Results 9,441-9,460 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I know Deputy Bannon tries to be constructive and helpful but it is just not in his nature. I watched him at midland's health board meetings since he first came on the scene.

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: He is one of the greats. He is one of the best we ever produced down there.

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Am I bullying the Deputy now?

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Bannon is easily bullied.

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I did not think Deputy Bannon was a shrinking violet. I apologise to the Deputy. I did not realise I was bullying him.

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy wishes. The Forum on Europe has done good work in trying to bring to public attention the role Europe plays in our domestic affairs and politics. It has been scrupulous in its efforts to take into account all bodies of opinion regardless of what democratic mandate they have. This is fair enough to take account of the voluntary sector and advocacy groups. There is an issue about...

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: That has been a failure on all our parts, even since Ireland became a member of the Community. The rejection of the Nice treaty was a call to us and we responded by providing the forum, which served its own purpose.

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Within Parliament, we have established the EU scrutiny committee. This is a critique of how we need to bring Europe more into the body politic of our discussion in order that it is not seen as an optional extra or something that happens to be a benefit separate from——

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: That should be discussed and I have no problem doing that. I would rather discuss it with the Deputy than with Deputy Bannon.

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not have any comment to make on other people's views on the referendum. They are entitled to their opinion. Let everyone give their opinion on it if they wish. I take Deputy Allen's point. In response to Deputy Kenny, we need to try to improve the way we project the work we do in the House as having a greater connection with what goes on in Europe than we portray currently because of...

European Council Meetings. (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is good to see the Deputy again.

Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 20, statements on European Council, Brussels; No. a11, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of an agreement between the European Union and Australia on the processing and transfer of EU-sourced passenger name records data; No. 19, Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 4, Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008 — Second...

Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Let me be candid. I take the point that the approach is not ideal, but this matter appeared before and was approved by the Cabinet yesterday. In our briefing document, we indicated that the Slovenian Presidency of the Union is keen to finalise the agreement before its presidency concludes. That is not a determining factor for this Parliament, but it is the context in which we ask the...

Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for the pharmacy (No. 2) Bill. The Electoral (Amendment) Bill came before the Cabinet yesterday and was accepted. I stated earlier that one would love to have seen a unanimous decision to amend. Unfortunately, that was not possible arising out of the debate. Deputy Enright and I may have to make a unilateral declaration of independence for south Offaly.

Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: A debate is promised for the week beginning 7 July when Members will have an opportunity to discuss the matter. I cannot pre-empt or anticipate Government decisions. I have outlined generally the strategy by which we abide.

Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Yes.

Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The mid-year returns will be published next week. We will also have the Central Statistics Office figures for the first quarter. There will be plenty of documentation available to which Members can refer for the purposes of debating these issues in the House.

Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy observed, discussions are taking place on an interdepartmental basis as to how this issue can be progressed. The Deputy pointed out that a legislative response has been published in respect of one aspect of the issue. We will now proceed to consider how the Law Reform Commission recommendations can be addressed by legislation or otherwise.

Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: It will be published late this year.

Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Both the transport Bill and the building societies Bill are scheduled for later this year. The exchange of information Bill referred to was incorporated into the Mutual Assistance Act.