Results 11,001-11,020 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am talking about over and above our current budgetary position. We have introduced an income levy and some minor changes in capital taxes as part of our balanced approach and in light of a gross return on revenue of €2.3 billion. We also had cutbacks in the context of the July decision, which will have an impact of €1 billion. Further economies were also brought about as a result of...

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: As part of his solution to saving €5 billion he told me to spend an extra €1 billion on the capital side.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I presume this makes for a total of €6 billion. The Deputy also stated that the rate of VAT should be reduced. The difficulty in respect of cross-Border trade does not relate to VAT.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The exchange rate between sterling and the euro is causing that problem.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not want to become involved in an argument with Deputy Kenny. That is not the game I want to play.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I want to be straight and outline where we are at.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny does not have a strategy.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I wish to make a point in passing. Fine Gael's finance spokesperson has stated we should have a deficit of 5.5%. For the past six weeks, Private Members' motions have decried every cutback and economy we have been had to introduce and make in order to achieve a balance.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: What I have stated is a fact. Those in Fine Gael are speaking out of both sides of their mouth. However, they can do so because that is the luxury of being in opposition. In August I was criticised by Fine Gael's finance spokesperson for not concluding the pay agreement. In September I was congratulated by him for concluding it.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: He then stated in October that there should not be a pay agreement.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: My position is simple. We will continue to examine the operation of our pay arrangements in partnership with the stakeholders and not throw away partnership as Deputy Kenny suggested.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The only way this matter will be satisfactorily resolved——

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The difference between Deputy Kenny and me is that——

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The difference between us is that I believe the social partnership process is a problem-solving process, not a problem avoiding process.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I recently engaged in discussions with IBEC and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. Collectively, we will bring forward an approach that will best guarantee our way through this problem.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: We have done so for the past 20 years, in good times and in bad. We are the authors of the partnership process, which Fine Gael has always decried. We will again prove them wrong in respect of it on this occasion.

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not seeking to attack the Opposition. I am defending myself from attacks by the Opposition, which I am entitled to do. Those opposite are entitled to attack me and I am entitled to defend myself and the position of the Government in respect of its policies. That is fair enough. Let us keep it simple. We have a strategy in place. In order to ensure that spending would remain within...

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: It was originally a programme worth €9 billion, based on 4% growth. We will now have a programme worth €8.2 billion based on a contraction in the economy. We could not show a greater commitment to the capital investment programme in current circumstances. The amount to be spent on it would only be increased by €800 million if the economy was growing by a far greater rate. This is a...

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: We need to build up the capacity of the country and to do so as quickly as we can and as public finances allow. Also in regard to the strategy, we have brought forward incentives in the Finance Bill. The Minister for Finance outlined these incentives on Second Stage and in amendments tabled for Committee Stage. These are significant incentives which will allow multinationals to increase...

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Finance Bill will help to secure and advance our enterprise economy while maintaining and enhancing pro-employment business tax reliefs which will support jobs. I recognise that in a recession we will not be casualty free. There are people who are losing their jobs and the prospect of more people losing their jobs is great. We must, to the greatest extent we can, bring about a...