Results 4,661-4,680 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: -----by covering the public servants.
- Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: As for the pension levy, 22 public service bodies and their subsidiaries listed in the Schedule to the Bill will also be exempt due largely to the commercial nature of their remit. We will apply a graduated and progressive pay cut to salaries up to the levels below the senior public servants covered by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. As I stated in my response to...
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: That begs the question of the importance of public representatives not supporting those who would seek to delay the necessary infrastructure from being put in place. This takes place up and down the country in communities. Public representatives look at the parochial picture and see an opportunity to give succour to the argument that we should not have overhead pylons throughout the country...
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: I agree we need to deal speedily with all of the various issues around putting major infrastructure in place in this country. As the Deputy is aware, we have the strategic infrastructure legislation but, as I said, the planning issues are under existing planning arrangements and we are where we are. However, we must examine all of this area and try to pull it together to a far greater...
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: On the first matter raised by the Deputy regarding the question of employment, it is true that unemployment has risen within the European Union to a rate of 10%. Unfortunately, we expect to see unemployment peak, hopefully, during the course of the coming year as we seek to emerge from recession. We are seeing a fragile recovery at present and the stimulus packages remain in place, both at...
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. I attended the informal European Council in Brussels on Thursday, 19 November. The meeting was convened by the Swedish Presidency to discuss the appointment of the President of the European Council and the high representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy. As is well known by now, the European Council...
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Swedish EU Presidency had been involved in a series of discussions in the days previous to the Council meeting. Having listened to all member states, it put forward one nomination for the post of Presidency of the Council of the European Union based on the broadest consensus available. Similarly, it put one nomination for the post of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs...
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: On the first matter, as I said to the Deputy, I made clear to the Presidency my views regarding our preferences in respect of that position. The Deputy will be aware of this as we have previously discussed this matter at Question Time. Clearly I would not stand in the way of a consensus should one emerge. As one must, I left it with the Presidency to make the assessment in regard to what...
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: I understand that will happen this week.
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: I thank the Deputy for reminding us about it.
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy should let Alan know.
- European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: Yes. As I stated on the earlier matter, this a negotiating position developed by the European Union at the meeting of the European Council last week, and specifically suggesting a figure as to the amount the European Union would be prepared to provide. In terms of the overall global amount of approximately â¬7 billion, the indication is that â¬2.4 billion would be forthcoming from the...
- Financial Resolution No.5: General (Resumed). Debate resumed on the following motion: (10 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: All of these developments will support new services and better patient care, at the highest international standards, and continue the progress we are making in improving outcomes for patients. Other key investment priorities will be science, technology and innovation, the promotion of environmental sustainability and the implementation of green enterprise initiatives. All of these...
- Financial Resolution No.5: General (Resumed). Debate resumed on the following motion: (10 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: The second and third phases for Clonmel are due to start in March of next year thanks to the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. I will ask the Minister of State to keep the Deputy informed. Another element of stimulus is to the housing market with not only the extension of mortgage interest relief for those who brought in 2004, 2005 and 2006 when the market was at its peak, but the...
- Financial Resolution No.5: General (Resumed). Debate resumed on the following motion: (10 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: My apologies. However, both parties, in this respect, based on what I am talking about, differ sharply on how to make up the â¬4 billion. Fine Gael want headline salary cuts imposed on the public sector. The Labour Party is strongly opposed to such a measure. The Labour Party also wants to see an extra â¬2.3 billion in taxes in a full year. Fine Gael tell us that it is not possible to...
- Financial Resolution No.5: General (Resumed). Debate resumed on the following motion: (10 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: This is at the core of the issue facing us.
- Financial Resolution No.5: General (Resumed). Debate resumed on the following motion: (10 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: We need quick decisive action to put our public finances back on track. It is unclear whether - even in Government - the Opposition parties would be able to agree a coherent and credible economic policy for the country.
- Financial Resolution No.5: General (Resumed). Debate resumed on the following motion: (10 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: We do not want a repeat of the 1980s with the necessary action being deferred.
- Financial Resolution No.5: General (Resumed). Debate resumed on the following motion: (10 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Fine Gael assertion that it is not possible to tax the way to recovery is an empty mantra, given that the party proposes large hikes in employee PRSI to fund reductions in employer PRSI, and extending the health levy to incomes over â¬13,000, which is the same as a tax increase.
- Financial Resolution No.5: General (Resumed). Debate resumed on the following motion: (10 Dec 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Labour Party advocates a new top rate of tax which would mean an effective marginal rate of 59%, which is a reversion to the failed policies of a more socialist past. Over the next two years we will be spending over â¬100 billion in this country. Money will be invested in providing services from health to education to enterprise and jobs. We still have 1.8 million people at work -...