Results 9,321-9,340 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Shouting will not help the Deputy devise a policy.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not shouting at all.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am just trying to be heard.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Thanks be to God we do not have that. The Leader of the Opposition raised some points about electricity. Rising costs in materials like gas, coal and oil on the wholesale markets have put suppliers under pressure. Since the latest price review last year, the cost of gas and oil has gone up by between 80% and 100%. I understand that the amount quoted in the newspapers today is speculative...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is the position.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am sorry, but I have just outlined the position. The other question was about disability services. Since 2004, we have seen multi-annual budgetary commitments being made to the disability sector. These were instigated in my own time and I continue to show a commitment to them. We have seen a consistent increase in the numbers being provided with services. This year, we are providing...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are still problems, but it is not fair or accurate to portray constantly the necessary reforms in the health service as bringing about a continuous disimprovement in services. It is a narrative that continues all the time.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is a review taking place on manpower policy.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: No. This has been practically completed and it involves a very detailed assessment of how we can make sure that the configuration of personnel is more at the front line than in the administrative area. It also recognises, in fairness to those who work in support services, that the actual allocation of resources for people in those services is not totally out of kilter with international...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am trying to answer questions raised by Deputy Kenny. I can answer other questions when those Deputies are in a position to raise them as well. The OECD confirmed that between 1995 and 2005, the second greatest rate of increases in health spending occurred in this country. We are applying €14.2 billion to the health service this year, which represents €9,730 for every taxpayer in the...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: There are 850,000 pupils in first and second level education and 4,000 schools. The Deputy is correct about the unprecedented capital investment programme for school building over the past ten years, something of which this Administration is very proud. In an effort to deal with historic problems, there has also been a need to provide extra teachers quickly — particularly resource...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is absolute nonsense. If that is the level of debate we are going to have, it is nonsense.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: We have seen the most accelerated and comprehensive capital programme for the modernisation of the school system in the history of the State, but the comment I hear back is "hedge schools". If that is the size of the policy content where the Deputy is coming from——

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not suggest for a moment that there are not continuing challenges or that one can be complacent about their nature. However, I defend the Government's record in terms of what has been achieved under successive Ministers as a result of successful policies. I recognise that, in reducing class sizes, providing thousands of resource teachers and more special assistances, there will be...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Smart comments.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: To answer Deputy Gilmore's questions directly, about 4% of the total student population is being educated in what he calls temporary accommodation in terms of the full school-going population. That is the size of the problem he is addressing. It will always be the case in trying to deal with increased student intake in rapidly developing areas that schools need to be provided where...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is the largest allocation ever made for the capital programme in education. It is true that some of that construction activity offsets the reduction in residential housing output but not to the full extent. We all know that. We are also aware that we doubled construction industry employment levels. While employment levels in the industry will be reduced this year from 300,000 to...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Credit must be given where it is due. A sum of €640 million is being provided this year for schools alone. The Government will continue to examine how to provide priority investments in education in forthcoming budgets. We have always done that and it remains a priority area. However, there are varying levels of priority in the area. For example, no one contests that in rapidly...

Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 21a, statements on the Lisbon treaty. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No. 21a shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: the statement of the Taoiseach and of the leaders of the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party, the Green Party, Sinn Féin...

Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Not to my knowledge. I understand a new legal basis is required and that is why the Bill must be brought forward. Unfortunately, it will not be published until the beginning of next month.