Results 10,501-10,520 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the question of how we ensure we deal with the problem of rising unemployment, we have to maintain competitiveness in the economy. Every economy currently in recession is losing jobs. The European economy is losing jobs. The US economy is losing jobs. Jobs are being lost in Asia and everywhere else. That is not to be defeatist about it but it is a fact. If we do not understand the...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It has increased by a quarter. Excuse me Deputy Gilmore, we have a quarter more in the back to education allowance this year than previously.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am explaining to Deputy Gilmore what is happening on the ground where he claims he is in touch. The other point is this——

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: All the other schemes we are bringing forward will be used and adapted to the situation in which we now find ourselves to see what way we can assist those people, whether it is through local employment services or direct contact with FÁS itself, which is to receive funding of more than €900 million next year. Of course I am concerned at the numbers of unemployed.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Yes. But Deputy Gilmore's old ideological position——

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——that the State can provide all the answers to the employment problem is as dated as the ideology he still espouses.

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. I visited New York from 15 to 18 July 2008 during which I fulfilled a range of business, economic, cultural and community engagements. I met with The Wall Street Journal and prominent business media networks Bloomberg TV and CNBC to discuss economic issues. In my discussions and briefings with business contacts, I set out the...

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: As has been said, we hope to be in the United States next during the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. I have no plans to visit in the meantime, but this may change according to circumstances. We very much welcome the fact that, during our national celebrations, we have access to the incumbent in the office of President of the United States. I hope this arrangement will continue as Senator...

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The task force on hunger report that we launched was very well received and the event was attended by many influential heads of relevant international organisations dealing with this area on behalf of the UN and some of its agencies. It was seen as a constructive contribution to the debate. Clearly what we seek are allies for the arguments we make and we will pursue diplomatically the...

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Not yet but I inquired.

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I always try to be helpful within the rules. On Deputy Gilmore's first point, I am not suggesting for a moment that we would take actions that would be regarded as in any way hostile to US investment in Ireland. It would not be in our national interests to do so.

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: While I accept that things are said in campaign speeches, I do not minimise the import of what has been said. I do not wish to draw conclusions which may be adverse to our interests as to do so would be to take a leap too far. As I stated, this type of issue has arisen in the past in terms of treatment of tax treaties, etc., and we have always negotiated, worked and used the goodwill of our...

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: What was wrong with that?

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will not find that in there.

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not like Deputy Gilmore to fail to press home a point when he has material in his hand. I know he paraphrased me as the word he ascribes to me was not used. I wish to set out the situation more accurately. I do not have plans to speak to President-elect Obama. On behalf of the Irish people, Government and Parliament, I have congratulated him on his success and extended our...

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The question of US policy in Iraq is a matter for the United States. I point out that all troops there are there at the request of the democratically elected Iraqi Government on foot of UN resolutions, so we have moved on considerably from the initial situation. These are matters for the bilateral arrangements that exist between the Iraqi Government and the United States, as regards what is...

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy would be the first Galway man.

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the questions asked by Deputy Ó Caoláin, there is no basis for his contention that the Garda does not do its duty in the matter in question just as in other matters. The Garda, if it is to act lawfully, can only act on reasonable suspicion and cannot act on any other basis. The assurances we have received from a friendly country, namely, the United States, are ones we...

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Enright assiduously agrees on that point. In response to Deputy Shatter, I did not meet the President of Iran. Were we to meet in our bilateral relations with the Republic of Iran at ministerial level, we would, of course, reiterate strongly the common position of the European Union on the continuing refusal of Iran to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency's, IAEA,...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 17, Charities Bill 2007 — Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stages; No. 16, Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance 2009, motion 15 (resumed), to be taken immediately after Private Members' business and the order shall not resume thereafter. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and...