Results 18,101-18,120 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: That was not the most socially progressive thing that ever happened-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----since it allowed those who were well capable of paying fees to pay nothing, thereby limiting the number of people from lower socio-economic backgrounds accessing education.

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: That was not a sustainable model either.

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: But it was very popular at the time and the Labour Party thought it might hold on to its middle class vote but, unfortunately, the tide had gone out for the party. We all know what was behind that one. I am not in the business of playing games either. I am in the business-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----of trying to bring forward a budgetary strategy. All of us in government, taking into account everything that we are trying to achieve to find ways forward that will ensure we have a well-funded sector. Where one has a situation where 35% less revenue is available than was the case prior to this crisis, it is clear that one cannot continue to borrow for day-to-day expenses on an...

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: That in turn has been a strong selling point for the country in terms of attracting investment and to facilitate entrepreneurs at home in finding people with the requisite skills to generate jobs in the future. All those issues must be examined. Deputy Gilmore is aware of the scale of the adjustment that must be provided so that we can continue to not alone reduce deficits but to fund them...

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is very easy for the Opposition to come to the House and say, as it has been doing in public, that it agrees with the targets and the 3% but that it has no costing on the proposal, that it does not believe it will be €15 billion or that one should cut this or that.

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Opposition can play that game but it is not very credible. The more it does so the fewer believe it.

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The more the Opposition's argument is exposed to scrutiny the more holes appear in it.

EU Summits (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. I attended the October meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 28 and 29 October. As I will be making a statement to the House later today, I will confine myself to giving a summary account of the proceedings now. The Council endorsed the outcome of the task force on economic governance, chaired by President Van Rompuy, and...

EU Summits (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: We agree with the need for proposals on a proposed permanent crisis mechanism. As Deputy Gilmore is aware, arrangements for a facility are currently in place that end in mid-2013. It was felt that it would be generally reassuring to markets and to meet the requirements of the situation that a permanent crisis mechanism would be put on a firm legal footing. President Van Rompuy is to...

EU Summits (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: In adopting the Van Rompuy report, the Council is involved in preparing six legislative proposals by early summer of next year, four of which will involve, as I understand it, the involvement of the European Parliament. The proposals are designed to strength the Stability and Growth Pact and the EU regulatory framework for members states' public finances and to broaden the scope of economic...

EU Summits (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The whole question of improved governance in general and of surveillance and monitoring within the euro area is part of the review being exercised by President Van Rompuy's task force since spring of last year when the Greek crisis arose. The outcome of those discussions and the recommendations that have been adopted bring forward the specific legislative proposals I outlined in my previous...

EU Summits (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: We live in a democracy. People have different points of view. I do not know the context in which these comments were made or whether it was a final considered viewpoint. Regardless, the Central Bank in Ireland is part of the wider European Central Bank, which is pursuing the monetary policies of the euro. Our representative there is Professor Patrick Honohan. Members of the Central Bank...

EU Summits (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The suspension of rights in certain circumstances is used only as a matter of last resort such as in regard to a permanent disregard by a member state to deal with the issues with which it is entitled to deal in terms of its membership of the currency or Stability and Growth Pact. The conclusions provide for President Von Rompuy to undertake a separate and subsequent exercise beyond December...

EU Summits (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: These specifics did not arise in the context of the European Council meeting but were discussed at sectoral level. The recommendations of the Von Rompuy report were accepted and it was agreed that the legislative consequences of that would be moved on by mid-next year and that this would be done as urgently as possible given parliamentary involvement in regard to the drafting at European...

EU Summits (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The connectivity in the Irish economy is good, and the broadband story is better in Ireland than what is portrayed here. There is a lot of investment going on, with more to be done. We do not always update ourselves on the position of things and if the Deputy looks at all of those points, she will see they are all important. What we are doing in research and development over a long number...

Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. a7, motion re referral of Value-Added Tax Consolidation Bill 2010 to the Standing Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills; No. b7, motion re referral to joint committee of macroeconomic policy lessons as set out in the report by Klaus Regling and Max Watson entitled A Preliminary Report on The Sources of Ireland's Banking Crisis; No. 16, statements on European...

Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: This judgment was handed down after we had started proceedings here. We will have to consider the judgment and its implications-----

Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----so any further comment prior to its consideration is premature. We argued in court that Article 16.7 of the Constitution imposed no time limit for the holding of by-elections but left the matter to the Oireachtas, and that the Oireachtas had not imposed any time limit in the legislation, but the court took the view that there should be implied in the legislation a requirement that...