Results 12,021-12,040 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (3 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am hopeful the matter will be addressed during the next session.

Finance Act 2004 Section 91 (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2009: Motion (3 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2009, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 29th January, 2009.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have made: two appointments to the Board of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC); Mr Tom Parlon, Construction Industry Federation and Ms Siobhan Masterson, IBEC; one appointment to the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF); Senator Maria Corrigan; and three appointments to the Council of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP); Mr Dermot Curran, Department...

Written Answers — National Flag: National Flag (3 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my written reply to his question on this matter on February 17th, which was as follows: 'The National flag and the EU flag are both represented in the backdrop to the podium in the Government Press Centre. In addition, the National flag is present at all major press conferences held there. However, camera angles, interview positions etc can mean that the National flag...

Written Answers — Cabinet Committee Meetings: Cabinet Committee Meetings (3 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The dates of the past six meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion are 26 November 2008, 13 February 2008, 24 October 2007, 28 March 2007, 21 February 2007 and 17 December 2006.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The following table details the companies or consultants engaged by my Department, or any agency under the aegis of my Department, since June 2007 to end of January 2009, to provide advice or training in the areas of public relations, communications or media training. Year Name Amount Purpose â'¬ Department 2007 PSM Ltd 500 In-house information session/sound bite session for...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I said, on the basis of the Exchequer returns, the Government position in January was that we would take savings of €2 billion. It was agreed in the framework that was what we should do. On the basis of the February returns, this economic convulsion confirms that further measures are needed. We have made it clear that we have to work within the figures we submitted to the European...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the question of unemployment, of course one is very concerned and I am very concerned about the fact that unemployment has been rising so fast. It is up to 10.4% as of the February figure. We had unemployment back in the 1980s of more than 17%, but I do not want to make a debating point of that. Thankfully, there are still approximately 1.8 million people working in this economy.

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: We need to be mindful that we need to try to maintain as many jobs as possible in present circumstances. Any rise in unemployment, of course, is a very unwelcome development. It is clear that the depth of this recession and the impact it is having worldwide in markets in which we need to trade means demand is less now than was the case in the past. That is having its effect in the real...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The third point I would make is that we brought in ten surpluses in 12 budgets during that period.

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: That went towards reducing debt — halving the debt and thankfully——

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The important point to make regarding——

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The important point to make regarding that matter is that basically the country has a strong balance sheet in terms of the relative low debt we have — although rising — but we have a very weak profit and loss account because our day-to-day expenditures well exceed our revenues. That is the issue we face. In the past increased public services were required as was increased capital...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: We want to be fair and honest. At the end of 2007 all economic forecasters in this country were talking about a minimum growth rate for 2008 of 2.5% and a maximum of 4%. So the idea that the economic convulsion, which has now beset the world economy and is affecting every country in the world, advanced economy and leading manufacturing economy in the world, was foreseeable in terms of its...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: In 2008 we came in on target for our expenditure. We have had a collapse in tax revenues both last year and continuing this year. That is having its impact in a way that we now need to address. On the basis of the Exchequer figures that appeared yesterday the Government made the immediate decision that we would bring forward a supplementary budget in the context of a wider stabilisation...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: If on the Deputy's own admission they are not intended to raise revenue——

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——the impact of those proposals would be to widen the deficit rather than close it. This is the difficulty we all have.

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Let me finish and then the Deputy can come back on the point. The simple point I am making is that I accept we need to try to maintain jobs to the greatest extent possible. We need to provide support for enterprise and in that context, measures such as these need to be considered. However they also need to be part of a wider more integrated package that will also deal with the budgetary...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——they will also need to fit with the fact that we need to raise revenues and also address the expenditure issues that arise.

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: First, to answer Deputy Gilmore, in no way have I suggested that these figures are mere statistics. As I said at the weekend, behind every statistic, behind every job loss, is a person or family whose difficulties are made all the greater by losing their job than was the case in the past, with the anxiety and concern that it brings with it. That point is understood and well made by...