Results 17,361-17,380 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: Regardless of what I hear from Deputy McCormack, that is the purpose of the discussions that are ongoing.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is the commitment I am giving. It is in stark contrast to when Deputy McCormack's party was in office - when it had the opportunity to act its commitment was nil.

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. I attended the June meeting of the European Council on Thursday, 17 June. Since I will make a statement to the House following the Order of Business today I will confine myself to providing a summary account of the proceedings. Much of our discussion at the council focussed on the progress being made by the EU to address the...

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not envisage any support for it to be progressed as an EU project. It is a question of trying to get a wider consensus around this issue. The mobilisation of capital and financial services, the provision of financial services in industry and the jobs this provides make it important that a wider consensus applies rather than simply one involving Europe. That was the basis upon which...

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: Much progress has been made in research and development. The Deputy will recall that when we came into office in 1997, no moneys were provided in this area, as was the case in many other areas. Thankfully, we have been able to improve the situation over a period. I refer to the EU funded research programmes for which the Irish Commissioner has responsibility. We believe that the seventh...

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is just a reminder.

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: Yes, I also remember that the Deputy was a member of a Government that, even with the surplus, decided that 30 bob was enough for an old age pensioner. I also recall that with the surplus it decided that €1 million was sufficient for emergency disability services. I have heard all the political rhetoric and hypocrisy that passes for current political dialogue as a result of the present...

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is what the Deputy voted for. Is is not hard to take it?

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: It was the Deputy's socialist philosophy then to give 30 bob to an old age pensioner with a surplus.

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I have explained, detailed budgetary decisions at a national level are not required to be provided in March of the previous year. That is a misunderstanding of the situation. The role of the Eurogroup and ECOFIN generally is to improve monitoring and surveillance of broad economic policies. Broad economic guidelines are set out, there are requirements under the Stability and Growth Pact...

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: The advocation, as we heard earlier, of the status quo plus is not an option of any Government in this country for the foreseeable future. We require transformation agreements and they has been agreed in the public service agreement we have negotiated with trade unions across a range of sectors, including for health and disability services. The fiction being portrayed by Opposition party...

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have just explained the Deputy's advocation of status quo plus is not an option.

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: The standing ovation has not gone to my head. I have made this point frequently. The fact that the Deputy does not have the responsibility to deliver the service enables him to have the luxury of talking out of both sides of his mouth every day of the week and getting away with it.

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: I get it from the advocacy of the Deputy's argument,-----

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----which suggests that he wants to maintain services and do this, that and the other-----

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----but he will find out in due course that it is not possible.

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: No, I am not making it up.

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am obviously getting under the Deputy's skin-----

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: He can give it but he cannot take it. That is his problem.

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: As regards Ard-Fheis speeches, I heard the Deputy's speech and I know all about the suggestions he has been making regarding those areas. He got his kick and his bounce out of it, and the best of luck to him. Regarding the realities we must deal with, which is a different question, and the issue that arises with the budgetary situation, the Deputy suggests that we should prolong the time....