Results 10,201-10,220 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Information Obligations: Information Obligations (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Regulations coming within the remit of my Department and Bodies under its aegis have been examined in the context of the Government programme to measure and reduce administrative burdens which is being co-ordinated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The CSO has identified 17 Regulations which impose burdens on business and is in the process of listing the individual...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Department of the Taoiseach has not had any EU Directives which require transposition into primary or secondary legislation in the past 12 months. My Department does however have a role in monitoring the transposition of EU Directives. Minister of State Dick Roche chairs an Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee on European Union Affairs. The Committee keeps under review, and works to...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Department of the Taoiseach has no EU Directives awaiting transposition. My Department does however have a role in monitoring the transposition of EU Directives. Minister of State Dick Roche chairs an Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee on European Union Affairs. The Committee keeps under review, and works to ensure coherence on, the full range of issues on the EU's agenda. The...

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The marginal rate is available for the course of 2009. The thinking behind what is to happen in 2010 and beyond relates to the review that will take place upon the fair deal scheme coming into play. As the Deputy knows, there are currently families who must pay considerable sums of money and consequently obtain the tax relief. The idea of the fair deal scheme is to treat everyone the same,...

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: As I explained to the Deputy, the measure in page B.6 assumes the full operation of the fair deal legislation by 1 January 2010. The point I am making is that, if the fundamental reform is to take place whereby all in receipt of nursing home care will pay no more than 80% of their income, regardless of whether they are in private or public nursing homes, one will not be able to argue so...

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have just explained that this depends on full operation of the fair deal legislation by 1 January 2010.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is the situation. In the meantime, as our true intention here is not to cause problems or concerns for people, I am making it very clear that until such time as it is fully operational, there will be no change to the marginal tax relief that is available for nursing home care because there are——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No, it is not wrong.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputies are not prepared to allow the clarification to be made because they want to continue with some confusion. There is no confusion.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The present marginal rate remains in place in respect of nursing home care for those who require it and are eligible for it until such time as the fair deal scheme is fully operational, which is a fundamental reform, as Deputies will know. It is presumed the fair deal scheme will be fully operational by 1 January 2010. We will review the situation and ensure that if it is fully operational,...

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not a question of my being embarrassed by any of these measures, which are necessary in the interests——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: These measures are necessary in the interests of trying to provide a sustainable public finance position for the country.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: If it is Deputy Gilmore's contention — it was certainly Deputy Bruton's contention last night — that there should not have been any tax-raising revenue provisions in the budget, what part of the expenditure programme would he cut by another €2 billion? That is what is required.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: If it was also the case that he did not believe there were discretionary spends in the capital programme that should not have been deferred, what further €1 billion in cuts — making a total of €3 billion — would he estimate we could find in the public expenditure programme? If we were to move, as Deputy Bruton said, to a 5.5% deficit instead of the 6.5% deficit and if we were not to...

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: If the Fine Gael budget which has been outlined by its finance spokesperson is that we would have a 5.5% deficit and not raise any taxes——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I want to make it clear——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I want to make it clear that if this is the Fine Gael position — it was their stated public position on the "Prime Time" programme last night — they are required to find another €5 billion in expenditure cuts to make that budget stick. That is the reality.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Those are the facts. Whether one is on the Opposition benches or the Government benches, two plus two is four, and you add the zeros later.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore decries all the methods of raising tax revenue. I do not believe it is the view of the Labour Party that we should cut expenditure further — I do not think that is its position. I have heard what Deputy Gilmore had to say in regard to some tax expenditures. We will debate those in the House and assess their impact, and at least we can have a debate that might make sense....

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the specific point raised by Deputy Gilmore, the medical card is available for GP services.