Results 2,481-2,500 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: -----of economic nonsense from some quarters in this House.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This type of pre-crisis politics just will not wash any more.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: If we have learned anything from this crisis-----

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: -----it is that short-term, populist politics does not serve the common good.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are all talking about the need for change in political culture. I quite agree.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: However, I do not believe this stricture applies to my party alone.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Politicians across all parties need to learn to say "No". We cannot go on with a situation in which parties are susceptible to every vested interest that drives by the gates of Leinster House or sets up camp in Buswell's.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government has accepted the findings of the Regling and Watson report that these expenditures should have been discontinued earlier. They were introduced by successive Governments-----

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: -----and it is clear that the tax expenditures contributed to the property bubble. However, the truth is that the love affair with tax incentives continues. As recently as last February, Deputy Bruton, during the under-reported Report Stage of the Finance Bill, tabled an amendment which proposed tax reliefs for general practitioners setting up primary care centres. He did so, I assume, in...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Lest I be accused of interfering in internal Fine Gael politics, I will mention that of course Deputy Reilly, a doctor, supported this vigorously.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This was a request for yet another property-based tax incentive. No matter how the Deputies try to argue their way out of it, that is exactly what it was.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We were in power and we took responsibility, despite the pressure, of rejecting that proposal.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Again, there is a demand for transformative change, but once a lobby group sets up camp in Buswell's or arrives within the precincts of this House, there is a totally different response. This type of politics is over in this country.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Finally, I despair at the level of political debate here today.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is most embarrassing to see Deputies abusing the reports that were published last week. It is clear that few Deputies have read the reports in full-----

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: -----and it is a denigration of the good work of the authors that they should be used for opportunistic political purposes.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Despite the entreaties of the Opposition-----

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: -----the authors of the reports refused to indulge in the blame game when they attended the committee in the past few days. Herr Regling made the point that it would be quite easy to blame persons or institutions. This would be far too simple, he said.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: However, the simple soundbite is what we have listened to all day. The manner in which Deputies have sought to traduce the Taoiseach is entirely unedifying. I have worked closely with Deputy Cowen as Taoiseach throughout this crisis.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: He has shown great steadfastness, judgment, intelligence, courage and determination. History will judge these qualities.