Results 15,621-15,640 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----as to what his party's position was during the good times when deficits would have been far higher coming into this situation. Both in terms of its policy framework and what it proposed coming into elections, let the record show where the economy would have been-----

Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----had we followed its proposals, when its Members were saying to me when I was Minister for Finance that I was like Scrooge and was not spending enough money on health and education.

Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Now we have the revisionists seeking to suggest they were the responsible ones if only they had been around. The fact is that during those times we created 700,000 jobs. During those times we had growth in the economy.

Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: We now need to ensure we effect recovery and rework the economy again. That is what we intend to do. I will not accept any suggestion from the Deputy, however populist it might appear.

Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The idea that the financial viability of the country would have been best served by not proceeding with the bank guarantee on 29 and 30 September 2008 is so far off the mark that it is unbelievable. It is true that everyone in the Central Bank of Ireland and all advice to the Government at that time related to the systemic nature of those institutions.

Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is the situation. There is no suggestion from the Deputy or anybody else that would suggest that we could get easier access to funds by not having that bank guarantee in place. In fact the bank guarantee has provided us with the means by which banks have been able to continue to operate and has reduced the cost of access to funding. In addition, the banks are paying for the guarantee....

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. I participated in the informal meeting of the European Council on Thursday 11 February. As I will be making a statement to the House later today, I will give a summary account of the proceedings now. As the House is aware, the Council agreed a statement in relation to the challenges facing the Greek Government in order to...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Visits by who? Is the Deputy talking about visits by me or the spy?

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It would be very inappropriate to raise with the United States President a bilateral matter between Ireland and another country in which he has no involvement whatever.

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is a matter of concern for the Government and has been taken up by the Minister for Foreign Affairs with the Israeli authorities. If I have a problem in regard to America, do I go to Israel? The situation is very clear-----

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not giving a smart answer, but rather a very frank answer. I do not see any connection, whatever. I do not believe it would be appropriate. I have many things to discuss with President Obama in regard to US-Irish relations but I do not see that as one of them. That is a matter which must be dealt with by the government concerned, through which there has been an involvement or...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am making the point to the Deputy that I do not see the relevance of this to the questions that are put down here. If Deputy Kenny wants to ask a question about this, he should put it down. As regards the matter he is raising, every citizen is concerned when the integrity of the Irish passport is compromised and it is a question of taking the matter up with the authorities concerned. The...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have spoken recently to the Irish Ambassador to the United States about these matters. He mentioned them to me and what is the congressional view on them. Unfortunately, it is not an issue at the top of the domestic agenda in the United States, for obvious reasons. However, it is one in which I know the President has a personal interest. We will seek to obtain from him what the present...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Minister has noted what the Israeli Foreign Minister has had to say regarding the absence of knowledge by the authorities about this matter. He has also taken up the matter with his EU colleagues and it will be pursued. As has been said, we have no wish to see the integrity of our passports being compromised in any way. We recognise the impact this could have for the security of our...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: No. No one has been more vigorous than the Minister, Deputy Martin, in respect of pursuing the matters that have affected the countries in the passport issue and I do not accept that there has been any absence of vigour on his part. I refer to the appointment of the Commissioner. The nomination for Commissioner, Máire Geoghegan Quinn, was decided by Government. It was intimated to me by...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I made the point that Máire Geoghegan-Quinn had to go before a parliament and be accepted. She was simply our nominee. I refer to the issue of the possibility of the former Senator de Búrca pursuing a career or seeking to establish if there were prospects in that area. I sought to assist in whatever way I could after it became clear that it would not be possible for her to become a...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: No, it does not arise because while the position was mentioned as a possibility for consideration were it to be of interest, no interest was indicated. As I have stated already, the question of Máire Geoghegan-Quinn's cabinet is a matter for her. I was supportive of any Member who wished to be considered or who indicated an interest but I emphasise the point that Máire Geoghegan-Quinn...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn made the point very clearly that there was no condition precedent in regard to her appointment to the Commission subject to the approval of the Parliament. I indicated former Senator de Búrca's interest in being considered for a position in Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn's cabinet.

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Yes, that interest was conveyed. As I said, the determination of the composition of Commissioners'cabinets is a matter for the Commissioners themselves. I cannot determine it. On the question on the European Court of Auditors, there was no question of having to speak to the nominee because there was no nominee in prospect at the time. We had not decided on a nominee. I was simply making...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It was indicated to me that was not the case. I had no direct contact with former Senator de Búrca on these matters.