Results 10,121-10,140 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——that it is was wrong to have increased the number of nurses, gardaí on the streets and teachers in our schools is not right.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Those were the right measures. When we did that, we brought forward surpluses even after capital spend.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not recall any Member on the Opposition side, certainly not from the Fine Gael Party, who suggested the surpluses were not big enough then——

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——and that we should have spent less. Let us have some consistency and logic to the arguments being made.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: During that period of what Deputy Enda Kenny calls proliferated spend, we reduced our national debt. The performance of the economy was such that we were able to make up major historic deficits of under-investment, not only in day to day services but also in capital purposes.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Those are the facts. The situation today is different. I accept my responsibilities in respect of everything I have done in public office.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not for the first time ever.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will not have that record misrepresented by Deputy Enda Kenny. He suggests——

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——the Government should not have doubled pensions when it could afford to do so.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Shouting me down after being heard in silence does not make the Deputy's point.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Shouting me down when I give the Deputy an answer does not make his point.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Those increases in old age pensions, for example, will be maintained in real terms when the Minister for Finance stands up in the House to deliver the Budget Statement later. When we were in good times, I am proud that my predecessor——

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——and I gave greater increases beyond inflation and at the same time we are in a position to maintain those achievements and progress. I acknowledge there will also be challenges in other areas. I will not accept that the basic strategy of the Government over the past ten years was a mirage and did not benefit our people. It certainly did.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: If we provide the proper and prudent financial management of the economy, those days can return to Ireland despite Deputy Enda Kenny's exaggerated claims that we have gone down.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will lead a Government that will make the necessary decisions to take into account the new economic situation that has now developed, as it has developed elsewhere.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: We will face those challenges with the same capacities as we have faced them in the past.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Quite the opposite in fact.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Slagging?

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am accused by Deputy Gilmore of political slagging, but I am defending the record of this Government, which has a strong record to defend.

Leader's Questions (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is the first point. The second point is about the idea that I would not listen. When a correction was needed in 2001 and 2002 we were told by the Opposition that we should battle on and not make any adjustments or corrections. The Opposition was wrong on that because the economy bounced back far more quickly. We did not listen either when the Opposition said that not alone were we...