Results 9,561-9,580 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is open to the committees to use the Estimates——

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy obviously has a view on the matter and does not wish to hear mine.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Bill will go through the Houses later this year.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The National Forum on Europe was established on 18 October, 2001 . The operating costs over the past five years were: Year Expenditure â'¬ 2007 2,075,845.11 2006 1,517,041.49 2005 1,294,947.05 2004 942,340.90 2003 919,537.35

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The grant in aid paid by my Department under Subhead B. National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) in 2007 was €5,812,330 and to date in 2008 (end of May) was €1,633,875. The NESDO Grant in Aid provides funding for NESDO and its constituent bodies, the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) and the National Centre for...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The information requested is as follows: Year Number of Bills passed 1999 35 2000 42 2001 57 2002 34 2003 46 2004 44 2005 34 2006 42 2007 42 2008 to date 9

Written Answers — State Appointments: State Appointments (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: Appointments were made to the following State Boards which come under the aegis of my Department during the time frame in question: State Board/Agency: Law Reform Commission There have been 4 board members reappointed to the Law Reform Commission since July 2007 to date, of whom 2 are women. These reappointments were made on 1 September, 2007 on foot of a Government Decision. State...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: Much progress has already been achieved in fulfilling the commitments in the Programme for Government. Obviously, the Government must take decisions in the light of the fiscal situation which will be indicated on publication of the half yearly Exchequer returns to-morrow. We will then give priority to those Programme commitments which are most valuable from a social and economic perspective...

Written Answers — Ethics in Public Office Act: Ethics in Public Office Act (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 to 156, inclusive, together. I take it that the Deputy's questions concern gifts to my predecessor, who was Taoiseach when the meetings referred to took place. Briefly, under the Ethics in Public Office Acts, gifts given to an office holder by virtue of his/her office which exceed €650 in value must be surrendered (where there is a doubt as to the value...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: As part of the implementation of the Government's Value for Money Review and Policy Review Initiative, my Department is undertaking a review of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) and its constituent bodies — the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP)....

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am glad to report that last year the economy grew by 6% in GDP terms and over 4% in GNP terms——

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——which was during my time in office as Minister for Finance.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The situation that is being portrayed by the Leader of the Opposition that these are the worst figures ever — I do not agree with that characterisation — fails to take into account the context that being an open economy we are affected by the international downturn the same as everyone else. We are in a far better position——

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: If people will continue to talk down this economy to the point of hoping the prophecy comes true——

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is their purpose. That is not a responsible position to take.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: We in this economy have the ability to weather this storm better than ever before.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: We are in a position to do so because our overall public finance position has greatly improved since we have had ten of the last 11 budgets in surplus. When one meets a downturn, as we are meeting it, the ability to accommodate that through deficit is possible but we must work within our framework. We must recognise that our responsibility during the course of the remainder of this year is...

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I explained yesterday that I stand over the budgetary positions I took during my time as Minister for Finance——

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——as a member of this Government, consistently. There have been growth rates during those three years which have exceeded any other economy in Europe.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny's portrayal of this economy as having been dysfunctional during my tenure is incorrect. The second point——