Results 12,681-12,700 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I cannot anticipate the date of the referendum. It will depend on how everything ends up at the June Council meeting. I take the general point that it would be important thereafter to try to come to a conclusion on the best time to hold the referendum and have everybody behind a "Yes" campaign who was behind it the last time. People are examining that as we speak. There is no great...

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, I was being appropriate in not presuming on agreement until agreement and approval is provided. The Council meeting is the format in which a formal decision will be taken in that respect. In the meantime much preparatory work is being undertaken. We are working with the Presidency, which has had its own difficulties in terms of the Czech Republic's domestic politics. The Minister for...

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Obviously, I do not agree with the analysis of the Deputy in many respects, regardless of the specific report which I have not seen and on which I cannot comment. A more benign interpretation of the situation might be to say that unless we have a socially inclusive Europe, the relevance of Europe to ordinary citizens is not as obvious as it is to those who see the benefits of the economic...

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: While I do not wish to be argumentative, I do not accept that we have not been listening. We have been involved in an all-party initiative on trying to come up with constructive proposals that move us forward while at the same time upholding our national interests. Ultimately, the people will be the arbiter of these decisions. That is part of the democratic life of the country. I do not...

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is very naive in my view.

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is my view and the Deputy has a different view. That is fair enough and we will accept that.

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is absolutely sustainable in its own terms, but it has no political consequences that would add to our position. That is the problem. It just brings everything to an end and leaves us there.

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It absolutely does and it suggests——

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is a new beginning without us at the centre. That is the problem.

Official Engagements. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: More relevantly, on the Deputy's question, obviously the deliberative process is ongoing. When the texts are agreed and become available, we can discuss them and argue them out. However, while discussions are taking place, there is a deliberative process in train which has to be gone through. We are engaged with the Presidency and legal services on these issues. On Deputy Bruton's point,...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 3, Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage; No. 21, Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 22, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 — Second Stage (resumed). Private Members' business shall be No. 68, motion re infrastructure stimulus package (resumed), to conclude at...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Legislation to establish and govern the operation of the national asset management agency will be introduced during the summer legislative session. Initial work on the preparation of the legislation is underway in parallel with preparations for the operation of the agency. As the Minister said, he is considering the establishment of it on a non-statutory interim basis with a view to...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is being done.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I referred to initial scoping work and logistical issues. One must get on with preparing the agency to become operational upon enactment of the legislation.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have answered the question twice.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: In the interests of transparency, the Minister made the policy announcement as to what direction the Government would take in regard to this matter in his Supplementary Budget Statement. We have said the heads of the Bill will be prepared in the coming weeks. The agency will be put on a statutory basis. In the meantime, and quite properly, preparations are being made so that when the...

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill is due in this session. I hope the heads of the health information Bill will be brought to Government in the coming weeks and we can deal with those issues at that stage.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for that.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: This matter can be discussed with the Chief Whip. I understand the report is out for public consultation at the moment.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Second Stage debate on that Bill will be arranged by the Whips.