Results 15,001-15,020 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: As I told Deputy Crawford, this will be brought in next year.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: As Minister for Transport in a Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition in the early 1990s I facilitated investment. The investment helped us out of a crisis but did not provide the full remedy required. It was a one-off State investment and was approved at the time by the European Commission and Commissioner van Miert on that basis. I am aware of the rational investor principle but the issue in...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: ——and whether the commercial principles that apply have brought about the level of investment required and will enable leveraging by the board for further investment in the interests of pursuing further development plans. That was the obvious, common-sense approach and it had broad support in the House, despite the fact that not too many people were discussing it. The approach to which...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The fact that the Deputy was, with the exception of one other person, alone on this matter when it went before Dublin County Council at the time and was supported by all parties says more about his isolation than mine.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 10a, Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad] — instruction to committee; No. 10b, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the agreement between the European Union and the United States of America on the processing and transfer of passenger name record, PNR, data by air carriers to the United States Department of Homeland Security; No....

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Bill will be published early next year. I understand no agreement has been reached as yet on whether there will be a debate on Aer Lingus next week. I take Deputy Kenny's point on Mr. Hurley. He was originally the person dealing with the issue. I would not be up to date on the matter and it was additional information that I gave to the House. If it is the case that he has been...

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: That the debate on troops going to the Lebanon became an issue meant the Bill has been dropped off the schedule for the moment. That does not mean it has been withdrawn.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy can take it up with the Whip. I have just been told by the Chief Whip that because the debate on troops to be sent to Lebanon is being taken today, other work was postponed.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am sure the Chief Whip can confirm that. Incidentally, we expect the Estimates in the next couple of weeks.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed that it is intended to publish the citizens information Bill later this week, probably on Friday. The other issue, which was agreed in principle yesterday by the Government, will be dealt with by officials of my Department. We will work on advice from the Attorney General and publish it as soon as possible.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The minerals development Bill, I understand, will be published in the middle of next year. I look forward to Deputy Durkan's contribution.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware of the intention that he should be in the House. Obviously he is dealing with other responsibilities——

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: ——during the course of the next few days, so I am not aware that alternative arrangements are envisaged. On the Tribunals of inquiry (Amendment) Bill, I understand it was taken off the schedule for this week. That does not mean it is withdrawn, and that is a matter to be taken up at the meeting of the Whips tonight.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: On the third Bill mentioned by Deputy Crawford, the eligibility for health services Bill is expected next year. Waiting times have been significantly reduced in many specialties as a result of many improvements.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The medical practitioners Bill is expected this session and the charities Bill is expected early next year.

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The PPARS project is, as we speak, providing payments for up to 30,000 employees and dealing with the HR issues of more than 70,000 employees in the health service. It was initiated by the health boards during the tenure of the rainbow Government. On the rolling out of the IT projects, it is clear that I have introduced value for money initiatives that have ensured that we are able to assess...

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The leader of the Opposition is not up to date on the accountability issues regarding how health funding is spent. The money has been sanctioned to the HSE and these are matters for it.

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am just updating the Leader of the Opposition because if he is not up to date with procedures, people will have no choice and no chance. The Opposition is totally backward about the arrangements that are in place. The HSE deals with the sanctioning of individual projects and does not require my sanction or that of the Minister for Health and Children. We have given the global allocations.

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The HSE is rightly assessing all these arrangements in relation to IT processes, some of which, as Deputies will be aware, come from the old health board system. These are being evaluated by the former CEO of the Southern Health Board, Seán Hurley, an eminent and competent health board official. Mr. Hurley has been given the responsibility of doing this on behalf of the HSE, which has...

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The IPO was a successful floating of the equity by the State. It went well and was held up by the market as such.