirmed that between 1995 and 2005, the second greatest rate of increases in health spending occurred in this country. We are applying €14.2 billion to the health service this year, which represents €9,730 for every taxpayer in the...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are 850,000 pupils in first and second level education and 4,000 schools. The Deputy is correct about the unprecedented capital investment programme for school building over the past ten years, something of which this Administration is very proud. In an effort to deal with historic problems, there has also been a need to provide extra teachers quickly — particularly resource...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is absolute nonsense. If that is the level of debate we are going to have, it is nonsense.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: We have seen the most accelerated and comprehensive capital programme for the modernisation of the school system in the history of the State, but the comment I hear back is "hedge schools". If that is the size of the policy content where the Deputy is coming from——

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not suggest for a moment that there are not continuing challenges or that one can be complacent about their nature. However, I defend the Government's record in terms of what has been achieved under successive Ministers as a result of successful policies. I recognise that, in reducing class sizes, providing thousands of resource teachers and more special assistances, there will be...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Smart comments.

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 153 together. Since the introduction of RIA in June 2005, a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) has been carried out on two occasions by my Department. The first RIA was conducted on the Statute Law Revision Act 2007. The second RIA was conducted in relation to the next phase of the Statute Law Revision Programme, i.e. on the Statute Law Revision Bill...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The following Bodies are under the aegis of my Department: National Economic and Social Development Office, which incorporates the National Economic and Social Council, the National Economic and Social Forum and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance. The following offices operate independently but are funded from my Department's Vote: National Forum On Europe; and Ireland...

Written Answers — Social Partnership: Social Partnership (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Social partnership is a responsive and continually evolving process, an important aspect of which is ensuring wide and appropriate involvement. All applications for social partner status are considered in that context and against long-established criteria, i.e. that the organisations: must be national and representative in nature; have the capacity to meet the demands and obligations that...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The following table details the total amount of prompt payment interest paid by my Department in the last 5 years and the top three beneficiaries in each year. Year Total Interest Paid Highest three beneficiaries each year Total Amount received by each Supplier â'¬ â'¬ 2003 2,658 Eircom 777 Fegans Cash and Carry 164 Sirsi 160 2004 10,160 Club Travel 1,105 Dell Computers...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 to 158, inclusive, together. The following advertising campaigns have been implemented by my Department or the Boards, State Bodies or Agencies under its aegis for each of the years 2005, 2006, 2007, to date in 2008 and where available, anticipated cost to end 2008. Department of the Taoiseach Official Languages Act 2003 On 18 April, 2008, my Department...

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The OECD Review of the Irish Public Service, which I launched on 28 April, is an authoritative assessment of the Irish Public Service which confirms the many strengths of the system and identifies challenges which need to be addressed. The OECD's Report, "Towards an Integrated Public Service" makes a broad range of interlinked recommendations which are interdependent and need to be examined...

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The OECD Review of the Irish Public Service "Towards an Integrated Public Service",which I launched in April 2008, marks an important step in the ongoing modernisation of the Irish Public Service. This Report is the culmination of over 16 months of extensive consultation and analysis by the OECD and makes a number of recommendations as to the future direction of public service reform. Last...

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The OECD Review of the Irish Public Service confirms the many strengths of the Irish Public Service and identifies challenges which need to be addressed. This Review contains a wide range of recommendations which are interlinked and which will need to be considered as an overall comprehensive package for the renewal of the Public Service. As part of their assessment, the OECD examined the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that there are no proposals to decentralise my Department or any of the bodies under its aegis and accordingly the information sought regarding costs for the provision of new office accommodation as part of the decentralisation programme does not apply to my Department.