Results 10,621-10,640 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: We are getting delivery and it is far faster than under traditional systems.

Corporate Procurement Plans. (14 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. There is a corporate procurement plan in place in my Department. This plan was put in place to implement the requirements of the national procurement policy framework and it reflects my Department's commitment to effective and efficient resource allocation and service provision as prescribed by the Public Service Management Act...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The average number of days taken by my Department to process payments to outside contractors for each year from 2004 to date in 2008 (end of April) is detailed in the table below. This information is based on payments made in respect of Departmental expenditure and, in addition, payments processed on behalf of the following bodies which are funded from the Department's Vote: National Forum...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Discussions are held each year between my Department and the Department of Finance in preparation of the annual estimate for the Department. These discussions take place over the period of preparation and finalisation of the estimate provision between officials from the Departments who are involved in the day-to-day management of the Estimate process. There is no requirement, nor is it...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: My Department outsourced its payroll administration to the Department of Finance in each of the years 2004 to January 2008, thus availing of capacity on that Department's payroll systems at no cost to my Department. Any implementation cost associated with the systems used by Department of Finance was met by that Department. In February 2008, the Department outsourced its payroll...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 122 together. The following people travelled to the United States as part of the official delegation: Taoiseach Gerry Hickey, Taoiseach's Adviser Eoghan O'Neachtain, Government Press Secretary Mandy Johnston, Taoiseach's Adviser Brian Murphy, Taoiseach's Adviser Olive Melvin, Taoiseach's Personal Assistant David Feeney, Private Secretary to the...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Following on the initiative last year, an official commemorative event of the Famine will take place on the last Sunday in May. This is being organised to complement the community event in Dublin arranged for that date.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, and the Minister, Deputy Martin Cullen, will ensure the State properly promotes, acknowledges and represents the cultural life of the nation and we do all we can to assist creative flair in all the arts. The Minister of State, who has a particular interest and expertise in this area, will do this very well. Joining up arts and the Minister of...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I want to make that point regardless of what barbs emanate from the other side of the House. Some Opposition Deputies will have known the elation and disappointment of days such as today. We must be fair and I thank everybody for the courtesy shown to me in the good discussions I had with all the Ministers of State, both outgoing and incoming, on the role they can play in working with...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: Let me be clear as it is important to be fair. The Deputy was a junior Minister on one occasion.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will give the Deputy an answer if she wants one. I apologise for being distracted by the second part of her question. The Ministers of State will have delegated functions.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will repeat my reply. The Ministers of State will be given delegated functions. Some of them have cross-cutting responsibilities. The reason for having cross-cutting responsibilities and removing ridiculous distinctions between departmental silos is to make Ministers of State more effective and give them a wider remit to cover all the policy aspects that may reside in different...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: A date has not been set for the pharmacy No. 2 Bill, which is not germane to the issue raised by the Deputy. The heads of the other Bill are early in the process of being drafted. It is not possible to state when it will be introduced.

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the legislation in question is a Bill to consolidate existing legislation, it is not envisaged that the issue raised by the Deputy will be incorporated in the Bill. The legislation is in a public consultation process which must be completed before the heads of the Bill are prepared. Although the second issue the Deputy raised is not fully in order according to the Ceann Comhairle, it is...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, will have cross-cutting responsibility through his disabilities and equality brief. Mental health is a separate issue. There is the whole question of mainstreaming autism services in our schools about which there are varying opinions. A significant amount of resources is going into that area. I do not believe it is about one Minister having...

Order of Business (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The responsibility in the school system quite clearly lies with the Minister for Education and Science and responsibility for the provision of disability services generally lies with the Department of Health and Children. There are also issues relating to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in terms of the statutory protections and standards put in place. That issue is being...

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I did not have the opportunity to view the programme last night but I understand its contents. The newly appointed Minister for State with responsibility for children and youth affairs, Deputy Barry Andrews, will take this matter up with the HSE tomorrow to see where the situation is from his point of view. It is an issue to which he attaches a high priority. A great deal of progress has...

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are 20,000 referrals per year, 5,800 of which are deemed serious and seen immediately. If anyone is in danger, their case is referred to the gardaí and is taken into care. I understand that 5,367 children are in the care of the HSE under the Child Care Act 1991.

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am giving the figures and an indication to the House and the wider public as to the scale of the issues. Approximately——

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: When the Deputy is Taoiseach, he can ask the questions. A total of 4,710 children are in foster care placements. We have seen a significant expansion of foster care placements in recent years. Clearly, it is not simply a question of every case being referred to an individual social worker. One needs community-based family support services as a more effective means of dealing with these...