Results 2,401-2,420 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions. (16 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Those who are out of work are not a low priority for this or any other Government. With regard to the specific steps taken, compared to some years ago we have considerably increased training and other placements for people who are unemployed. A consistent effort is being made to assist those who are unemployed. With regard to the prospects for renewed employment growth, jobs are not...

Leaders' Questions. (16 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept the characterisation by the Deputy of what is the Government's strategy or policy. We have many activation programmes in place. In recent weeks, €40 million was announced in respect of the Leader fund which is to be devoted to creating more jobs in rural communities. Last week, a €20 million activation fund was announced, which is about trying to find ways and means in...

Programmes for Government (16 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. As Deputies are aware, our initial programme for Government made clear that its delivery was based on a growth rate of 4.5% annually. The renewed programme for Government takes account of the very much changed economic circumstances and of progress to date in implementing the programme and sets out the priority issues on which...

Programmes for Government (16 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The statement by Deputy Hogan last week was unfortunately untrue and incorrect. On the Bills to which the Deputy referred, on all occasion the Chief Whip is constantly providing information for colleagues and other Whips in the House. It is not a question of suggesting that those Bills will not be passed. The Dog Breeding Establishments Bill is scheduled to be debated in the Seanad today.

Programmes for Government (16 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Let us hope they listen to their master.

Programmes for Government (16 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Work is proceeding on the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill and the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill will come before the Dáil as soon as Committee Stage is completed. Bills have been referred to committees and we need to start putting some time-frames on the consideration of Bills in committees because some of them are doing work other than legislative work. Leader rightly complain in...

Programmes for Government (16 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I would like to get some co-operation from Opposition Chairmen or spokespersons and for them to be available on some occasions. Deputies are busy and have other commitments but we need to start putting some time limits in place because once we refer Bills to committees it appears that the committees, without referring back to Government, decide how long it will take them to consider...

Business of Dáil: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Fine Gael Party put down a motion of no confidence in myself last Thursday, so we decided that we would clear the decks and deal with that. Everyone will understand that it is a prerogative of the Government to do that, given the serious nature of the motion that was put down. The Saville report is being published today. It is a very important day for the families and for everyone who...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I move: That Dáil Éireann has confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government. Inviting the Dáil to vote confidence in a Taoiseach and his Government is to invite them to reaffirm the mandate given by Dáil Éireann when a Taoiseach is elected to lead the executive authority of the State to discharge its duties in the interests of the people. Confidence is, therefore, about confirming that...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Yes, I understand they will be.

Written Answers — Departmental Allowances: Departmental Allowances (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together. Under the terms of an initiative introduced by the Department of Finance in August 2001, my Department pays the salary of secretarial assistants employed by former Taoisigh, up to the maximum of the Higher Executive Officer (standard) scale. The initiative provides that a former Taoiseach may employ two secretarial assistants for a period...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not corrupt, Deputy Quinn.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: As a result, when the international credit market unexpectedly froze, the banks were vulnerable and in need of Government guarantees. Inadequate financial regulatory controls were implemented in Ireland and other international economies based on a mistaken view of governance within banks. There were property tax incentives in place over the period from the mid-1990s which, with the benefit...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----supporting the Garda and the legal system in their independent investigation and prosecution of any criminal actions in the banking sector; the introduction of a radically changed regulatory system; and new rules on bank directors and corporate governance. The Governor's report demolishes a number of mistaken views that have arisen which some have used in an attempt to damage the...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: In particular, his report noted that: As regards the substance of the guarantee itself, it is hard to argue with the view that an extensive guarantee needed to be put in place, since all participants rightly felt that they faced the likely collapse of the Irish banking system within days in the absence of decisive immediate action. Given the hysterical state of global financial markets in...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Regling and Watson report, in its consideration of the sources of some of the issues that arose for the economy during that decade, points out in some detail that joining the euro and not having access to an exchange rate policy - in the context of an open economy such as ours, which enjoyed substantially higher growth rates than those that obtained in other parts of the euro area - was...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Let us be clear about this matter and engage in a civilised debate about it. During the decade to which I refer, demands that were made in this House in respect of increased spending in a range of areas, capital and current, are there for all to see. What those demands reflected were the raised expectations of our people who saw, for the first time, a country that had finally come to grips...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Does that in any way suggest that we were intent on being irresponsible in respect of any of these matters?

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: Absolutely not.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Brian Cowen: In the context of framing a budget, any Minister for Finance - this was the position for all of my predecessors and it will continue to apply in respect of my successors-----