Results 10,261-10,280 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The average industrial wage has also risen substantially. There are now more than 2 million people working in the country despite rises in unemployment during the past year, and, unfortunately, further rises in unemployment are predicted next year. Our completion rates for second and third level education are among the highest in the European Union. It is a key priority to protect this...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: If there is one thing we should all learn from the past, it is that the worst policy of all and the one which causes the most damage to people is to pretend that tough action can be taken without people feeling the impact. The only way to provide quality public services and to maximise support for the less well off is to get us back to strong public finances as quickly as feasible and take...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: We must take a balanced approach, significantly reducing the rate of expenditure on current day-to-day spending from 10% this year to 3.8% next year, by deferring discretionary capital spending, including holding off on further land acquisition and building on the decentralisation programme until the 6,000 public servants who are ready to relocate are in place in the next couple of years. We...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: To do that — people are entitled to put their alternatives to the House — would simply devastate public service delivery——

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——and would involve making political decisions at this time which would simply be untenable. I agree we must move to eliminate the current budget deficit to finally establish a long-term sustainable path, whereby day-to-day expenditure corresponds to tax receipts. As tax revenues are 10% less than expected for this year, with little improvement in that position assumed for next year,...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——they used to charge people on similar low and modest incomes 26% on every £1 they earned beyond the first £84 a week.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Since that time, when the Opposition parties charged a 26% rate, we have introduced reforms to the tax system which have taken 500,000 workers out of the tax net altogether.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Opposition parties imposed a 26% charge when they were in government, whereas we are asking for a 1% levy at these difficult times. The system we propose will ensure that those on high incomes will pay the levy on their gross income and cannot shelter that income from the levy. That is progressive — as one earns more, one pays more. If we were to increase tax rates, for example, by...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: We are providing a package of over €515 million to protect pensioners and other social welfare recipients from the effects of inflation. There is a widespread acceptance that expenditure on child benefit does not achieve an appropriate degree of balance. Therefore, it is right to signal the phasing out of child benefit in respect of 18 year olds in full-time education. Young people from...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Symbolic gestures are important in a community of citizens. We build our civic culture through actions which underline our intentions and our meaning. In this instance, our intention was to show our appreciation of the difficult times many of our citizens will experience in the period ahead. The gesture is an acknowledgement that, in a small society, we depend on each other. Each of us...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: When that happens, Ireland needs to be in a position to take advantage. I want to make it clear that Ireland's future is bright. It has been said that the only safe ship in a storm is leadership.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: This Government will show leadership by managing the economy through this international downturn and on to a path to economic recovery. A time of serious adversity can be a time of great opportunity. In the cycle of any economy, there is a time for renewal and change. The basis for this economic renewal will be the achievements of the past ten years. Yet during difficult times it is...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Nevertheless, the Government is absolutely committed to measures to build on this success. One of the important messages of this budget is that Ireland is very much open for business. Despite the severe financial and economic difficulties emerging across the global economy, there is still a strong enterprise sector which is world-class in its capacity and performance. It is underpinned by...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: How would Deputy Kenny do it?

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No payments have been made by my Department nor any body under the aegis of my Department to the aforementioned supplier.

Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The following table sets out the information requested by the Deputies regarding freedom of information requests received by my Department. All such requests are processed by statutorily designated officials in accordance with the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003. Under those Acts, I have no role in regard to the...

Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the Ceann Comhairle has pointed out on previous occasions, the Minister for Finance bears responsibility for the Freedom of Information Acts. I am answering in respect of the operation of the Acts in my Department. Regarding Deputy Kenny's more general question in regard to fees, there is no charge for personal information. The up-front fee is €15 and the internal review fee is €75....

Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: This is the difficulty. I have information specifically relating to my Department, but the general policy issues regarding a possible extension, revision of fees or amending legislation as a result of reports from various Oireachtas committees or from the Information Commissioner, who, in her annual report, sets out her views, are a matter for Government and the Oireachtas to decide....

Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I can be of some assistance. The Deputy is referring to a recent ruling by the Information Commissioner regarding environmental information that ordered a release of a record disclosing Cabinet discussions. Following consultations with the Attorney General's office, it has been decided that an appeal should be taken in that case.

Freedom of Information. (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Information Commissioner found that the directive on public access to environmental information does not contain any provisions that enable Cabinet discussion on emissions into the environment to remain confidential. In her view, the regulations that transpose the directive, as well as the provisions in the Constitution in respect of Cabinet confidentiality, conflict with the directive....