Results 18,781-18,800 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: This is Parliament. It has rules.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: We have set out the Order of Business for the day. It was insisted on yesterday that we proceed with the proposals that are before us. If it is possible for the Whips to provide for half an hour within that timeframe, without changing it, I am sure that can be looked at in an effort to be helpful. The interagency co-ordination group has been meeting since this spell of bad weather began....

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: I answered that question.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: The draft documents are being finalised, as Deputies are aware. I think they are going to ECOFIN next week. The Minister for Finance intends to circulate the up-to-date draft documents that have been referred to when he makes his contribution in the House at approximately 3.45 p.m. this afternoon. They will be available before they are finalised on 6 and 7 December next. I think those are...

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: Obviously, I cannot announce the budget in advance. It will be announced next Tuesday. The legislative arrangements that will have to be put in place to give effect to the budget will take place consequent to the announcement. I presume the Deputy will accept that I cannot indicate what is in the budget at this point. On the question of the availability of documentation in draft form, the...

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: The terms and conditions that apply to the drawing down of funds include structural changes such as the reduction in the minimum wage. The timeline, etc., set out in the documentation will be dealt with accordingly. Those were the conditions on which this facility can be drawn down.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is a figment of the Deputy's imagination.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for that Bill.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not wish to cross the Ceann Comhairle at any time. An affordable energy strategy is being drawn up. In this winter season, more than €240 million will be made available by the Government under various household packages such as the national fuel allowance and free electricity and gas allowance. The household benefits package in 2009 extended the period by two weeks from 30 to 32...

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: An affordable energy strategy is being prepared. In the meantime, this Government has made real improvements which are well above the cost of living increases at a time of severe economic and financial crisis. We have been able not only to maintain but to increase them and to extend the period in 2009 at a time when the economy was contracting by 10%.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: This stands in stark contrast to the Labour Party's record when it had responsibility for this area.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: That Bill is due to be published this session. For the purposes of reply and to put it in my own words, having listened to the Deputy's point, the ratification of conventions can only occur when the necessary legislation is in place to implement the convention. Other countries ratify conventions and have no domestic framework for them. It is preferable that we bring forward the legislation...

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for that legislation.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: We will deal with that one next year.

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is intended to take that legislation before Christmas, probably the week after the budget. It is important that we get it through.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: The amount paid by my Department in legal charges in the years 2008, 2009 and to end October 2010 is detailed in the following table: Year Legal Fee Spend 2008 € 159,676.59* 2009 € 29,190.07 1st January to the 31st of October 2010 € 29,846.35 * €159,376.59 relates to legal charges for the Commissions of Investigation into the Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk Bombings and the case of...

Leaders' Questions (7 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: All these matters have been laid out in the report by Professor Honohan. He set out the whole situation. The Secretary General of the Department of Finance has been speaking to the Committee of Public Accounts and the Joint Committee on Economic and Regulatory Affairs outlining the work of the Department of Finance right up to the point-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: If I am given the opportunity to reply I am sure I can clarify the matter. The Secretary General set out in detail the role of the Department of Finance. The only issue that arises in addition to what has been said already is regarding the fact there was a Cabinet meeting on Sunday and which has been well reported. There was a Cabinet meeting relating to preparations for the supplementary...

Leaders' Questions (7 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I have outlined to Deputy Kenny, there were no decisions taken whatever on Sunday. The incorporeal meeting that was held on the Monday night-Tuesday morning was the meeting that took the decision. It was not taken on the spur of the moment, as he knows. There was considerable discussion during that night-time and early morning as to what the best options were in the circumstances. I do...

Leaders' Questions (7 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: The issue was based on the knowledge that was available to our Government and the expert advice we received at the time confirmed that an overall guarantee was what was required. It has been confirmed by Professor Honohan in his report that an extensive guarantee was required, given that if there was not a guarantee to the system, the whole financial stability of the State and the banking...