Results 12,701-12,720 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The forthcoming criminal justice (forensic sampling and evidence) Bill is necessary to take account of a European court judgment of December 2008. The court's decision, in a case relating to the arrangements for the retention and destruction of DNA samples and profiles and fingerprints taken from people who are not charged or who are acquitted, was that indefinite retention should not be...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I thank Deputy Kenny for wishing me well on my first anniversary.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Get your retaliation in first.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: From the Government's point of view, the task we have had to undertake, in the context of the economic situation our country and others face, has meant we have had to involve ourselves in expenditure cuts totalling over €4.3 billion. That is 3% of GNP, a reduction greater than that taken by any other country in Europe. We have also had to increase taxes, a measure totalling €3.8...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: We are not electing a Government on 5 June; we are electing local authorities, people to the European Parliament and there are to be two by-elections. We look forward to engaging with the people in those campaigns, as many of our hundreds of candidates are already doing.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Despite what the Deputy says, there are many people in the country who recognise that corrective measures must be taken and the Government has a responsibility to discharge, which they respect. There are those like the Deputy who seek to suggest there is an easier way forward without increasing income taxes. He stated in his supplementary question that he would have provided a greater level...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It has been acknowledged that the changes we had to make in the tax system are progressive, in that a greater requirement has been made, rightly, on higher incomes. The Deputy has made a series of assertions claiming the Government has failed to rectify the public finances. We are in the process of rectifying them but it will be done over several years. The country would not be in a...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Some of the most advanced and developed economies in the world are also suffering from this global recession. Germany's economy will contract by over 6% this year. The people know there is a context in which this is happening. The mandate we obtained in 2007 to provide government for this country until 2012 is one we wish to discharge.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy raised a number of points. He referred to what we said on 25 June 2008 and what I have since been doing. It is true that the Labour Party has not supported any of the initiatives taken by the Government to provide stability.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I would like to answer the question. The Deputy made certain charges against me and I would like to respond to them.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy may feel he is entitled to make a series of assertions before asking a question but that I should only answer the question and leave the assertions unanswered. I am entitled to respond to his assertions. He decided to ask a long-winded question and I will answer it as succinctly as I can within the Orders of the House. He decried the fact that credit was not being made...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: We have a credit problem which is worldwide and which remains to be fixed by the international financial system. If we had gone the Labour Party road, there would be no credit available to anybody because there was a real prospect that financial institutions of systemic importance would collapse without the support of this House. This support was available from some parts of the House but...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is true. I am in mid-sentence.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Not if one is Deputy Stagg.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: To respond to some of the points made by Deputy Gilmore in his multifaceted question, he likes to portray recapitalisation as money that has been given to institutions without a return for the taxpayer. The taxpayer is getting a return on those investments.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am sorry, Deputy Sherlock.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Leaders' Questions provide for Deputy Gilmore to speak on this occasion.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: We are getting a good deal in terms of the warrants and the returns on that money but this was never the contention of Labour Party Members, who like to suggest that it was simply handed over without protection for the taxpayer. That is not the truth.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not interrupt when I am asked questions.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I ask for respect in return. I respect his leader and perhaps he could pay some of the same to me.