Results 1,281-1,300 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Costs (10 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expected total legal costs to be incurred in his Department in 2012; his proposals to reduce these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44059/12]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Legal Costs (10 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the expected total legal costs to be incurred in her Department in 2012; her proposals to reduce these costs [44061/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Legal Costs (10 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Health the expected total legal costs to be incurred in hisDepartment in 2012; his proposals to reduce these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44068/12]

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: Here we go. Press "Play".

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: The House is entitled to a suitable response.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: When will legislation dealing with upward only rent reviews be brought before the House, as promised?

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: I welcome the opportunity to discuss sustainable development in Ireland. I propose to analyse existing Government policy before discussing the progress - or lack of it - that has been made by the Government in implementing that policy. I will examine the role of sustainable development in two of the primary areas of this country's economy - agriculture and planning. I will also consider...

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: The Government is producing worthy documents but failing to legislate for them. That is my opinion. As the Minister said, it is only my time I can account for. It seems to me that during the short span of my time in this Chamber, all we have got from the Government is mere window-dressing.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: If the Government is to bequeath a viable planet to the next generation, which is one of the pressing challenges of sustainable development, it must take radical action rather than allowing its climate change Bill to languish on the C list. As a Kilkenny man, the Minister knows that not too many C teams win all-Irelands.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: The ESRI has raised concerns about the compatibility of the ambitious targets set in the Food Harvest 2020 agenda, which was initiated by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the previous Government in conjunction with farming bodies and representatives. As I said last night on Private Members' business, I am glad that the Government has continued the Food Harvest 2020 policy...

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: This was a regressive move by the Government that damages the concept of sustainable development and, again, exposes the failure of Government to match rhetoric with action.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: It is back to the question of rhetoric and action.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: The Government has not matched its actions with the rhetoric when it talks about climate change.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: Ask the shopkeepers? I will tell the Minister about the shopkeepers.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: Ask them about the upward-only rent reviews. Ask them about changes to the means and mechanisms by which rates are valued.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: If the Minister wants to bring other issues into the debate, I have no problem debating them. He talks about shopkeepers, town centres and the problems with retailers. We have no problem debating that but we will specifically talk about the role of local government in terms of being a bill on top of retailers.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: Commitments were made by his party and others prior to the last election in regard to upward-only rent reviews. When I asked about it this morning, I was told the legislation would not allow for it, as we were told in last year's budget, but the Government has not found a means or mechanism by which it could address the issue in the meantime. Ask the shopkeepers about rates.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: What about the commitment in regard to rates? The Government said the system was archaic and that they would overhaul it. The Valuation (Amendment) Bill before the House makes no effort to overhaul it. That is the situation with regard to town centres, shopkeepers and retailers across the country. I have no problem debating that.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: The Minister with responsibility in that regard has a big problem debating it because he has not effected any of the changes he said he would effect.

Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2012)

Barry Cowen: With regard to the European Union and sustainable development policy, we will work in close co-operation with our EU partners, and we recognise this is a vital part of achieving sustainable development. The Government must play an active role in establishing and implementing EU policies to ensure that all countries are in lockstep on the issue and no competitive issues arise that...