Results 10,381-10,400 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The reason is one is setting the thresholds not only for this year, but for years ahead. We will not return to this matter every year. It is a fair balance, taking all the considerations into account. It is a judgment call. One could say €1,500, €2,000 or €2,500. The Government felt that was a fair balance taking into account all the considerations and in recognition that this...

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The code of conduct for office holders covers the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Ministers, Ministers of State, Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Dáil and Seanad. Its purpose is to indicate how people are expected to conduct the performance of their public duties. On the specific matter raised by Deputy Kenny, the Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness, was speaking in a personal capacity.

Standards in Public Office. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Let me just make the point. He has been closely associated with families who have been involved in this issue, especially the Dollard family. He made the point that some of the comments were out of context. It was not intended to be a denigration of the Garda or its activities. It is important to be careful that in reflecting the frustrations of families who find themselves in the...

Commemorative Events. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 8, inclusive, together. There are no plans for an official commemoration of the foundation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, IRB, on its 150th anniversary. I acknowledge the historical significance of the IRB and the influential role of the organisation in the progress towards independence. However, it is not possible for every anniversary to be...

Commemorative Events. (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the first point raised by Deputy Gilmore, as I said it is a matter for the Oireachtas. As it was a Dáil event the Oireachtas should organise it and I would welcome the commemorating of the 90th anniversary of the First Dáil. I recall the 75th anniversary which, if my recollection serves me right, was held in the Mansion House. I believe that is a matter for the Oireachtas to arrange....

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 1, Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 — Second Stage. Private Members' business shall be No. 32 — motion re cancer services (resumed) — to conclude at 8.30 p.m. if not previously concluded.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand both those items of legislation are due later this year.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I hope that will be possible, yes. Agreement must be reached among the Whips on those issues, but I have no principled objections to the recommendations or the outcome of that tribunal report, when it is published, being laid before the House and discussed. This is the place to discuss it. I am not sure what the arrangements were when the Fianna Fáil-led Administration had the support of...

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: To my knowledge, no legislation is promised.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not so sure that it will be enacted before the summer recess, but that Bill improves on the much older legislation, which needs to be updated. We discussed, yesterday, during Question Time, what the benefits of that Bill were.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The second Bill will be next year, and the other Bill, about which I notified the Deputy a couple of weeks ago, will be introduced later this year.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: We do not have a date for the Bill that Deputy Pat Breen suggests, but obviously we continue to discuss the matter.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are two sides in the negotiations.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: One of the main issues we face in trying to reform the health service is ensuring that resources are not continually put into acute services but that we provide more for community services and improve the frontline services in communities. In regard to mental health care, change has been ongoing for more than two decades in terms of providing community based facilities and trying to end...

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——a tremendous amount of work in supplementing the statutory services that are provided in this area.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are budgetary pressures every year in regard to the health budget and managers have to manage the situation as they see it. In some cases, this has meant that some new development areas have not seen the level of expenditure in a given financial year as was originally envisaged. Working within budget allocations is a particularly difficult task, especially in the health service, but...

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: In managing the health budget, managers must at times utilise particular allocations in order to maintain the existing level of service, which costs more money every year even before considering any new developments that are envisaged.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The answer to the Deputy's question is that it is hoped the full amount will be expended on developments in the palliative care service this year. We want to see those developments take place.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Every morning, the problem with the Leader of the Opposition is that his party has not yet supported one initiative in regard to health service reform.

Leaders' Questions (21 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: For Deputy Reilly's attention, I can organise it so that every time his man completes a sentence, I can have people roaring and shouting on this side if he wants.