Results 1,821-1,840 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As the health service has a budget of €15.2 billion, it is important that every aspect of that funding is used for the purpose of providing health services to the people of the country. No Government, or responsible manager, could condone any waste of public funds. It must be dealt with, and is being dealt with.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The internal audit of the HSE uncovered this situation, which is being investigated.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: All procedures will be followed so that the full facts may be known. The problem is with administration expenses and other expenses that were drawn up for a programme intended to provide career paths for up to 32,000 care assistants and others in the health service, 9,000 of whom have already participated. The programme itself, and its use by staff to enable them to upgrade their skills and...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said, we are spending €15.2 billion on the health service, which represents almost half of the total tax take this year. There is a large spend on health - quite rightly - but we must make sure it is provided in the best possible way. There have been real improvements, including in the provision of cancer services, the number of people undergoing day-case surgery and the number of...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: As is typical, Deputy Kenny speaks about the dismantling of structures without providing an alternative.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The centralisation of services in the HSE, and particularly acute hospital services, was a far better approach than the regional system was ever capable of providing in view of the need for a properly organised national system of primary, secondary and tertiary care.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is not a question of blind eyes being turned. As I have stated in this House in regard to many debates on health, the Opposition consistently argues for the status quo rather than accepting the need for reform. Every reform we propose is fought tooth and nail because various interests have a view of it.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is not correct to say a blind eye is being turned to these matters. The agreement reached in Croke Park last June provides us with the means for redeployment, which is necessary, and all the practices and flexibility we need in order to deal with issues which could achieve efficiencies and savings without affecting patients' quality of care. In terms of skills mixes, ratios of staff,...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The costs that have been associated with the e-voting machines are of the order which the Deputy pointed out and clearly they will not be used in this country. The question of their disposal is under consideration. It is true that they represent a loss to the Exchequer, which is a great disappointment. The decision not to proceed was taken by the Government on the basis that it would not...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is what occurred and there was a refusal to continue with software development to see whether they could be handled.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I stated in my first reply that the €50 million will not now be put to use because those voting machines will not be brought into operation. To associate that with costs in the health service is a political point the Deputy wants to make. We have had to consider prescription charges due to the increasing cost of our drugs bill in this country, which has gone from €300 million to almost...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The legislation that was required to bring in e-voting was supported by both parties in Opposition.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The expert group found that the voting machines were fit for purpose and that software could have been reworked to achieve it, but a decision was taken by the Government not to proceed along those lines because it became a matter of public confidence as to whether the machines could be used here.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: E-voting is used in many other countries.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The number of spoiled votes that are allowed for under the current manual system is greater than the difference between the winning and losing of the last seat in a constituency. The purpose of e-voting was to eliminate that error and to provide a better way of dealing with it. Regardless of the fact that e-voting has legislative support in the House and that the expert group found that the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Department of the Taoiseach has no Directives awaiting transposition.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: In 2004, the Government published the White Paper, 'Regulating Better'. The White Paper provides the basis for work on the Better Regulation agenda. Some of the key areas outlined in the White Paper relate to specific sectoral issues for which responsible Ministers report directly to the House. The Better Regulation Unit in my Department is tasked with the overall promotion of the Better...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: That legislation referred to is awaiting Committee Stage and I hope it can be organised soon.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I cannot give a blanket assurance of that kind. It is a matter for the ordering of the Dáil business by the Whips on the proposition of the Government Whip. We will try to ensure we can provide adequate time but I cannot give that commitment.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: That will be coming to Government shortly.