Results 10,961-10,980 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Agreements with Members. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: As I said in the reply, there is an assistant principal officer who, in the course of the duties he undertakes, helps to liaise with Independent Deputies as required. On the question of agreements with them concerning their support for the Government, as I pointed out here last week, all commitments are predicated on the overriding consideration of trying to ensure that we maintain healthy...

Agreements with Members. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The main liaison in respect of political arrangements is the Chief Whip, but if a person wishes to contact my office, the normal arrangement is for a designated person to handle it. On the one hand, the Deputy argues that no one should be appointed as liaison, as he or she would not have time to do his or her other work and, on the other, the Deputy states that it takes weeks to deal with...

Agreements with Members. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The normal liaising arrangements apply. For the purpose of accuracy, a Deputy's salary equates to that of a principal officer, not an assistant principal officer. The Deputy referred to the decentralisation of the Equality Authority. I do not know from where she got her figures. Last week in the House, I indicated that the amount of money spent in respect of the property aspects of the...

Agreements with Members. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I reject the Deputy's assertion in respect of the Minister. I answered the other questions he posed in my initial reply. The agreements in question are political in nature and were entered into by my predecessor as leader of the Fianna Fáil Party with individual Independent Deputies. The House is aware that such arrangements have existed for over 11 years. The decision taken by Deputy...

Agreements with Members. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have just explained that these are political agreements involving the parties in Government and the individuals who support it.

Agreements with Members. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Absolutely. As already stated, the agreements in question are based on the programme for Government, which incorporates the national development plan, approved Government programmes and annual Estimates for capital and current expenditure. The implication regarding the public finances and the need to prioritise the programmes to which I refer is obviously a matter of extreme importance for...

Agreements with Members. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: If I may say so, that was a long way of stating the obvious. One enters an agreement for the purposes of support for a Government, if one withdraws support from it, then obviously the relationship changes. That is obvious. There is nothing surreptitious or sinister about it. In regard to specific areas of policy, the Government has outlined its intentions in this and other respects. In...

Departmental Expenditure. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. Expenditure by my Department from January to the end of June 2008 was €16,813,000. At the end of October, total expenditure was €26,986,000 compared to a total Revised Estimates provision for the year of €42,240,000. While fluctuations in spending occur from month to month and some expenditures do not fall due until the...

Departmental Expenditure. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: In respect of what heading?

Departmental Expenditure. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not sure where the Deputy is obtaining those figures, but on the specific question of expenditure on consultancies, there has been no spend in my Department's administrative budget on PR between January and October 2008. However, the National Forum on Europe spent €108,182 on public relations as at 31 October 2008. Expenditure on consultancy services by my Department as at the end of...

Departmental Expenditure. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not sure from where the Deputy is getting those figures. I will have to come back to him in a written reply because the subhead in regard to that matter is A7 and I do not agree with the figures he is quoting. The Revised Estimates provision under A7 for 2008 is €275,000. The expenditure to 31 October 2008 under that heading is €103,000, which is 37.5% compared to the amended...

Departmental Expenditure. (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: As I stated, the total saving resulting from the July decisions is approximately €740,000. I have already answered the question on consultancy; the budget has been reduced by 50%. I gave a detailed reply to specific questions on that matter asked by Deputy Kenny. Up to the end of October 2008, the Moriarty tribunal has spent €3.302 million. While it is expected the second and final...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Exchequer returns are due for publication this evening, as the Deputy knows. If they are not exactly as outlined in the budget, further measures will have to be considered.

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: As Deputy Kenny is aware, we are experiencing a sharp deterioration in the economic situation internationally and that obviously affects an open economy like Ireland's, as any other. The Government's approach has been to invest over €8.2 billion in direct Exchequer funding in a capital investment programme, together with the possibility of up to a further €800 million in public private...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Expenditure for 2008 is broadly in line and we estimate that the reduction in overall revenues over those projected will be approximately 13%. November is a disappointing month and next month will be also. It reflects not just the situation in the construction industry but also, more broadly, a slowdown across the economy which we have all observed in recent times. Economic forecasters...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: That deterioration must be addressed by the Government examining further programmes to see in what way we can ensure that going into next year, as challenging as it may be, we can seek to stabilise finances further. The Deputy mentioned further borrowing in order to borrow our way out of a problem, but that is not necessarily a lesson that remains unlearned in this country. We must recognise...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Regarding VAT, the big issue in terms of trade flows is the exchange rate between sterling and the euro.

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: While the UK's standard VAT rate will have an impact on the price differentials between North and South in respect of some goods, it should be pointed out that the UK has increased excise duties on alcohol, cigarettes, petrol and diesel to offset the 2.5% reduction in VAT on those items. Approximately half of the value of goods and services purchased in the State are not subject to the...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: No. The Opposition opposed various taxation and expenditure measures that we introduced to address the budget deficit on the current side.

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is projected to be 6.5% rather than 5.5%