Results 3,621-3,640 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Economists have known since the Great Depression of the 1930s-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----that the meltdown of a large bank can have catastrophic effects on the economy and citizens' welfare. Anglo Irish Bank was much larger relative to the Irish economy than Lehman Brothers was relative to the US economy.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The disorderly failure of Lehman Brothers brought the global financial system to its knees and the disorderly failure of Anglo Irish Bank two weeks later would have had the same effect on the entire Irish banking system. Those are the facts.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: This was about ensuring we had a banking system that could function. Despite the opposition to NAMA, the purpose of which I described yesterday, when it becomes operational it will provide us with the best means of providing access to funding at affordable prices-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----for consumers and businesses. Those are the facts of the situation, and despite all of the contentions to the contrary, the Government is determined to make sure that we effectively restructure the banking system to bring that about. This country has an employment strategy and is based on the fact that we must first bring order to our public finances, something that is glazed over by...

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The IDA indicated what it has done. The Deputy can guff all he likes. When he was Minister for Enterprise and Employment, he relied on the IDA figures and spoke about it as a reputable organisation.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is being managed so well that when foreign investment dropped 30% in every advanced economy in the world, we still managed to bring 125 new projects to this country at a time when the economy contracted by 10.5%. That is what we have been able to achieve in our employment strategy.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: We had a Private Members' motion last Wednesday, in which the Tánaiste set out in detail the various labour market activation measures that have taken place, including the increased resources being applied for training and activation. Those are the facts, but what is being suggested here is that jobs can be created in a vacuum. The quickest way we can effect recovery and bring growth back...

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----is based on the policy direction that this Government is pursuing. International and domestic independent commentators have confirmed that. That is what we are determined to do.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Between now and 2015.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: You must be joking.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: How long more will they have to contend with the Deputy's portrayal of the economy to the effect that nothing good was happening here? The fact is that jobs are being created while jobs are being lost.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I accept that we have seen increased unemployment in net terms. That happens in recessions. The Deputy's party was in Government during recessions, even though he may not have been. The only way we can recover is by improving our competitiveness and getting back into the marketplace to create the goods and services and create the jobs at home. We are pursuing policies that are seeing...

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: In the meantime, there is an incessant Opposition that will not support the restructuring of the banking system on any basis because it does not agree with our policy. That is fair enough, but it does not have a credible alternative.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Opposition has never had a credible alternative. The Labour Party never supported the State guarantee, while the Fine Gael Party did so.

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the other hand, Deputy Kenny does not want to give any money to Anglo Irish Bank, even if it means writing a cheque for €65 billion as a result, while-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am sick and tired of this continuous effort by Deputies to claim that any decision we took was based on something other than what we were advised and based on something other than the national interest. This country was facing into a very serious situation, and I defend what we did on that occasion, because we had to ensure that markets understood that the Government was prepared to back...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The corporate procurement plan in place in my Department was developed to implement the requirements of the national procurement policy framework published by the Department of Finance. It reflects my Department's commitment to effective and efficient resource allocation and service provision as prescribed by the Public Service...

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will be obliged to obtain that detailed information for the Deputy.

Public Procurement Policy. (3 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The national public procurement operations unit was established in the Office of Public Works in April of last year on foot of a Government decision. It is taking a lead role in modernising procurement practices across the public sector. The report of the task force on the public service recommended greater use of shared services in the area of procurement. The Government recognises the...