Results 12,041-12,060 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not want to get involved in semantics on that except to say we will make whatever decisions are necessary to keep us within budget by the end of this month, and we will come to the House immediately thereafter and present our position. In the first week of April, we will have a supplementary budget brought to the House. With regard to the question raised——

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the question raised——

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It never is by Deputy Shatter anyway. One need not worry about that.

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It never is by Deputy Shatter anyway; a man of the utmost civility.

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. The initiatives the Government took to try to ensure that we would be successful in maintaining our expenditure within 2008 levels were opposed by the Opposition parties. The €2 billion raised in taxes in our budget was opposed by the Opposition parties. The €2 billion required in expenditure and which everybody in the social partnership——

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The €2 billion required in expenditure, which the social partners agreed was the first step needed to help bring order back to our public finances, was opposed by the Opposition parties.

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Therefore, when somebody talks about——

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: When we talk about the need to bring order to our public finances, which everybody agrees we must, the record will show that the Opposition agreed with that proposition in principle but opposed it in practice. In the present context the four cornerstones of any policy needed to help deal with this situation, are, bringing order to our public finances, trying to get our banks to operate in a...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: If there is a global recession in all the markets in which we operate that has an impact in the real economy of this country. That is a predicament that every Minister of Finance and every Department of Finance must face. This Thursday, the European Central Bank, which has access to the data of all euro area banks in respect of the European economy, will revise its economic forecast, having...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I want to clarify an issue that has been thrown at the Tánaiste on an ongoing basis. The Tánaiste spoke in respect of control of our public expenditure and the quotes are there for anybody who wishes to read them. Perhaps it might be reported to give a full flavour of what the Tánaiste had to say on this matter. She said: "We have made a decision on the amount of expenditure that we are...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. There are political agreements with individual Independent Deputies which my predecessor entered into as Leader of the Fianna Fáil Party. I have confirmed to those Deputies concerned that I will continue to implement those agreements. The House is aware such arrangements have existed for more than 11 years. The House is also...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: There are no arrangements with Deputy Joe Behan. Deputy Kenny should not make a mountain out of a molehill. There are political agreements and on that basis they are confidential. They are obviously based on the programme for Government. Part of that programme sets out that all programmes and policies are predicated on trying to maintain order in our public finances in order that they are...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am amused at the Deputy's fixation with the political arrangements which others have with the Government. It is their entitlement to support the Government if they wish. The fact they are not interested in supporting the Deputy's party——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The fact they are not interested in supporting the Deputy's party is his problem and not my problem. From my point of view I welcome as much support——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Sorry, lads, I welcome as much support——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——as possible in this House on any vote——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——and there are occasions when the Opposition votes for something and other occasions when it does not and that is the way it works. The bottom line is——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The position is very simple; there are people who support this Government on the basis of understandings they have entered into. We work through that process and that programme as best we can with those Deputies. We are all practising politicians and we all know that in the circumstances in which we find ourselves, it will not be possible to implement every aspect of policy but priorities...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am not saying that.