Results 15,021-15,040 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: That method of inquiry has worked well in the past, most recently in the context of the Murphy report. The commission of investigation has been provided by the Oireachtas with all the powers the Oireachtas believes are necessary to enable it to investigate a matter of significant public concern. The tight timeline for the work will ensure the report of the commission is available to the...
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: As the Deputy said, the commission of investigation is set up under the relevant Act and it can decide to meet in public in whatever way it wishes. I have no problem dealing with these matters in any way that enables me to deal with my public duties and discharge them publicly. I am accountable to this House on a daily basis for every decision I have made both now and in the past. I have...
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: -----Deputy Brian Cowen has a problem with the tribunal is nonsense. What I did say from the outset as Taoiseach, and have always said, is that these matters must have careful consideration. We have seen in the past, in the aftermath of tribunals of inquiry held under other Acts, that every time one is held, someone says "We will never do it this way again" and they then jump straight in...
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: Taxpayers are saying we should deal with the facts. Let us deal with the background and causes of this problem, let us get it out there so the facts can be assembled, let us do it in a way that employs the necessary expertise to do it, let the commission of investigation be brought into effect after that, based on terms of reference decided here, which we will all discuss, and let people go...
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: We have made it clear that the purpose of this inquiry is-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: -----to look into the background and causes of the problem, not the decisions we have taken to get us out of the problem.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: Those decisions have been debated in this House ad nauseam, and all night on some occasions.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: The fact is the Labour Party does not agree with the decision we made at the time to bring forward a State guarantee.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: It claims it was unnecessary.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: It claims it was wrong.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: The fact is we had to get state aid approval from the European Commission for that decision. The reason the decision was approved by the European Commission was because it was necessary in the view of the Commission to avoid a meltdown in the banking system of this country at that time-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: -----which would have happened if we did not provide a guarantee for the system.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: The reason banks were guaranteed in that respect is because they were institutions of systemic importance.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: That fact is not controverted by the European Commission. That state aid approval given for the State guarantee confirms the necessity of the decision. The Deputy will continue to come to this House for the next 18 months as he has for the past 18 months saying he did not agree with that decision. That is fine as it is his position. The consequences of going with his policy position at...
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy claims it was a bad decision-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: -----to guarantee the bank.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: Let me answer. I had to listen to what the Deputy had to say.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: Much of what the Deputy had to say was contention and assertion dressed up as fact. He has claimed it was a bad idea and I accept that he disagrees with the decision for the State to provide a guarantee for the banks.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: I am saying that the loss to the Irish economy and the Exchequer would have been huge - astronomical - had we not made that decision.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)
Brian Cowen: These are the facts, which are backed up by-----