Results 21-40 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: There are no State Agencies operating under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs. There are four bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs. These are: the Ireland - United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission); the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; and the Emigrant Services...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Foreign Affairs carried out no advertising campaigns in 2010 to promote any policies or programmes it was implementing. Advertising undertaken by the Department typically includes: advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, public information notices relating to significant developments in the...

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (25 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: There are no State Agencies under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The following is a list of Statutory Instruments falling within the remit of this Department and signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2007. Statutory Instrument Title Laid before Oireachtas Published Iris Oifigiúil 2007 18/2007 European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 (Designated Member States)...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (25 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Development Education Advisory Committee; the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; and the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee. The Minister for Foreign Affairs makes the appointments to these bodies. No appointments to these bodies have been made during the period in question. However, the two-year term of the current Emigrant Services Advisory Committee, with a membership of twelve...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). Details of mileage payments paid to officers in the Department for the period in question are included in the table. In addition to the Department of Finance guidelines, the Department of Foreign Affairs also operates its own internal travel guidelines and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Foreign Affairs employs two Civilian Drivers for each of the two appointed Ministers of State. Details of expenditure on salary and allowances during each of the past four years are contained in the following tables. I am not aware of any familial relationship between any of the Ministers of State and any of their Drivers. Approximate annual salary cost per Driver...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (25 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table. Vacancies which have arisen in the Department of Foreign Affairs since 27 March 2009 and which remain unfilled Reason Number Maternity Leave 13 Career break 7 Special Incentivised Career Break 22 Special leave without pay 3 Total: 45

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I wish to announce for the information of the House that the President, acting on my advice, has accepted the resignations of Deputies Mary Harney, Noel Dempsey, Dermot Ahern, Batt O'Keeffe and Tony Killeen as members of the Government. I advised the House yesterday of the resignation of Deputy Micheál Martin. I want to put on the record of the House my gratitude to each of them for their...

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: In her previous work as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Tánaiste she made an enduring contribution to developing the economic base of the country. Deputy Noel Dempsey has served this country well in a variety of portfolios. At the Cabinet table he was a straight talking and respected colleague, forceful in his contributions and a loyal supporter of Government decisions....

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: If I may, I would like reply to some of the assertions that have been made. As outlined in my statement to the House, I believe it is essential for the country that we proceed with publication and enactment of the Finance Bill 2011. Deputy Kenny inquired as to the revision of the scheduling in that regard. Second Stage of the Bill will be taken next week and subsequent Stages will be taken...

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: -----which we believe help it confront and overcome. That is the issue as far as I am concerned. I challenge the politically correct view that suggests that it was a stunt; far from it.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I am giving my view.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: This election is about the future of this country.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: We have people who have the talent and ability to put that case and to put it vigorously and with determination. That is my strong view.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: As I stated, the convention of coalition Governments has always been on that basis.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: In the event of there not being majority support for such nominations, I am reassigning those portfolios to existing colleagues in the Government.

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Hungary assumed the Presidency of the Council of Ministers for the first time on 1 January. The Hungarian government met the Commission on 7 January in Budapest to discuss its Presidency programme. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán presented the priorities to the European Parliament yesterday (19 January). The Hungarian Presidency is placing a strong emphasis on coping with the economic and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I am gravely concerned about the recent upsurge in attacks against Christians in Iraq including the horrific attack against defenceless worshippers at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on 31 October. I also condemn unreservedly the deplorable attack on 18 January against an Iraqi police recruitment centre in Tikrit which killed more than 50 people and wounded many more, most of whom...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Conflict, food shortages, human rights abuses are unfortunately still widespread in Africa despite considerable progress in recent years. The international community continues to intervene to address these issues on the African continent, whether on a bilateral or multilateral basis. It is not possible to go into details on all parts of this question in the time available, but in any event,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I have been very concerned by the most recent violence in and around Jos in Plateau State, Nigeria, where there have been more deaths in January, after the bombings in December. This follows on from violence over the past several years, which has been a result of ongoing tensions, and which the government has been attempting to settle. Since the violence in 2008 inter-religious dialogue has...