Results 18,301-18,320 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: Is that the directive referred to by Deputy Sargent?

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Bill will be published later this year. As to the Deputy's earlier question, the ordering of debate in this House is a matter for the Whips in the first instance.

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: As things stand, the Bill is being dealt with in the House. The Government has sponsored and is proceeding with the Bill.

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should take the matter up with the line Minister.

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: Not to my knowledge.

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The legislation is due——

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The legislation is due to be enacted next year. The Garda vote has been increased by 90% since this Government came into office. It now totals €1.1 billion. It is a matter for Garda management to deal with that budget.

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed that it is not possible to say at this stage when that Bill will come before the House.

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: There are discussions taking place between the Department and all the stakeholders. The Bill is envisaged to place all student support schemes on a statutory footing, including the designation of an appropriate awarding authority and to repeal the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992.

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: Anyone with a cursory knowledge of the progress made by the National Roads Authority and others knows that the Department of Transport is making unprecedented progress in rolling out the national development plan which, according to the ESRI's mid-term evaluation, is providing a return of up to 16% on the investment.

Order of Business. (28 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: What Bill is Deputy Sherlock referring to?

Written Answers — Capital Expenditure: Capital Expenditure (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: Primary responsibility for managing capital programmes and the evaluation, planning and execution of capital projects on time and in line with budget rests with the Government, Ministers, Departments and the implementing agencies directly concerned. Specific questions about individual projects should be directed to the relevant Ministers. I have, with the approval of the Government, set out...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 113 together. It was this Government that introduced the minimum wage to protect low paid workers and it was this Government which, over the last eight budgets, removed a record number of about 460,000 workers from the tax net entirely. In addition, from 1 May 2005, when the increased wage takes effect, we will have one of the highest minimum wages in...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The EU Directive 1999/70/EC on fixed term workers was transposed into law as the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003 with effect from 14 July 2003. The purpose of the Act, which implements Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed term work concluded by the social partners ETUC, UNICE and CEEP at European level with due transposition date...

Written Answers — Remuneration in the Public Sector: Remuneration in the Public Sector (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The review body on higher remuneration in the public sector is a standing body which makes recommendations to the Government on the remuneration of political office holders, the Judiciary, civil servants from assistant secretary level up, top local authority and health service posts, the commissioner ranks in the Garda Siochána, the general ranks in the Defence Forces, the chief executive...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The question of the inclusion of uncashed bank drafts in a dormant accounts scheme has been raised in the House over recent years, including during the passage of the Dormant Accounts Act 2001. At that time a sample based estimate suggested that the value of bank drafts in circulation, uncashed for a 15 year period, corresponding to the definition of dormant accounts, might have been in the...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government's economic and budgetary strategy is based on pursuing economic growth and full employment as the basis of continued prosperity and enhanced living standards for all. In this regard maintaining and improving Ireland's competitive position is imperative to ensure Ireland continues to grow strongly and remains an attractive location for inward foreign direct investment. We have...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: A special interdepartmental review group has already reviewed the operation of the disabled drivers scheme. The terms of reference of the group were to examine the operation of the existing scheme, including the difficulties experienced by the various groups and individuals involved with it both on an administrative and user level, and to consider the feasibility of alternative schemes, with...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the following information provides the up to date position on court prosecutions initiated for tax evasion. In 1997, there was one prosecution initiated for tax evasion. A fine of €635 was imposed with no custodial sentence. In 1998, there were six cases initiated and six convictions secured; fines totalling €42,854 were imposed. There were...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The 2003 annual report of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission shows that at 31 December 2003 the market value of the fund was €9,561 million. This included cash deposits of €1,283 million, other net current assets of €36 million, unrealised gains on foreign derivative contracts of €70 million and equities and bonds worth €8,172 million. Of this €8,172 million, €8,099...