Results 1,221-1,240 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Agreements with Members (10 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: No one is holding the Government to ransom.
- Agreements with Members (10 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: That has never been suggested to me.
- Agreements with Members (10 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: No, it was not. That is Deputy Kenny's version of events.
- Agreements with Members (10 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: That is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Law Reform. He is considering the matter.
- Agreements with Members (10 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: Whenever the Minister for Justice and Law Reform brings the matter before the Government, I am sure it will be considered.
- Agreements with Members (10 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: Deputy, this country has issues to discuss and there is no point in getting into a cartoon sketch.
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: There were two reports from the public service benchmarking body. The increases recommended in the first report of the body in June 2002 were implemented in my Department as follows: 25% of the recommended increase was paid in June 2003, with effect from 1 December 2001, and the total cost to December 2003 was approximately â¬405,000; 50% of the recommended increase was paid from 1 January...
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: All the payments made were based on various efficiencies and improvements.
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: I do not have that information before me but I make the general point that industrial peace continued throughout that period. Certain payments were made where the bases for them were adhered to and where they were not adhered to, the payments were not made. The full year cost of benchmarking was in the region of â¬1.2 billion. Deputy Kenny will be aware that the changes we introduced last...
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: I do not have that information before me but I can get it for the Deputy.
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: These are issues which I can answer if specific questions are tabled. I was asked to give a specific reply on the cost of the first and second benchmarking awards in my Department. If the Deputy is suggesting that benchmarking was provided on the basis of no change, he is not correct. The Revenue on-line service was a result of the benchmarking process, as was the question of stability and...
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy needs to inform himself of the facts. A great deal of the capital spend in the education sector takes place at the back end of the year, when payments are made. The significant ICT moneys that are now being dispensed also come out of that capital spend. Multi-annual capital budgeting came into vogue under this Administration. When the Deputy was last in office, the problem was...
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: -----have given small builders huge opportunities that did not exist before.
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: Hundreds of schools have benefited from the schemes, which help small builders to obtain contracts for public works, such as necessary improvements in schools throughout the country.
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: I do not want to comment on the position of any individual union on the specific matter raised by the Deputy. It is important to note that the public service unions have agreed to the terms of the Croke Park agreement. Moreover, they have been looking for details of the management's proposals for achieving savings and efficiencies in the cost of delivering public services. Officials at...
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: It only related to increases of 1.1% for the principal officer grade. Other Civil Service grades were not affected by it and, therefore, that is the only aspect of it that is relevant. It is the only substantive part of the report. The Croke Park Agreement, from the date of its signing up to 2014, has set out a review mechanism for spring 2011 and an annual review thereafter and, in...
- Benchmarking Pay Awards (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy was fast out the traps.
- Programme for Government (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 6, inclusive together. The first anniversary of the renewed programme for Government occurred on 10 October 2010. The programme was agreed last year in the light of significantly changed economic circumstances which have affected everyone. The core focus of the renewed programme is to stimulate sustainable economic recovery and job creation. It sets...
- Programme for Government (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: Yes, we hope that will be the case but what is being worked upon at the moment is a priority.
- Programme for Government (9 Nov 2010)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that I cannot anticipate outcomes of discussions that are ongoing at Cabinet other than to say that we are doing all we can to ensure that we seek to address the issues we have set out in the programme. All our programme commitments are on the basis of maintaining financial stability - that must be the overriding priority. As the Deputy will be aware, I am not in a...