Results 4,341-4,360 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: The Minister, Deputy Kelly, put in place a task force to address the crisis that emerged following the unfortunate death of Jonathan Corrie, a homeless person, before Christmas. There have unfortunately been subsequent deaths of a similar nature. Following the consultation process with the various stakeholders, the Minister and his Department introduced a 20-point plan, which we welcomed....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his response and for the publication of the status of the 20-point plan on the website. I look forward to monitoring that progress. I acknowledge that a commitment has been given on a short-term basis to address the issue of people sleeping rough, and much progress has been made here in Dublin and in the cities in that regard. Has the Minister or his Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his response on this issue. I also acknowledge the public commitment he has given to the regions through the Housing First programme in the first instance and the provision of further funding in the short term to address these issues in a meaningful way. As with the first issue I raised, I hope his public relations team and officials will keep members of the public...

Other Questions: Irish Water Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: 6. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has had any discussions with the Central Statistics Office in relation to the EUROSTAT market corporation test; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3441/15]

Other Questions: Irish Water Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: The Minister has, in previous answers, briefly mentioned this issue. I wish to examine some of the specifics of it. Prior to the announcement of a new charging mechanism for Irish Water's income stream and the costs associated with it, the Tánaiste confirmed that 44% was the figure for Government subvention. Is the Minister aware of, or can he inform the House, what the percentage...

Other Questions: Irish Water Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: From what the Minister has said, it appears to me that his discussions with the CSO centred around its informing the Minister of the rules and his obligations under those rules. Based on that information, EUROSTAT will make an adjudication. However, the CSO, as an independent authority, cannot confirm whether the Minister is within the rules or meets the guidelines. Is the Minister aware...

Other Questions: Irish Water Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: I understood that 44% was the figure prior to the introduction of the new regime and the associated new costs. Apart from this, it is worrying that the Minister can neither confirm nor deny that a high-ranking Department of Finance official has stated that frantic efforts are being made to devise a mechanism to deal with this issue in the event that we fail that EUROSTAT test. I ask the...

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: In summing up this debate I pay tribute to and thank those who have contributed, in the main, to it. The role of all of us here, based on the mandate we have been given by the electorate, is to produce and enact legislation which can address the difficulties and the issues pertaining to those we represent in various areas across society. As Opposition Members our job is to hold Government...

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: -----there were headline issues that jumped out of the page, which I will read into the record again.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: First, there was a €3.4 billion tax package contained in it-----

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: -----in the spring of 2007.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: Second, there was a €500 million stamp duty package to abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: At the height of the boom is right.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: There was not a mention of banks or regulation. This was from the party which tells us now it had all the answers back in 2007 but nobody would listen to it. As soon as we stand up and offer solutions to the problems that exist for those we represent-----

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: The Deputy's manifesto in 2007-----

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: For all the knowledge they have now and all the benefit of hindsight they have gathered in the meantime, when they checked their own manifesto and realised they had not mentioned regulation or banks, they said it was time to get that off the web page.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: What they were doing was piling fuel on the bubble in the hope that it would blow under our stewardship so that they could give the impression that what they were saying all along was right and proper. Facts are facts, Deputy.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: If she wants to look at them, she should check it out.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: They are the facts.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: If I am a disgrace, what were Deputy Doherty and the likes of her in her party-----