Results 18,661-18,680 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014: Statements. (25 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny always rises to the occasion.

National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014: Statements. (25 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny always rises to the occasion.

National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014: Statements. (25 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: What?

National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014: Statements. (25 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: No, I do not.

National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014: Statements. (25 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is the basis on which the talks are taking place.

National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014: Statements. (25 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is not waffle.

Freedom of Information (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Ten freedom of information requests were received in the Department of the Taoiseach in October 2010. Some 91 requests were received during the first ten months of the year, of which 70 were granted or part-granted and four were refused. No records were held in nine cases, while three requests were withdrawn. Five requests are ongoing....

Freedom of Information (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Freedom of Information Act provides for citizens to obtain relevant data and information regarding their own particular position, as set out under the legislation. That is fine for people who require their own personal data and information. As the Deputy knows, data protection legislation means that not everyone's personal records or data should or could be available to a wider...

Freedom of Information (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: When the Freedom of Information Acts were introduced they applied to about 67 public bodies and they now extend to more than 500 public bodies, an eight-fold increase in the number of organisations to whom the legislation applies. This indicates to me that there has been an extension over time to include many areas of activity which were not initially contemplated to be included. I am sure...

Freedom of Information (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The detailed application of the Act is a matter for the Minister for Finance but, based on the information I have before me, I will put some facts on the record that may be germane to the questions being asked. The system of fees was introduced in 2003 when Mr. McCreevy was Minister for Finance. A fee of €15 could be regarded as modest, particularly when compared to the average estimated...

Freedom of Information (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said earlier regarding making financial information available, banking laws and legal parameters are set out. We are operating in a commercially competitive environment. No one would suggest, given the investment taxpayers are making in intervening to maintain a viable banking system, that we should put the banks at a commercial disadvantage. Freedom of information legislation does not...

Freedom of Information (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Questions for the operation of financial institutions are a matter for the Minister for Finance to ensure up to date and accurate information. There are valid and legitimate issues of commercial and financial sensitivities regarding freedom of information and the banking institutions. The wider policy issues are to be considered on a continuing basis by the Dáil through a series of...

National Reform Programme (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Europe 2020 Strategy has been adopted as a successor to the Lisbon Strategy for Jobs and Growth. Its goal is to enable Europe to emerge stronger from the current economic crisis as a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy. The strategy addresses the major challenges facing Europe today, including the economic crisis, climate change, globalisation and an ageing population. The June...

National Reform Programme (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It was agreed that we would hold back the draft programme until the four year plan was agreed because that was the priority as far as the European Union was concerned. Arising from that work, we can now turn to the draft reform programme, which will incorporate the four year plan. The five headline targets that have been set out are for employment, research and development, climate change...

National Reform Programme (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Various targets and scenarios are set out by various organisations, including the European Commission, the OECD, the IMF, the ESRI and the Department of Finance. One can consider a range of growth scenarios. The assumptions we made in respect of our plans reflect a knowledge of the flexibility of the Irish economy, its resilience and its broad base. In many cases, the models used in...

National Reform Programme (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is not a question of picking what one feel's like picking but of looking at the various assumptions that are made in various forecasts. As the Deputy is aware, forecasts are based on various assumptions. Whether one agrees with them all or not depends on what one's experience of the economy has been. Prior to this crisis, in the previous ten or 15 years the Department of Finance on...

National Reform Programme (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: There is an annual review in the programme itself and surveillance and monitoring on a quarterly basis.

National Reform Programme (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Yes, of course.

National Reform Programme (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It will be a matter for Governments between now and the end of the programme to decide if they wish to take up the funding based on the terms and conditions that apply. That is the issue. One cannot predict too far into the future given the volatility of bond markets at the moment but one would hope at some stage that some degree of normality would return and we could go back into the...

National Reform Programme (30 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree with the contention made by the Deputy. The policy framework that we are setting out is about stabilising the economy and then moving forward to growth for the economy, albeit recognising that very serious adjustments must be made. A precondition for growth, investment and increased resources for the State is the establishment of a growing economy, which cannot be established...