Results 2,061-2,080 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: What I find appalling is Deputy Kenny's failure to recognise that no such decision has been taken-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----and that discussions are taking place with a view to ensuring that front line services are protected to the greatest extent possible.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: We, as a Government, have provided 400% more for disability services than when Fine Gael was in office. Our record in this area-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: When I came into office there had been people from Fine Gael and the Labour Party in Government before me who had not been able to provide €1 million for emergency services. My commitment in this area has been proven and there are discussions taking place to ensure that the most vulnerable are not affected and that they find other savings than what may have been suggested by anybody else....

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is not a question of embarrassment for the Government. This Government has committed itself with money and with resources to extending these services, which were in an appalling state before we came into office. The facts speak for themselves and Deputy Gilmore was a member of that Government. He should not suggest to me that I have any cause for embarrassment in that respect.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Howlin was Minister for Health.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Quinn gave me the extra €1 million for emergency services. Then there was the era when Fergus Finlay was the second most powerful man in the Government.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: However, let us leave that aside because we are talking about now.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: Exactly. I want to make it clear that this Government has a record of improvement and increase of services for these people, and rightly so, which I will stand over against any predecessor in any office. I am looking at Deputy Quinn in that respect.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: The second point I want to make is that I have indicated both to the Ministers and to those providing the services that there is a need for them to change whatever arrangements they have - and they have allocated a lot of money - to make sure the people who require the services obtain the services. However, there will have to be changes made in non-front-line services.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: What I would expect from responsible Deputies in this House is to indicate that they agree that those non-front-line services should be changed so that those who require them get them.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: Whatever is required within those organisations or between those organisations will happen.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is precisely what is going on at the moment with Ministers meeting those providers of services. Given the moneys that are being provided - of a total of €1.2 billion, €900 million will go to intellectual disability, which is an awful lot more than when Deputy Gilmore was in office, and some €300 million to those with physical and sensory disability - I am confident that those...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is precisely what the meetings today, tomorrow and during the course of this week are about. That is in stark contrast to the suggestion by a Deputy opposite that decisions have already been taken.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not interested in the politics of it; that is the point. I am making the situation clear to the House, as I am making it clear to the most vulnerable people in our society. I stand over the record of this Government in regard to that. Whatever is required to make sure the most vulnerable people are not affected, that is my requirement and that is what I am saying.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: Regardless of what I hear from Deputy McCormack, that is the purpose of the discussions that are ongoing.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is the commitment I am giving. It is in stark contrast to when Deputy McCormack's party was in office - when it had the opportunity to act its commitment was nil.

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. I attended the June meeting of the European Council on Thursday, 17 June. Since I will make a statement to the House following the Order of Business today I will confine myself to providing a summary account of the proceedings. Much of our discussion at the council focussed on the progress being made by the EU to address the...

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not envisage any support for it to be progressed as an EU project. It is a question of trying to get a wider consensus around this issue. The mobilisation of capital and financial services, the provision of financial services in industry and the jobs this provides make it important that a wider consensus applies rather than simply one involving Europe. That was the basis upon which...

EU Summits (7 Jul 2010)

Brian Cowen: Much progress has been made in research and development. The Deputy will recall that when we came into office in 1997, no moneys were provided in this area, as was the case in many other areas. Thankfully, we have been able to improve the situation over a period. I refer to the EU funded research programmes for which the Irish Commissioner has responsibility. We believe that the seventh...