Results 15,541-15,560 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The fact that a person is in the public service should not indicate that he or she is incapable of doing his or her job with integrity. As the Minister with responsibility for the public service, I wish to make that clear. Legal submissions from the Attorney General's office or staff to the legal team would be the basis of the arguments made in open court. That is not a major issue. I do not...

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy posed several glib questions.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Name-calling will get the Deputy nowhere.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have answered it.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I did not snarl.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The problem with this Deputy is that whenever he hears an answer he does not like he decides to call people names. The fact that I cannot rise with the same quick degree of indignation as the Deputy does not mean he is any more correct than I. I will leave the name-calling to the Deputy. That is his style, not mine. That is the way he behaves. I am not obliged to take it from him.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The question of documentation is an issue that can be considered in the terms of reference to be drafted. The Taoiseach has outlined in good faith a preparedness to work on an all-party committee basis under the terms of reference which will deal with the issues. A report is to come from a public servant. I make the point, as I am entitled as Minister with responsibility for the public...

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The answer to the question is that whether that will be available is a matter for discussion.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: For the third time, there are draft terms of reference which will be communicated to the Opposition and if there are issues it wishes to raise it may raise them there. However, if the Opposition is trying to find another means, beyond the report of the Civil Service, to ascertain what happened in this case, there is no necessity for that because the report from the senior civil servant will...

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The roads amendment Bill is to amend legislation relating to roads and the National Roads Authority. The heads of the Bill are expected this year and it is hoped to publish it later in the year. With regard to the many representations the Deputy has made to the authority, I hope it recognises his position as a public representative and deals with them expeditiously.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: There have been a number of legislative provisions in recent years dealing with the phenomenon of human trafficking. A further Bill, the criminal justice trafficking in persons and sexual offences Bill, will give effect to a number of international instruments on trafficking in persons and sexual exploitation. It is not possible at this stage to indicate when that Bill will be brought...

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: On the health Bill, the consultation process is under way and once it is finished, revised proposals will be submitted to Government. It is a process which will take longer than initially anticipated. The Bill is expected to be published later in the year.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: That is the one I was talking about.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: That one is called the health Bill. The one I am talking about provides for the establishment of the health information and quality authority and the Irish social services inspectorate function on a statutory basis.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: There is record levels of money for the health services——

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: ——and we are pursuing successful policies.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I understand it is due in the last year of the Government's tenure, which is next year.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Perhaps Deputy Durkan should concentrate on trying to deliver better opposition so that he might have some prospects in government.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I apologise to Deputy Durkan for snarling at him.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (7 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am satisfied that promotion practices in the public service are being managed in a way which balances the achievement of the decentralisation programme in an efficient manner with the needs of staff remaining in Dublin. In the Civil Service agreement has been reached with the general service unions that all interdepartmental promotions for general service grades will be made on the basis of...