Results 3,101-3,120 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Bill in question is very detailed and comprehensive. Work on the legislation is ongoing and heads have been drafted. Detailed discussions are required between the Office of the Attorney General and Department. The Bill, about which the Deputy speaks on a weekly basis, is very large. Perhaps I will dampen the Deputy's enthusiasm a little by stating it will not come before the House too...

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not have a date for that Bill.

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Government has not made a decision to hold such a referendum. The issue is one of a series of issues that would require a referendum were they to be proceeded with. The issue of holding a referendum on children is also being considered.

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: Based on what the Minister has said, a referendum rather than legislation would be required to deal with the matter. A decision on the timing and detail of how or when that would be done has not been taken by the Government.

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the question of banning certain products or substances, under the Misuse of Drugs Act it is proposed to introduce controls on a broad range of substances, which would make the possession and sale of these substances illegal and subject to criminal sanctions. The draft regulations have been notified to the European Commission under the relevant technical standards directives. This is a...

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is on the list for this session.

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: The second Bill is being drafted as a priority under the aegis of the Minister of State, Deputy Andrews. The landlord and tenant Bill will not be drafted until next year.

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Government approved a framework for a climate change Bill which sets out its key priorities but work is still ongoing. A parliamentary question for the Minister on the attitude of the Department to the suggestion made is the best way to deal with this.

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: The first Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad and the second Bill is on Report Stage in the Seanad.

Order of Business (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is a matter for the Seanad.

Leaders' Questions (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: We have set up a banking inquiry to look into all issues related to lending practices and other things that have been happening in the retail banking sector and the building society sector. That will be dealt with as we set it out and that is the place where we can deal with all of those issues. On the specific matter of the Bank of Ireland, the facts of the situation as I understand them...

Leaders' Questions (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand he is not receiving any additional pay or pension entitlements. Contrary to how this is being portrayed, this is a payment into an overall fund that provides for pensions for most Bank of Ireland staff. If it was not made, the fund would be short of resources to meet its obligations to all Bank of Ireland pensioners and staff who will retire in future. It is a payment that is...

Leaders' Questions (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: The facts of the situation are contrary to how the Deputy is asserting them. I understand the public perception and I hold no brief for the Bank of Ireland pension fund. I am just setting out the facts of the situation. From the Government's point of view, we have capped the salaries and we have ensured no bonuses are being paid. There can be no enhancements of pension entitlements...

Leaders' Questions (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: Concerning what has arisen in regard to Irish Nationwide, I do not believe it was ever brought to my attention that such a problem existed. A Building Societies Act was passed in 2006, before which discussions took place about how the legislation would be brought forward but there was no indication of this situation. This is one of the problems in regard to the regulatory system we have...

Leaders' Questions (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: I made the point to Deputy Gilmore because he asked specifically about this matter. I said there was no information then that the difficulties that have arisen now were about to arise in Irish Nationwide. That is a fact. He made a point about the legislation and characterised it as an effort to enrich individuals. It was about providing an opportunity for building societies as to whether...

Leaders' Questions (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not involved in any golden circles and do not know anything about them. I simply brought forward legislation-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: If I may answer the question-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----apart from Deputy Rabbitte's interruptions, I make the point that the legislation was brought forward to provide both for the retention of mutualisation and for demutualisation if a building society so required. Whether building societies demutualised was a matter for the membership of those societies to decide. It was not a question of forcing anything through the House but of...

Leaders' Questions (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: The debate on the Bill is in the record of the House. The purpose and objective of the legislation are set out and were there for some time in regard to their preparation. To answer Deputy Gilmore, the fact is there is no question from our point of view but that the banking inquiry should ask all necessary questions in regard to these matters and get full accountability for them. That is...

Death of Polish President: Expressions of Sympathy (20 Apr 2010)

Brian Cowen: I wish to express again my sincere sympathies and condolences and those of the Government following the tragic air accident which claimed the lives of the President of the Republic of Poland, His Excellency Lech Kaczynski , his wife, Maria Kaczynska, and 94 others at Smolensk in Russia on 10 April. The untimely death of President Kaczynski came as a great shock to me. He paid a state visit...