Results 11,201-11,220 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: We will continue to protect the taxpayer in the context of trying to maintain confidence and stability in our banking system.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the final matter Deputy Gilmore raised, it is our intention in the Government to continue to lead. It is our intention to engage with the social partners and to provide ourselves with the means by which we can deal with these challenges. These challenges will not be dealt with in the partisan way in which Deputy Gilmore wishes to deal with them. They will be dealt with...

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have already answered Deputy Kenny regarding the health situation and have indicated that the need for more efficiencies and effective delivery of services is a critical part of maintaining services in the health service next year. That is on the basis that €14.7 billion is being made available to the health service, an increase which takes account of the €580 million cost of the...

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy can do all the name calling he wants because he is good at it. That is part of the rough and tumble of politics and I have no problem with it.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: However, I assure the Deputy that the Government will work hard on maintaining this country's reputation as a good economy, a place to do business and a location where enterprise can prosper. We also know that an Irish recovery can only happen when a global recovery takes place because this is an open economy and we are affected by what happens abroad. We are not total masters of our own...

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——when one considers our membership of the eurozone and the fact that exchange rate policy is not decided here.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: We also know we have inherent strengths on which we can build. While we experience these difficulties in the economy, can we please desist from suggesting that the past ten years were an illusion and that we did not create the numbers of jobs that were created or improve the quality of life of our people?

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: We certainly did these things. We are now facing higher unemployment levels and we need to put in place policies that will help us to deal with the situation. This phase will pass. We have to indicate to the public where this economy can be in a number of years if we take the correct decisions now. I believe the correct decisions — the elephant in the room if Deputies would prefer —...

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not asking the Opposition to be silent. That is a matter for Opposition Deputies.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: They are capable of articulating their own points of view and that is a part of our democracy.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: However, I will not have it said when I defend this Government's record that I am suddenly attacking the Opposition.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am entitled to defend our record.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: It has been a proud record and now that we have entered a new situation, this Government will ensure our response is appropriate to the challenges we face.

Official Engagements. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 19, inclusive, together. I travelled to Paris on 1 October to meet with President Sarkozy. During the meeting we undertook to work closely together between that date and the December European Council. President Sarkozy expressed interest in coming to Ireland again during his Presidency but this was overtaken by my visit to Paris on 5 December. I...

Official Engagements. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have not been turning my mind to the early appointment of the next Commissioner. On the second point, from our perspective the stimulus brought to the economy in view of our financial position has been the maintenance of our capital investment programme, which is twice the European Union average. Were it the European average, the capital programme would be approximately €4 billion next...

Official Engagements. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Our position on the justice and home affairs area is to participate as fully as possible. There is a reserve in terms of ensuring the difference between common and civil law is respected and understood. We are legally advised there may be occasions where that full participation might not be possible as would otherwise be the case. Our demeanour in the area is to work co-operatively with...

Official Engagements. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: As regards the issue of a Commissioner per member state, in the event of the Lisbon treaty not being ratified the Nice treaty arrangements will be operable. Those arrangements state that when the membership reaches 27 the Council will have to agree to a reduction of that number and provide a solution along the lines of the Nice treaty. Therefore one cannot guarantee a Commissioner per...

Official Engagements. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Providing support for vulnerable workers is of central concern to the Government. The development of European policy and practice reflected in the Union's legislation has been hugely positive for workers in Europe, including Irish workers. To take but one example, this is reinforced by the adoption of the directive on temporary agency work. This measure continues the long established...

Official Engagements. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the questions raised, this is an exercise in democracy. Concerns were raised by our people about the Lisbon treaty, which meant the treaty was rejected last May in a referendum. The Government undertook a process, as did the Oireachtas, to see in what way we could first of all identify the main concerns. As the Deputy knows, different points of view were expressed on different...

Official Engagements. (17 Dec 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is best to use the language of the conclusions to avoid confusion. That is if one is not interested in spreading confusion. The conclusions state they are legally binding guarantees.