Results 3,241-3,260 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I refer to the issue about to be taken now. It was suggested that some Members might prefer a substantive motion rather than statements and we are accommodating this. If Members wish to have some part of Thursday devoted to further statements on the matter I would be glad to try to arrange it through the Whips. The possibility of a question and answer session at the end of the statements...

Order of Business (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not going to anticipate the terms and content of the debate. From the Government's point of view, the debate is about setting out a banking policy that is credible, that provides the prospect of confidence in our economy domestically and internationally and that enables the banking system and financial institutions to serve our economy's needs at this critical time. This is the basis...

Order of Business (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not know how to respond to some of what the Deputies had to say. This Parliament has a duty to discharge, this Government has a duty to discharge and we will have a democratic debate on an important issue for the economic future of the country. This Government has the same and due authority as any other Government that has had the privilege to serve in this Parliament and it derives...

Order of Business (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: With respect, I will not take a lecture on parliamentary democracy. I am simply making the point that we have to come forward here to deal with a real situation that must be dealt with. This country, no more than any other, must deal with it a situation which was global in nature. We must make our financial institutions fit for purpose and we must recapitalise. There is a statement to be...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Office of Public Works is the lead agency for dealing with flooding problems. It has had much success with considerable investment, approximately €150 million over the past several years, in flood relief projects. Regarding what further matters need to be examined as to what happened in Cork in November, as Deputy Coveney said, consideration is being given by the Oireachtas environment...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Army is always available to assist the civic authorities where called upon and available. In many parts of the country in which the Army was required during the flooding, it was very good at sand-bagging operations and arranging preventive measures at danger points in many towns at risk of flooding from their rivers. I saw all of these actions taking place. Where its assistance was...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: What roads are closed in my area? Deputy Bannon should name one.

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I thank Deputy Bannon for the close attention he pays to my area as well as his own. I thought he would have been kept busy enough in Longford and Westmeath but I am sure Deputy Enright is delighted to hear Deputy Bannon is down around her country to do a few jobs.

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Bannon should keep it up; he is not making an impact on me. It is important to point out the work of the committee was done and nothing was left undone as a result of the presence or absence of the Minister for the few days he was on a family holiday. Political capital has been made at this stage. Many prominent Opposition politicians were not around in that period but I have not...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Being in Government, I ensured I was here for all of that week, as one would expect.

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I did not head up to that part of the country.

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy's idea of water sports differs from mine.

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy raised an important point on co-ordination of management of the Shannon River, an issue upon which there have been several discussions in the past and one which cannot be easily resolved. The Deputy will be aware there are historical issues in regard to bog development in that area on which the silting impact has been considerable, a problem also not easily resolved. I recall...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: No, I do not refer to Deputy O'Rourke. There is a particular Deputy, whom I will not name, in that general area who makes a habit of standing on the back of a tractor, on a couple of occasions with Mr. Jim Fahey, bemoaning the fact that we have a flooded Shannon.

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Efforts are being made to try to pull this together. There are various authorities involved, including the local authorities, the OPW and the ESB, which historically had a role in this. The role of the ESB is often questioned by locals in the area in terms of how quickly water is allowed down the river bearing in mind the Ardnacrusha situation. There are as many views on that issue as...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: On foot of many comments from Deputies on all sides, the Minister, Deputy Dempsey is examining whether there is any way in which he can examine the matter constructively in order to see if there is a way forward. There were questions on transport last week, during which this matter was dealt with in detail. The Minister indicated he is examining whether anything can be done. I do not want...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. My Department was represented on the national emergency response co-ordination committees, established each time on an ad hoc basis, with regard to the two severe weather situations of recent months. The committees were chaired by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as the lead Department. The...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept that. Flooding arose from exceptional rainfall in a short period following very heavy rainfall throughout the year. Local authorities responded to the emerging position using the co-ordination and inter-agency arrangements set out in the framework for emergency management. As I saw for myself, there was excellent co-operation between local authorities, the Health Service...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: On that specific point, county councils have estimated the considerable damage done to part of the road network in various parts of the country came to a total of approximately €180 million. In a year of tight public finances, the Minister allocated €240 million to local authorities, for which they will have full discretion. As the Deputy will be aware from past experience, in normal...

Departmental Committees. (30 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: To the credit of local authority workers and front line staff, certain industrial relations issues were deferred, postponed or disregarded for the duration of the emergency. We were all grateful for that and it showed the civic-mindedness and good public-spiritedness of workers who simply sought to help neighbours as well as doing their job. That was indicative of the overall community...