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

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: What does it feel like?

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I welcome Deputy Howlin's suggestion. I believe the Minister of State may have in mind the possibility of this happening. He has been engaged in some informal discussions with spokespersons thus far and will report back to the Government next week. The Government will seek to facilitate a constructive dialogue on this issue as a matter of priority.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: We know how accurate are Mayo forwards.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The heads of the Bill were approved in December and it is being drafted at present. It has not yet come before the Government but I expect it to so do within this session.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Not in the immediate future, no.

European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I seek the indulgence of the House. No discourtesy is intended to the Opposition spokespersons or the Leader of the Opposition by asking whether I can leave the Chamber after giving the speech, rather than remaining here.

European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I thank the Deputies. As Members will be aware, the European Council met in Brussels on 16 and 17 December 2010. This was its sixth full meeting in 2010 and an additional meeting of Heads of State or Government of the eurozone also was held in May. This unusually high number of meetings reflects the unprecedented economic events which confronted the Union last year. Economic matters were...

European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: It should be on the way. I agreed that these consultations should be concluded in time to allow formal adoption of this decision in March 2011, completion of national approval procedures by the end of 2012 and entry into force of the amendment on 1 January 2013. The proposed amendment is simple and states: The Member States whose currency is the euro may establish a stability mechanism to be...

Departmental Strategy Statements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: -----the Forfás Making it Happen document, the trade and tourism strategy, the jobs and growth strategy,-----

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: In September 2010, following a public tender process, Indecon International Economic Consultants were awarded the contract to provide technical economic assistance to officials in Government Departments conducting Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIAs) and other technical exercises relating to the Better Regulation agenda. The aim is to help Departments improve the quality of the quantitative...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The arrangement whereby citizens aged 65 and over were exempted from passport fees was introduced in 2005. In light of the current budgetary situation, the Government found it necessary to discontinue this arrangement. Accordingly, all passport applicants aged 18 years or over will pay the same fee of €80 for a ten year passport.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I wish to announce for the information of the House that the President, acting on my advice, has accepted the resignations of Deputies Mary Harney, Noel Dempsey, Dermot Ahern, Batt O'Keeffe and Tony Killeen as members of the Government. I advised the House yesterday of the resignation of Deputy Micheál Martin. I want to put on the record of the House my gratitude to each of them for their...

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: In her previous work as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Tánaiste she made an enduring contribution to developing the economic base of the country. Deputy Noel Dempsey has served this country well in a variety of portfolios. At the Cabinet table he was a straight talking and respected colleague, forceful in his contributions and a loyal supporter of Government decisions....

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: If I may, I would like reply to some of the assertions that have been made. As outlined in my statement to the House, I believe it is essential for the country that we proceed with publication and enactment of the Finance Bill 2011. Deputy Kenny inquired as to the revision of the scheduling in that regard. Second Stage of the Bill will be taken next week and subsequent Stages will be taken...

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: -----which we believe help it confront and overcome. That is the issue as far as I am concerned. I challenge the politically correct view that suggests that it was a stunt; far from it.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I am giving my view.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: This election is about the future of this country.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: We have people who have the talent and ability to put that case and to put it vigorously and with determination. That is my strong view.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: As I stated, the convention of coalition Governments has always been on that basis.

Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: In the event of there not being majority support for such nominations, I am reassigning those portfolios to existing colleagues in the Government.