Results 14,641-14,660 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is a technical question that asked for the statistical details-----

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: An independent review in line with the terms of Towards 2016 of the operation of regulatory impact analysis, RIA, was commissioned to assess the effectiveness of the RIA model across Departments. The report was published in July 2008 and it is available on the better regulation website. It indicates overall that good progress has been made in the implementation of RIA across Departments,...

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no evidence whatsoever that welfare fraud costs the State €2 billion per year. That figure arose in respect of certain high risk categories that were being investigated and a discrepancy of 10% was found. It is not right to extrapolate from that figure that the total level of fraud in the Department of Social and Family Affairs is 10%. The level of fraud in most schemes is very...

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I would make the point that this Government, when resources were available, provided well in excess of cost of living increases for social welfare recipients and finds itself in a position where tomorrow we have to ensure the protection of social welfare recipients' income vis-À-vis the 2008 position by taking into account the fact that there has been a reduction in the cost of living this...

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: And for welfare recipients of the order of 5.5%

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: We increased the rate last year between 3% and 3.8% at a time when we expected inflation to be 2.5%. It is not a question of percentages in this respect. The real issue is that we have an unsustainable public finance position. If we are to protect the most vulnerable in society, as we must and seek to do, we must do so in a way that provides a sustainable way forward.

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: We have increased the social welfare budget by 20% year on year this year over last year. That, of course, reflects the increased unemployment in society. It is also an indication of a preparedness to do everything possible to assist people in this situation and to recognise, as the Deputy fails to, that many improvements have taken place in respect of the obtaining of data by the...

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The introduction of the card, about which we have spoken, will begin in the coming year. The sum of €24 million will be invested and it will be rolled out to 3 million people in the coming years. The Department of Social and Family Affairs has been an example of-----

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: No. That is not fair and people on the other side would want to make up their minds. Is everyone on social welfare defrauding the system or not? The answer is no.

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: What was said by the Deputy a moment ago was that it was a whole series of categories of people who are clearly entitled to their payment yet there is the contention that there is a whole range of fraud.

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: We have indicated that control savings of €475 million were provided for this year. To suggest that 10% is defrauding is not correct. It is not the contention of either the programme or of the evidence that was put before the public last night. If we are to have a discussion on this matter - and it is an important matter-----

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----one has to be vigilant all the time and invest in whatever control mechanisms we can devise that will be effective. We must also be fair and ensure we do not suggest there is a level of defrauding taking place because that does an injustice to those who are entitled to it. I accept totally and unequivocally that anyone who uses the system on the basis of not being entitled to it does...

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is completely at variance with the facts. As the Deputy said, we met with the ICTU representatives on Tuesday morning. A proposal was put to the Government which I said would be considered by Cabinet. It was considered by Cabinet but unfortunately it did not meet the first requirement on the amount of savings that would be required. We reserved our position with regard to it. We...

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I completely reject that view. It is unfortunate that it is usual practice to introduce personalities into the situation. In any discussions I have had with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on these matters the Minister for Finance accompanied me to all those meetings and full and frank discussions took place between all the parties concerned. The Government was at one with regard to...

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not wish to go over everything again but unfortunately on Wednesday it was stated in the media that morning, and subsequently, that a deal had been done-----

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: That was not the case and it was never the Government position

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Government discussed this matter on Tuesday at Cabinet and conveyed our position which was the Government position. I had stated time out of number that the amount required was €1.3 billion. I also made the point-----

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: I ask the Deputy to allow me to reply to his leader. I made the case on Wednesday morning in this House that we required permanency -----

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy must listen while I explain the situation. The negotiations developed. I want to make it clear that the Government had a view on this matter. We were prepared to continue with those discussions. I outlined the Government position clearly to the House on Wednesday and I stated that we needed permanency and a sufficient amount, and we needed to ensure there would be no disruption...

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Brian Cowen: These were sectoral discussions that took place between management and public sector unions. I know about the documents to which Deputy Gilmore refers. In fact by reason of continuing with the talks, one was able to develop the very sectoral documents to which the Deputy refers.