Results 16,981-17,000 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: In many cases the fiscal stimuli that are being provided were in the productive sector, in the capital area. The average capital investment in EU countries is some 2% to 2.5% of GNP, but in Ireland it is twice that. Different countries are at different stages of development in terms of how their infrastructure matches their requirements. We still have some way to go but have made a huge...
- Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: In regard to the Mercosur talks, Ireland led the food safety agenda on the last occasion when these discussions were taking place and we have continued to make the point that for European farmers to compete we must obtain a level playing field. Ireland has been to the fore in these matters. It is not just about putting forward, as has been suggested, some type of protectionist measure; it...
- Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: I outlined the agenda for the European Council meeting in my primary reply. There have been occasions when issues that have arisen between the setting of the agenda and holding of the meeting have been discussed. It is a matter for the President of the Council, Mr. Von Rompuy, to assess the position. Also, the General Affairs Council of Foreign Ministers will be meeting on these matters on...
- Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: On the question of what poverty or reduction targets will be involved in the strategy, we welcome the promotion of greater social inclusion, including a target to measure progress in reducing poverty in Ireland and in a number of other member states. I voiced certain concerns about the indicator proposed by the European Commission. We have all agreed that further work needs to be done and...
- Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: On the matter of the common foreign and security policy position on the Middle East, the Deputy, as a close observer of these matters, will be aware that regarding the position of the European Union, any movement in position towards what we would regard as our national position has been slow in the extreme. This incident, if not properly responded to, very much weakens the view of those who...
- Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: -----does not exactly increase influence. There is a need for people to look rigorously at what is happening here and as a chain of events, as the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said, to indicate that a position has been taken here which seems to suggest that people can act with impunity or that one nation's or one government's particular definition of events is the one that should dictate...
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 20, Merchant Shipping Bill 2009 - Report Stage (resumed) and No. 21, Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad] - Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stage. Private Members' Business shall be No. 35, Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2010 - Second Stage (resumed), the proceedings of which, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30...
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: I am not aware that any work has been done in respect of the Committee of Public Accounts issue. The question there is of enabling the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct a report which report is then considered by the committee in the normal way. It is an important committee and conducts its-----
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: In fairness to Deputy Allen, I have never known him to be a person who has succumbed to strangulation in any of the activities in which he has been engaged in any committees of this House.
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: His ability to widen his shoulders and pull up his sleeves is well-known to everybody, even-----
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: It is not a matter I can deal with off the top of my head. The matter the Deputy referred to was that the Comptroller and Auditor General would produce a report and the Committee for Public Accounts would consider it in the normal way. I apologise. Deputy Kenny's first question related to a referendum on the issue of Article 41. As he knows, the concentration at present has been on dealing...
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: Having made the Government decision and having announced it last week work will now proceed in engaging with the European Commission and within that Department and the Department of Finance, to get the necessary financial advice as to how to proceed with the various decisions that have been taken. The Deputy can take it that this work can begin now, based on the Government's decision.
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: I understand the Central Bank (No. 2) Bill is due before the end of this year. The Minister has indicated that will deal with other matters over and above what has been dealt with in the Bill before the Oireachtas.
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: The management company issue was finalised in the Seanad yesterday and can come back to the House in due course. The Deputy may speak to the Whips about when that can be achieved, as it is an important issue for the House to consider. On the banking inquiry, the Minister for Finance will bring the reports that come to hand this week to Government next week for its consideration. Following...
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: There is.
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: It is an important issue, as Deputy Bruton knows. Legislation is being prepared and will be brought to the House in the next session. We hope to have that legislation before the end of the year. With regard to Deputy Costello's comments, I thank him for referring to the speech I made in UCD, which set out the idea of commemoration over the next decade. Given the amount of legislation we...
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: I understand it is to be published this session.
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: The question of the work undertaken by the Minister regarding social contributions and how to look at the number of levies in place in order to pull together a more coherent system will be considered in the budgetary context. The Deputy would perhaps be best advised to address a parliamentary question directly to the Minister for Finance on the mechanics of the preparation and what way he...
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: The health information Bill, I understand, should be published later this year. The Central Bank (No. 2) Bill, as I was saying earlier to Deputy Kenny, will more likely be later in the year as well. In fact, it will be later in the year.
- Order of Business. (2 Jun 2010)
Brian Cowen: I know the Deputy is interested in these matters. I understand that the earliest would be next year.