Results 10,161-10,180 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: We can make arrangements for this to be done as quickly as possible. As the Deputy said, the Cabinet met this morning to approve the scheme, which sets out the detail arising from the legislation that was passed last week. We will arrange for that to be forwarded in good time so Members can examine it.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will arrange for the scheme to be circulated to the spokespersons tomorrow so they will have plenty of detail before Friday. As the Deputy will understand, the Department of Finance will be busy today with the budget, but we will arrange for it to be forwarded tomorrow. With regard to Deputy Gilmore's question on the parameters of the scheme, the basic scheme has not changed in any...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I made the point to previous Deputies that, after much detailed work consistent with the legislation passed in the House, we have a State guarantee scheme for the financial institutions that comes under the schedule in a way that complies with EU competition law. We do not wish to put this at risk. Even with the most honourable of intentions, people putting and taking amendments could lead...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Yes.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: In response to Deputy Gilmore, I agree with what the Leader of the Opposition has said. We have passed the law. The legislation on this matter has been discussed and passed by this House.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: We are coming back to it because the Minister accepted an amendment in an effort to be accommodating. He was trying to reciprocate the accommodation he was receiving here. He agreed to ensure that the scheme would come back to the House for its approval. We will either approve it or we will not.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No. I am sorry. The amendments were considered during the debate on the legislation. We have had that debate. The EU is not legislating for this House. I am glad to say the EU has been accommodating in respect of the Irish requirements. It has ensured that the scheme we have devised will enable us to put in place a State guarantee. Such a guarantee is critical to the continuing...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand Deputy Barrett's interest in this area as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security. I assure him that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is concerned to deal with the legal complexities in relation to foreshore matters. He is trying to develop a modern statutory framework that meets the business requirements of the...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am giving the Deputy the information. The Minister is working very hard to deal with this matter as a priority.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy knows, the Department of Health and Children has a large legislative workload. The House has been awaiting the introduction of the fair deal scheme, which is a matter of priority, for some time. The heads of the Bill referred to by the Deputy were agreed last month. It is obvious that work is continuing on the detailed drafting of the Bill. I cannot give a date for when it...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: As I said earlier in response to Deputy Costello's party leader, a motion relating to the guarantee scheme will be proposed for the approval of the House later this week. The motion is being introduced on foot of an amendment to primary legislation that was passed in the House recently. In light of the importance of the matter, and the need to bring clarity and certainty to the issue, the...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Attorney General is considering whether the second Bill to which the Deputy refers can be taken as one compendium Bill, rather than a series of Bills. There is no date fixed for the first Bill mentioned by the Deputy.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is more than likely that it will be the middle of next year before that Bill will be taken.

Vocational Education (Primary Education) Bill 2008: First Stage (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No.

Financial Resolutions 2009 (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I move the following Financial Resolutions:

Financial Resolution No. 3: Income Tax (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept the contention that this is a regressive tax. It is a progressive tax. The reason is that it is based on gross income. If one were to apply this simply to rates, people would have the benefit of access to various allowances and shelters before they would have to pay the 42% rate. Paying on gross income means that where one's income is higher, one pays a higher amount. It...

Financial Resolution No. 3: Income Tax (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No. I will come to that point. The next point made was that it applies to all income. It is clear in the financial resolution that the levy is a tax on income. There is nothing dishonest about it — it is a tax on gross income.

Financial Resolution No. 3: Income Tax (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have listened with respect to everybody. A number of points were made and I wish to reply to them in order to have an informed debate. With regard to the fact that it applies to all income, the Opposition Deputies, when they were members of the Government, had no problem imposing 26% tax rates on people's incomes once an exemption equivalent to €95 was passed.

Financial Resolution No. 3: Income Tax (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Yes, that is correct.