Results 3,361-3,380 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The former leader-----

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: These matters do not come up for sanction from the Government, as the Deputy knows or should know. On the particular issue, the chairman of the bank in question outlined this morning precisely the position. There has been a reduction in numbers, extra responsibilities have been assigned to certain staff and there is a totally new management team in place. The board has the Government's...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Anglo Irish Bank is being run at arm's length by the new management team and board. This is in line with best practice. A relationship framework is set out regarding what the Minister is responsible for and not responsible for in relation to the bank. In the area of remuneration the Minister approves any changes to general remuneration, the pay of senior management and fees to directors....

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Just as the Minister does not set-----

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will try one more time. Just as the Minister does not set pay levels for a substation chief in the ESB, neither does he set pay levels for a person who is in charge of information technology in a bank. That is in line with best practice.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The board and management of the bank have a serious job of work to do. They are getting on with that job and seeking to de-risk the bank. We need people in the bank to do the job. The chairman set out in detail this morning what are the circumstances in relation to these matters. The relationship framework sets out the position.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the issues related to the annual report, it will be a matter for the bank to publish the report in due course. As the Deputy stated, the report is imminent. On that matter, the Minister for Finance has indicated he will come to the House with a full indication of Government policy on any decisions that have to be made and recapitalisation proposals that have to be considered in due...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I stated, extra responsibilities have been given to some specialist staff in the bank. I do not have the details of that, which is a matter for the management and board of the bank. The issue, from the Government's point of view, is that in respect of what emerges as a result of what has happened in the bank, we want to ensure the taxpayer is protected to the greatest possible extent.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is the whole focus of the management and board of the bank. The board enjoys the confidence of the Government in seeking to do this serious task and the chairman set out the position this morning.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is being very unfair to both the new management team and the new board in the bank who are acting on behalf of the taxpayer.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: We are acting on behalf of the Government and the taxpayer to ensure we seek to protect to the greatest possible extent the interests of the taxpayer in respect of how this bank has been downsized. Deputy Joan Burton How do we know that?

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is the situation. The question here, as outlined by the chairman today, is that a small number of people have been given additional responsibilities, as a result of the present downsizing of the bank's staff by more than one seventh, in order to do the necessary work to ensure this operation discharges its responsibilities to the taxpayer.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is what is going on. If the Deputy is asking me whether we are going to have a situation whereby we express no confidence in the new board and management, that would be a recipe for chaos. I must ensure they get on with the day to day management of the bank.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: They have explained there are 70 people in that organisation who are taking on additional responsibilities and they must get on with that operational job. What we must and will do, and what the Minister for Finance will do, is to come into the Chamber to explain exactly how we will restructure the banking system, including this bank, so that we can have a proper functioning banking system...

International Agreements. (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. I travelled to Copenhagen on 17 December to participate with more than 120 other heads of state and government in the high level segment of the United Nations climate change conference. The objective of the conference was to seek agreement to put in place a new international treaty on climate change as a successor to the Kyoto...

International Agreements. (24 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The point made is that although the European Union considers that the Copenhagen Accord is insufficient and needs to be developed in a more ambitious and robust legal agreement, it accepts that this was the best outcome that could be achieved at the time. The accord should be seen as a further step forward in the ongoing negotiations towards an effective international agreement. With regard...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: My Department does not rent any buildings within the State.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The information requested in relation to my Department is set out in the table (all figures are whole-time equivalents): Payroll Financial Management Human Resource Management Means Assessment Procurement ICT 0 3 5.8 0 0 9.6 It should be noted that procurement is undertaken as required within individual sections in my Department and no member of staff is primarily employed in this area....

Written Answers — Poverty Statistics: Poverty Statistics (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together. One of the agenda items for the discussion by Member States at the forthcoming Spring European Council at the end of March is the proposed successor to the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, often referred to as EU2020 or the Europe 2020 Strategy. Following a consultation process the European Commission published a Communication on this...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I visited Chicago, Silicon Valley and Washington from March 12th to March 18th, 2010. I carried out over 25 separate engagements in the course of my visit. I met with major multinational companies who have invested billions of euro in Ireland. I also took part in a trade mission involving Irish companies with significant business in the United States. These companies support thousands of...