Results 3,701-3,720 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: No problem. I will get the file.

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore cannot take that as being the case.

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore did not hear that.

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is what I am saying-----

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is very simple. As I have explained and as Deputy Gilmore is aware, the Taoiseach of the day authorises the use of the jet. When the jet takes off from Baldonnel on its ministerial visit or other trip, the decisions on whatever technical issues or operational details that arise are taken by the flight personnel themselves. The Department of Defence holds the records and if people have...

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Thereafter, whatever arises is dealt with by the Department of Defence. That is what I am saying.

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore is in a facetious mood today whatever is wrong with him. The decision to return to Baldonnel Aerodrome before travelling back to Copenhagen was made by the Air Corps for operational reasons. The Copenhagen Airport authority advised the Air Corps that due the large number of aircraft expected for the summit, the GIV jet could not overnight in Copenhagen. Having regard to...

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will have to check with my office what the technical arrangements would be in that case. Ministers who have use of the jet are on official business and that is fine. However, I will have to check the details of the hypothetical scenario set out by the Deputy.

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said, there is a requirement for a ministerial air transport service. There is an ongoing requirement for the Government and the President to maintain active economic, political and cultural relations with countries not only in Europe but across the globe. We regularly have to participate in international discussions and negotiations with bodies such as the European Union and the...

Ministerial Travel. (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: As for a cost analysis, one instance pertains to the loss of days and times, as well as the overnight stays that would be involved in being obliged to stay overnight in other locations, rather than getting back to fulfil duties at home. The commercial airline industry does not fulfil all the requirements for a flexible and efficient service with which Ministers can do their jobs, both at...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: As the Minister for Finance has pointed out, we are preparing a comprehensive response to all of those issues. Today's issue, however, relates to the results that have arisen in AIB. Those results show that NAMA is forcing the banks to face up to the reality of their bad loans. Everybody knows that the banks loaned far too much to speculative property development. NAMA is making the banks...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The indication that they are seeking to raise private capital, in the first instance through the disposal of assets or a rights issue, is an option that is available to the banking sector. We have made it clear in our recapitalisation statements that we will be prepared, if necessary, in the interest of a viable banking sector to proceed on that basis.

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The management plan from Anglo Irish Bank, which has been submitted to the European Commission, suggests, in the aftermath of the relevant loans being transferred to NAMA, setting up a self-contained bad bank within Anglo Irish Bank and providing for a new good bank. This plan has already been submitted to the European Commission, but it remains to be seen whether it will be approved. There...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: This has been in the public domain since well before Christmas. On the other matter, the issue then was that the bank would be nationalised, long before we nationalised it. That would have meant plugging a large hole in the bank's balance sheet at that time, but the funding position for the State and the banks was very challenging at the time. The State was paying an interest rate of more...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Fine Gael claims the ECB will fund the national recovery bank idea, but there is no basis upon which a bank will be funded solely from ECB funds. Were one to seek to obtain funds and chase deposits from other banks in the system, that would clearly increase the demand on funding and increase interest rates. Therefore, the Fine Gael proposals would create an even more difficult situation. ...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree with Deputy Gilmore. With regard to the job losses he mentioned, there were also 250 jobs lost in Athlone and 200 lost in Dundalk within the past week. That aside, the core of the Deputy's question relates to banking policy. The Labour Party idea was to proceed with nationalisation of the banks 12 months ago and order a huge write-down of the value of the banks' property...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is true. Throwing jibes is not a policy. The cost of plugging the hole that nationalisation policy would have made, would have been significant, far greater than the interest rates we are paying now. On the question of trying to provide credit into the economy, the issue is that the purchase price of the assets, through the loans under the NAMA process, will determine the level of losses...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: The policy of recapitalisation, which we are implementing as outlined, is the best way forward.

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept that the alternative policies on banking suggested by the Opposition are credible. The parties presented two very different policies, but each is entitled to its position. With regard to the policy of the Labour Party, I am simply making the point-----

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore indicated that we are entitled to our differences and that we should articulate them in the House so that people know what they are.