Results 19,081-19,100 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: It has happened in the vast majority of cases.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have explained the situation regarding the Department itself but it is not correct to conflate that with what we have been discussing in recent days. It is part of the existing pay pot of those departmental grades. As was the case in many public service pay review recommendations, it concerns how one can incentivise and recognise exceptional merit, far more modestly than what is suggested...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: The reason there is no precedent is that we are the first country to utilise funds under this new finance mechanism. That is the first point. It is easy to know why there is not a precedent; this is the first time this money has been provided for this purpose. Second, in the cases of the other aid that was provided to the countries the Deputy mentioned, whether humanitarian or other...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: The simple reason is that this is the first time the mechanism has been used as a lender of last resort working with other international organisations that are providing the cheapest form of international credit available to the IMF. If Deputy Gilmore wants to equate humanitarian or other aid to Latvia and Hungary with the situation we are in today, he is not acknowledging the context in...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is not correct.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is not correct. The Deputy is suggesting that the EU will make the money available at a lesser rate than the IMF, which itself is the cheapest international provider of credit. That is something ECOFIN is not prepared to do. ECOFIN was prepared to make sure it would provide additional credit to this country at rates similar to what was available from the IMF, which is the established...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the issue I raised with Deputy Gilmore regarding the question of a general provision based on lending in a situation of last resort, the European financial stabilisation mechanism, EFSM, will have a margin and the decision in that regard was made by ECOFIN in May. This is an ECOFIN-based source of funding from the 27 member states. As the Deputy is aware, there is also another facility...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: The rate that is being provided compares favourably to the cheapest international credit available, namely, that on offer from the IMF, for this purpose. Ireland is the first country to use the mechanism to which I refer for this purpose. Countries that avail of it in the future will be obliged to deal with similar situations. In the context of humanitarian or other aid offered to...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is ironic for the Deputy to refer to treaties of the European Union and the spirit of solidarity when he never voted in favour of one such treaty in his life.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy used the minute available to him and more in order to make his points. He should allow me to reply. I wish to make a serious point. It is unrealistic to suggest that the European Union has not shown a preparedness to assist Ireland in this situation. Two thirds of the facility available to us will come from European Union sources and the remaining third will be provided by the...

Departmental Bodies (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: I made the point that no working groups chaired by my Department are looking after particular tasks or projects. If there is a specific area about which the Deputy wishes to inquire on a policy front, there may be some supplementary information available to hand. This is the manner in which I dealt with it last March when we had some discussion on a specific matter.

Departmental Bodies (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: I apologise to the Deputy. I understand from memory that work has been done in that area, which is due to be finalised by the senior officials group and which will come before the Cabinet shortly but I will get the detail.

Social Partnership Issues (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, together. There have been three formal plenary meetings of the parties to the Towards 2016 agreement since its publication in June 2006. The last meeting of that nature was held on 15 February 2008 and no further meeting has been scheduled. There have been a significant number of bilateral meetings with each of the social partnership...

Social Partnership Issues (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I stated, there have been a number of bilateral meetings both this year and in previous years. However, there has not been a plenary meeting because, as the Deputy is aware, the Government has been dealing with this crisis. In addition, we also have had the Croke Park agreement and there has been a huge amount of consultation and work that has provided the background to dealing with a...

Social Partnership Issues (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not have all the detailed up-to-date positions in respect of the Croke Park agreement implementation body. It has met seven times to date, meets regularly and I understand its next meeting is due on 23 December. That body is available to deal with issues referred up to it, rather than with all the issues. The body exists to ensure that the existing sectors resolve problems consistent...

Social Partnership Issues (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: No plans are currently scheduled for another plenary meeting but it is important to point out that meetings are taking place on a bilateral basis with employers, unions and voluntary pillar on various issues, and that will continue.

Social Partnership Issues (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree with the Deputy. The public service pay agreement, which comprises the Croke Park agreement, has been maintained by the Government. It is sometimes forgotten that the agreement was negotiated against a background of escalating industrial action and put an end to that. In accepting the Croke Park agreement public servants have accepted the imposition of a pension levy and pay...

Social Partnership Issues (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: More should be done and more resources should be applied. It is on the record of the House. None of us can revise all of this. We all have read what was said at the time. That was the case.

Social Partnership Issues (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: Exactly. That was the case.

Social Partnership Issues (15 Dec 2010)

Brian Cowen: Despite the economic constraints that mean certain policies have to be pursued now as a matter of national necessity, a great proportion of the social gains that have been made can be retained. The recent improvements in economic competitiveness that have derived from our capital gains, which are now visible for many people in view of those investments, can also be retained. They can and...