Results 8,061-8,080 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The primary responsibility for managing a bank and for preventing fraud or inappropriate working practices in that bank lies with the management of that institution. No regulatory authority can put in place a supervisory regime to ensure that a financial institution can never be a victim of fraudulent or reckless trading activity from within. It is up to management to have appropriate...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is already an extensive body of harmonised EU financial regulation in operation across the Union. This regulatory regime reflects best practice globally and this is reflected by the fact that EU financial regulation standards are now being followed by countries outside the Union. Recent discussions at EU Councils of Ministers have focused on the broad issue of international financial...

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware that is an accurate reflection of what Deputy Fahey said. Fine Gael is conducting a witch hunt. It is a political witch hunt that runs into sand regularly.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I would listen to what the tribunal has to say about its workings and how we can best assist it. It is the best arbiter of how we should conduct ourselves on the proceedings there. In a formal statement at the beginning of this year the tribunal made it clear that it does not regard as helpful continuing evaluations on a weekly and daily basis, mostly from Fine Gael members in an effort to...

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: What is that statement?

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: According to Deputy Kenny, it is half a million euro.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: No, it is not. That is more dishonesty on the part of the Deputy and it is disingenuous of him.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: In case he is under any misapprehension, I want to make it clear to Deputy Kenny that the Taoiseach is giving his evidence truthfully, the same as other people at the tribunal. The evaluation of that evidence will be decided upon by the judges who have been appointed by the Oireachtas, not by the Deputy who is neither qualified nor able to evaluate that evidence.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny is coming into the House every second day, asking whether I agree with this or that statement. If the man said it, I am sure it is true. That is what the judge is doing. That evidence has to be evaluated. It cannot be decided by Deputy Kenny. We will not have political mob rule in Parliament.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: All the Deputy's efforts to try to distract the Government will not work. The Government will continue to do its work. The only person who is not doing anything apart from coming in and dealing with this matter is the Deputy. In fairness to this man, he has something to say about other things, but the Deputy has nothing to say.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: That only happens with the Labour Party.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The second matter is an issue in which people are far more interested. The Minister for Health and Children has asked the chief executive officer of the HSE to request a report on the circumstances that led to the decisions of the HSE to suspend breast radiology services at the hospital, to place a consultant radiologist on administrative leave and to initiate a clinical review of breast...

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is transfixing the Opposition.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Given the adversarial nature of our political system, there is nothing I can say to the Deputy that would fill him with sufficient confidence. His job is to try to ebb confidence away from the Government. He is not interested in confidence in the Government. That is my first point. My second point is meant slightly humorously. If ever I want advice on coups or conspiracies, I can knock on...

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I want to make a serious point, one which I made yesterday. I read comments by Deputy Gilmore in a good speech he made in May 1997 when the tribunal was being established.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have good researchers.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I did not do the hard left trick of repeating comments without attributing them, allowing the Deputy who made them to disagree with them and then pointing out to him that he made them. In 1997, Deputy Gilmore made a point that is relevant to today's debate on what we should do in the current circumstances. He stated that if we are to lift the suspicions, serve the people properly and let...

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: We need to get on with business. We are here to do the business and are getting on with our job. We would like the Opposition to engage also because that is what people want. To address the issue that is more germane, as Deputy Quinn pointed out, the reports in question will be published as quickly as possible. A legal problem has arisen with regard to one of the reports, while another...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 8, motion re the proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Limerick City Boundary Alteration Order 2008, back from committee; No. 15, Passports Bill 2007 — Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stage; No. 16, Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 2, Student Support Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed). It...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Absolutely.