Results 16,961-16,980 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: If I was to profile the Deputy's career with the number of different positions he had on issues——

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Not only has the Deputy had different positions on this and other issues, but he also has been in different political parties. If I was to engage in such a profile, I would be here for a long time this evening trying to figure out the inconsistencies.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I will not be intimidated by that Stickie nonsense.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: In fairness to members of the trade union movement, they have made a distinction between the situation in this dispute and the issue of social partnership. Confirming whether we can continue with social partnership depends on several issues which are not germane in this dispute. However, there are certain issues in this matter that the trade unions would like to see resolved satisfactorily....

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Ultimately, the State winds up subsiding——

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: That is why the Government has introduced a realistic minimum wage. The Government will do all it can to have this matter resolved on the basis that both sides come together. We must keep in mind that jobs will continue to be at risk for as long as the dispute continues. The need to secure a resolution consistent with the recommendation of the Labour Court is and will continue to be the focus...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: ——as did those who advocated social partnership in the first place and sought to exercise it while in Government for most of the time since its inception.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I pointed out to the Deputy, the Government wants a negotiated settlement to this dispute and asks both sides to use the industrial relations machinery at which the necessary expertise resides to help them resolve the problem. That is the way in which we can resolve this problem. The authority of the Government is behind the institutions of the State which are best placed to assist the...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I outlined to the Deputy in response to his first series of questions that the Government believes the protection of employment standards to be an important goal of public policy and does not want the practices to which the Deputy alluded revived.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: We are doing everything. We have provided the means by which, thankfully, an increasing number of people are in gainful employment. With regard to the specific issue that has arisen, the Government has confirmed it wants the matter resolved in a manner consistent with the employment laws and standards which apply in this country and through the industrial relations procedures available to...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take the debate at 5.30 p.m. The arrangements will be set out in the Order of Business.

Order of Business. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 10, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimates [Votes 6, 13, 20, 26, 27, 30 and 35]; No. 11, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimates [Votes 6, 13, 20, 26, 27, 30 and 35] to select committee; No. 12, motion re supplementary statement of expenditure for Houses of the Oireachtas; No. 13, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council...

Order of Business. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am sure that issue can be resolved when the Bills are brought before the House, or beforehand, by referring the question to the Tánaiste concerning the current status of that post. I will have to revert to the Deputy concerning the specific issue of the Children Act as the details are not available to me at the moment. As regards the person to whom the Deputy referred in his first...

Order of Business. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: No, I am not.

Order of Business. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should not worry about titles.

Order of Business. (29 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: As usual, the Deputy is a decade behind the curve. On the matter raised, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform simply outlined a number of options that are in the public domain and are under consideration by the Government. He did not indicate any specific decision that would be taken as none will be finalised until I rise from my seat on 7 December.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government's decentralisation programme announced in budget 2004 provides for the transfer of 10,300 Civil Service and public sector posts from Dublin to other locations. Almost all Departments are involved, either wholly or partly. A number of semi-State organisations are also involved in the programme. The programme is voluntary, that is, staff may opt to decentralise with their post or...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: My Department has, on a small number of occasions, re-engaged former employees for short periods of time, two in 2004 and two in 2005. These re-engagements have been on the basis that they were of short duration, and the former employees were brought back on the basis of the skills or expertise they were able to bring to particular projects. Given the small number and duration of these...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The letter, of June 2004, referred to was from a trade union to the Department of Finance about the issue of inter-changeability of the grades of higher tax officer and executive officer in the context of decentralisation. The issue was covered in the continuing discussions between the Department of Finance and the staff panel of trade unions, of which the union in question is a part, at a...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The grades of higher tax officer and tax officer are not excluded from the decentralisation programme. The intention of the central applications facility has always been to allow staff, in all participating organisations, of which the Revenue Commissioners is one, to apply for transfer to locations in the decentralisation programme. The central applications facility is open to all Revenue...