Results 1,401-1,420 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is hoped to be able to meet such a deadline based on the work that is ongoing in the Department of Justice and Law Reform in that regard. That is the objective. The Minister made a detailed reply to the matter last week on Question Time. I refer the Deputy to it for the exact position. On the report on the Cloyne diocese, we acceded to a request from the judge for a further extension...

Order of Business (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I indicated to the House last week that the legal costs Bill would probably be due before the House next year, as will the second Bill to which the Deputy referred. I accept the entitlement of Deputies to raise such questions but at the same time we must consider what arrangement we can make in order to avoid repetition on the same Bills from various Deputies on different days. I do not...

Order of Business (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the Deputy's concern about the markets, the most important thing we can do is proceed with a budgetary policy that will deal with the issues that arise, pass it and bring forward a finance Bill. I look forward to his support in that respect. The banking Bills are at various stages of preparation. Most of them are due before the House next year. There has been considerable reform in the...

Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The fact is that decentralisation to Trim has taken place. Nos. 50 and 51 on St. Stephen's Green have been vacated, as I understand it. That is the up-to-date position. In respect of-----

Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is a voluntary scheme, as the Deputy knows. There is no coercion involved. First of all, I welcome the Deputy's support for the decentralisation programme. That was not the position of his former finance spokesperson, but they did not agree on everything. Regarding the situation of the transfer of places, we made the decision last year about deferring relocation in 35 cases - about 5,000...

Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The simple point I will make to the Deputy is that detailed questions on specific sites or issues should definitely be dealt with by the Department of Finance, which has overall charge. I make the general point that the disposal of properties in Dublin at that time brought to the Exchequer a sum of the order of €550 million which greatly exceeds any costs incurred elsewhere. I make that...

Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy knows, that review is due to be considered and completed in 2011. The current priority in the programme is to effect the decentralisation of those proposals which have been approved and are going ahead. I gave broad figures and have some supplementary information to the effect that 3,153 people have moved, with 5,000 positions subject to review. I do not have the numbers for...

Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not have that level of detailed information, and it would be best to ask the Department of Finance. I am just giving the Deputy the information I have. Of the 3,180 staff who have been unable to move to various locations across the country, some 2,200 have been to various locations which are not the gateway and hub towns. The remaining 900 have relocated to gateways and hubs, and have...

Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: A review of the next phase of the decentralisation programme will possibly indicate the use or otherwise of some of those sites. The issue, in terms of the current phase, including acquisitions such as the Deputy has mentioned, is to the effect that total expenditure on the property aspect of the programme up to December 2009 was €338 million. Those costs were offset by savings achieved...

Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: A question on the details in regard to individual sites should be directed to the Department of Finance. There is a review to take place next year in regard to the many sites in respect of which a decision has been deferred, which sites may well include those referred to by the Deputy. In that context, decisions will be made in regard to what arrangements will be put in place for the...

National Security Committee (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Having regard to the confidential nature of the work of the National Security Committee, it would not be appropriate for me to disclose information about the dates of its meetings or its proceedings. The committee, which is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government, comprises representatives at the highest level from the Departments of Justice and Law Reform, Defence and Foreign...

National Security Committee (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I stated earlier, due to the nature of the committee's meetings, it is not appropriate to disclose the information concerning its meetings or any of its proceedings. This is a matter to be directed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs who has responsibility for the Passport Office. There has been a debate in the House on the specific instances referred to by the Deputy. Clearly this is...

National Security Committee (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The gardaí are well aware of the international situation and the threat level involved. They are maintaining contacts with their international counterparts in this regard. The Government is determined to continue to take all necessary measures to deal with international terrorism. It will play a full part in the international efforts to counteract the threat. As regards the specific issue...

National Security Committee (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand that report has come to hand recently, is being considered by Government and will be published in due course. Regarding the earlier point about dissident threats, as the Deputy has suggested there is unanimous support in the House for full co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, and the Garda Síochána in these matters. The Chief Constable of the...

National Security Committee (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the third question, as the Deputy is aware these are operational matters. The Commissioner deploys resources as required and he does not communicate on an ongoing basis as to what resources are being deployed for obvious reasons and for fear that people might regard that as increasing the possibility of abduction or the possibility of being found to be doing things they should not...

National Security Committee (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not specifically aware there has been ministerial contact in recent days in respect of what happened but there has been official contact. Reviews are immediately put in place when something as serious as this happens. There are procedures and protocols under various international conventions. These kick in very quickly in light of the sensitivity of the aviation industry to issues...

National Security Committee (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is not the practice of the national security committee to discuss operational matters. The committee only deals with the question generally of what needs to be done with an issue that arises and what liaison is taking place. It is not a question of getting into detail about policy implementation on civilianisation and matters of that nature.

National Security Committee (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I stated in a previous reply, the assessment is that the threat of the use of Ireland for such purposes is regarded as low but that is not to say there is a sense of complacency or that there is not activity in surveillance and monitoring.

Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 3 and 4 together. Of the 159 civil servants currently serving in my Department, 23 have applied through the central applications facility, CAF, to relocate under the decentralisation programme. The breakdown by grade is: assistant principal, seven; higher executive officer, three; administrative officer, two; executive officer, three; staff officer, one;...

Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The 23 staff members who have applied to be decentralised from my Department have applied to the following Departments and agencies, the Department of Social Protection, the Office of Public Works, the Department of Defence, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Finance, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture,...