Results 10,681-10,700 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——and must prosecute cases and it is part of their job. They go back onto the streets, prosecute again and return to the court. Deputy Gilmore suggests they should not be in the courts but out on the streets while at the same time asking me the level of prosecution of offences. For an offence to be prosecuted, under our law the person who makes the arrest must go to court and make the...

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: With respect, I will not query the view stated by the DPP on public radio or wherever it was stated on 23 October. This is 12 November and I am explaining what is the up to date position. I do not have to verify it. It is the position. The person who provided me with the information did not make it up.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Why should I have to verify it? I am coming to the House to provide it with up to date information and not to verify it having put it on the record.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny is really murdering this question. That is all I can say.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not have any quibble with the views expressed by the DPP on 23 October. If that was his view, that was his view. The up to date position is as I outlined. That is all I can state about it. If this is an effort to get me into a row with the DPP I have no intention of going there. We all understand the independence of his office and the issues. I will not be brought down this cul-de-sac.

Office of the Chief State Solicitor. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will give the up to date information as of 12 November. A view was expressed on 23 October——

Official Engagements. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 13, inclusive, together. On 22 September, I met with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority. We discussed the current situation in Palestine in general and the prospects of progress towards an agreed two state solution. I travelled to New York to attend the UN high level meeting on the millennium development goals on 25 September....

Official Engagements. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have not put in a request for a meeting with the President-elect of the United States, Mr. Obama, other than to send my good wishes on his election. He should be allowed the opportunity to settle into his new post. He has many preparatory issues to deal with before taking office in January. As I said last week, we should leave it at that for now. We intend to work closely with his...

Official Engagements. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The visit to China achieved a lot. It was the second largest trade delegation ever to leave the State. The largest was also to China, in 2005. As I said, contracts worth €65 million were signed. I spoke to people on the trade delegation and they were very happy with the progress we are making in seeking to establish business relations with counterparts in China. We all know the...

Official Engagements. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I had not intended breaking precedent as the Deputy suggested in respect of that meeting. There are ongoing discussions obviously and I will try to keep everybody up to date with that aspect.

Official Engagements. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I cannot anticipate at what stage we will be, up to the date of the meeting. I am available in the House on an ongoing basis to answer questions and provide updates, such as with regard to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Official Engagements. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do.

Official Engagements. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Work is taking place in the Oireachtas committee. It will produce a report which can be brought before the House, if that is possible. We can take it from there. There are ways in which all these issues can be addressed.

Official Engagements. (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: These matters are worthy of consideration at any time. In respect of Deputy Ó Caoláin's question, I do not have plans to visit Palestine in the immediate future. I have been there on a number of occasions in other capacities. The EU has a common foreign and security policy and the Presidency of the Union usually takes on the role of keeping the Union abreast of developments or, more to...

Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 2, the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted not later than 10 p.m. and that the proceedings on the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed)...

Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Order of Business was set this morning to enable a full day's debate on the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008. There will be many opportunities on Committee Stage and Report Stage for further contributions.

Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The civil partnership Bill is scheduled for early next year. Regarding the children's rights issue, the whole purpose of the committee is to try to develop a consensus to see if there is an agreed way forward. Various options are being examined and tested.

Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is a matter for the committee. It is doing some good work and a lot of discussion has taken place. I will be guided by the committee.

Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Government will introduce its own Bill. Whilst I respect the fact that Deputy Rabbitte has put forward a Bill for consideration, which can be taken in Private Members' time if the Labour Party so wishes, we would not agree with aspects of it. I understand there is a provision for freedom of information in the Bill that Deputy Rabbitte has prepared, and there are other things with which...

Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: That matter has not yet come before the Government, but it will before Christmas.