Results 15,521-15,540 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: It has not been considered by the Government. It is obvious that it is an initiative by the Progressive Democrats representatives in the Seanad.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I welcome the initiative. It is great to see it.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is important that small parties keep their identities when they are in government.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: That is something the Labour Party forgot when it was in government.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: It did. The Deputy should not bring me down that road.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Boyle should get a sense of humour.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Now the Deputy is being very funny.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree, the best way to ensure that due process is observed would be to get someone such as a senior civil servant from the Department of Finance who is au fait with systems in the public service to collate the information and to set out why the system of notification did not work in this particular case. That is the best way of proceeding.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: To do it in any other way might cause people to succumb to the temptation of playing politics with the issue.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 1, the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005 [Seanad] — Second Stage and No. 3, the National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Private Members' business shall be No. 29, Greyhound Industry (Doping Regulation) Bill 2006 — Second Stage, resumed, to be taken immediately after the Order of Business and to conclude...

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the child protection joint working group for the register of persons who are considered unfit to work with children arises out of the North-South Ministerial Council format. Work on this Bill has concentrated on developing procedures for vetting of convictions through the vetting unit. The development of a register gives rise to a range...

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is. The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is taking charge of the situation. He is the first Minister of State to introduce vetting procedures in respect of this matter.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Government approved the heads of the hepatitis C and HIV compensation tribunal (amendment) Bill, which we expect to publish in this session. I will ask the Tánaiste to contact the Deputy regarding the secondary legislation relating to charges imposed by medical professionals. I know only about the primary legislation issues.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: If so, I will check with him. I do not know what is the position in that regard. The Taoiseach indicated yesterday his understanding is that approximately 20 cases were involved in the relevant section to which the Deputy referred.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: In the printout that I saw from the Official Report of yesterday's proceedings, the Taoiseach undertook to contact Deputy Kenny on the exact number. He cited the figure from memory.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: There is no reason the Supreme Court decision should jeopardise proceedings for anyone awaiting trial. We know the constitutional parameters. An amending Act is now on the Statute Book and people can be arraigned again if necessary.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Exactly, but a person charged can be rearraigned on other charges so nothing is irreversible until the judicial process begins.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have read the Official Report of yesterday's proceedings. The Taoiseach did not give a completion date for the all-party committee's deliberations. He left that open.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The all-party committee will determine how long it sits. That is how it works.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I will answer Deputy Rabbitte because he is asking the questions. The Taoiseach indicated that the Government has some ideas on the terms of reference, which it would share with the Opposition for discussion and consideration. There is no prescriptive approach, it is a matter of working out the terms of reference. We have some views on the matter and if everyone is committed to dealing with...