Results 18,201-18,220 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assure Deputy Rabbitte and the House that I am not involved in bickering or playing games with the issue of health. I did not suggest that I was unmoved by the prospect of 85 people at risk of dying or that I was unmindful or disinterested in the fact or that the Government was callous. There is not a policy of drift but a very proactive investment programme in place. It has not yet fully...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: On the first matter, I understand that is an industrial relations issue that is being dealt with through the usual industrial relations machinery. I hope, as has been the case in the past, that might provide a means by which those issues can be resolved peaceably in an industrial relations sense. Regarding accident and emergency services, over 1,240,000 attendances are recorded at the...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is not simply a question of beds because more beds have been provided. There is far more throughput of day cases now than was the case in the past.

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Tánaiste indicated in her ten-point plan the short-term measures she wishes to take to deal with those aspects of the service causing greatest difficulties. It is her intention that they will make a difference. She is in the process of getting on with that with the HSE, hospital management, staff and unions to ensure that happens successfully. However, there is a whole range of issues...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I said in a previous reply, the question of ministerial intervention as the solution to the problems being spoken about does not comprehensively deal with the issue. Full co-operation from everybody is needed to deal with the issue that has arisen recently in respect of accident and emergency services. The industrial relations machinery should be utilised by everybody for the purpose of...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 12, technical motion re Further Revised Estimate — Vote 34; No. 13, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters, and a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European small...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny should address questions on the detail of the ten-point plan to the Tánaiste who has front line responsibility. I do not have the information available to me for Order of Business. I am advised the Dublin metro Bill is not due until next year. The drug offenders issue will be dealt with in the Criminal Justice Bill. I announced in the House on budget day my willingness to...

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: No decision has been made on that matter. As Deputy McManus is aware, the report from the commission was published last week and it will require everyone's most careful consideration.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It means that no decision has been taken on these matters by Government following the publication of the Bill.

Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand that Bill is due later this year. The heads of the Bill have been approved.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled or illegally imported into the State. The Revenue Commissioners have informed me that the position in relation to the issues raised by the Deputy is as follows. Drug enforcement work is carried out with the assistance...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Since it would not be possible in the time available to assemble the information sought by the Deputy, I propose to ask each Minister to address the question and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a PAYE balancing statement for 2004, showing details of earnings and tax deductions, will issue to the taxpayer in the next few days.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I have stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 194 dated 10 May 2005, the Government's decentralisation programme, announced in budget 2004, will see the transfer of 210 posts to Dungarvan. Initial data from the central applications facility indicate that, while 15 staff of Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, have applied to decentralise to Dungarvan, there are a further 47 expressions...

Written Answers — Fairtrade Products: Fairtrade Products (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: My Department does not directly source Fairtrade products. Regarding the supply of services such as cafeteria services in my Department, it is a matter for the companies providing such services to make their own commercial decision in sourcing their supplies.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Nominations for appointments to boards of statutory agencies under the remit of my Department can arise in different ways. Some members of boards are ex officio appointments, others are nominated by appropriate bodies or organisations and the remainder are appointed by me, as Minister for Finance, taking account of the qualities, expertise and experience required to make a contribution to the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the income tax legislation provides for tax relief in respect of qualifying fees paid by an individual to an approved college in respect of certain full-time or part-time undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses and information technology and foreign language courses. On a specific note, for the purposes of the relief, the establishment in...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (11 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that notices of assessment issued on 1 July 1998 detailing the taxpayer's liabilities for the tax years 1996-97 and on 17 February 1999 for the years 1997-98. The taxpayer also received a demand for outstanding liabilities for 1996-97 on 2 September 1998 and made three additional payments reducing his liabilities for 1996-97 to €380.03. A total of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (11 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am aware that a number of eastern European countries have introduced a flat rate of tax on personal and business income. The tax policies of individual countries reflect a range of factors and democratic choices, social, economic and cultural. The Irish tax system as it has developed, particularly over the period 1997 to date, with lower rates of personal and business taxation, has proven,...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (10 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Under established arrangements governing transport for office holders, Ministers of State other than the Chief Whip, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad are provided with two civilian drivers. The Leader of the Seanad became an office holder when section 7 of the Ministerial, Parliamentary and Judicial Offices and Oireachtas Members (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act...