Results 15,041-15,060 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: One cannot open one's mouth. The Deputy now has something to say.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: If I may be allowed to answer?

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: If the Deputies have a good case, they will not need to shout me down. I have listened to the Deputy's comments.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: The answer to the question is-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: They do not want the answers.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: The European Commission approved that process because it was necessary. That is a criterion on which to approve the process. The Commission indicated clearly that it was. When we subsequently amended the State guarantee and went beyond the September 2010 deadline for certain types of debt, the Commission reaffirmed the necessity to continue with that guarantee in the way we have proceeded.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: If the Deputy and I have a view-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: If the European Commission gives the ultimate approval for the decision, I suggest the correct decision is more on my side of the fence than it is on the Deputy's.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: Leaving that aside for a moment-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: We are in a Parliament. The Deputy has asked a question and is entitled to an answer. Deputy Burton is not allowed to continue to interrupt.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have listened with respect to the Deputy's leader and I ask for a bit of respect in return. The issue of public and private inquiries has been raised. The UK is on its fourth inquiry on the Iraq issue, I understand.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the issue of a public or private inquiry, if we go for a public inquiry, as the Deputy suggests, in re Haughey procedures come into place and we know where that will lead in terms of procedure, time and cost. We came to this House in 2004 to learn from those lessons of the past under the various tribunals of another Act. We said there would be a committee of investigation giving us the...

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: It will be an independent statutory inquiry. On 1 December, less than two months ago, people stood up on all sides of this House and praised how we had, through that process, come forward with a report from Mr. Justice Murphy dealing with issues which were in the darkest parts of Irish society for 50 years. We were able to come forward with a process that provided clarity and graphic detail...

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: If we are interested in the findings and getting to the facts, causes and background of the situation we are in, let us deal with the process, which has been tried and tested and has proved its credibility to the public as a means of dealing with the matter. We should do the job that is necessary and provide the expertise that is required, given the complexity of the issues with which we are...

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: I know that will not satisfy people here like Deputies Kenny and Gilmore because they have predetermined the issue. They know the answer.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: We do not need an inquiry at all according to them because they know exactly what went on but I am prepared, following the completion of these two scoping reports, to let an independent statutory inquiry decide on those matters and I am in a position to assist in any way possible to achieve that.

Departmental Expenditure. (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. The total allocation for my Department in the Estimates set out in the budget book for 2010 is €28.818 million. This is an overall decrease of 11.8%, or €3.868 million, on the 2009 revised estimate allocation. The estimate for 2010 contains a number of significant changes to the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach. Of the...

Departmental Expenditure. (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: What was the Deputy's second question?

Departmental Expenditure. (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: People must understand that if we are borrowing €400 million a week, that is an unsustainable position and we will put at risk jobs in all sectors of the economy, including the public service, unless we take remedial action. On the question of pay rates, savings of €1 billion have to be applied for 2010 arising from decisions we had to make in the budget on the pay issue. I emphasise...

Departmental Expenditure. (20 Jan 2010)

Brian Cowen: Paper?