Results 5,241-5,260 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

EU Council Meetings. (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Swedish Presidency has been in contact with me. I have spoken to the Swedish Prime Minister in regard to this matter. He is engaged in his first round of consultation with Heads of Government. I indicated to him our position in regard to the matter. We await to see what he gauges to be the situation having spoken to everybody, I presume, on a bilateral and confidential basis. He will...

EU Council Meetings. (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: In regard to the conclusions, the European Council endorsed the global figure of €100 billion in international financing per year by 2020 and committed to paying a fair share of that. It is very conditional and it remains to be seen what emerges from other regions of the world and other powers as to what they will do in regard to their contribution to this international public financing...

Written Answers — Innovation Taskforce: Innovation Taskforce (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I appointed the Innovation Taskforce on 29 June 2009 to advise the Government on its strategy for positioning Ireland as an International Innovation Development Hub and to assist in making the Smart Economy a reality. The Innovation Taskforce members have a wide range of expertise and include individuals with global experience in international companies and entrepreneurs who have recently...

Written Answers — Cabinet Committees: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: The title of each Committee established since May 2008 and the number of meetings held since then is as follows: Title of Cabinet Committee Number of meetings held since May 2008 Aspects of International Human Rights 3 Economic Renewal 14 Transforming the Public Services 6 The Government also decided to continue with the following Committees already established: Title of Cabinet...

Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not know the position in regard to any prospective Bill on the last matter Deputy Hogan raised. In regard to the first matter, the White Paper has not been submitted to Government as yet. I hope the Bill on a directly elected mayor will be to hand early in the new year.

Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is a matter for the Whips to organise time for debates. The aviation sector in general is facing significant challenges as is Aer Lingus. We hope the consultations taking place based on what management have put forward as a recovery plan will provide the basis for the maintenance of Aer Lingus as a company and for its future prospects.

Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: The legislation referred to by Deputy Burton is currently being progressed. The Tánaiste and the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment have been doing everything possible and are involved with the chain-stores to see how full transparency on pricing can be ensured. This year for the first time ever the cost of living has gone down in many respects in a whole range of areas-----

Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----including 19% for clothing and 7% for food. The agencies with statutory authority must continue to ensure by means of surveys and their interaction with these organisations, that price transparency and best value for money is obtained by the Irish consumer.

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: What the Minister for Social and Family Affairs pointed out last night in an effort to be helpful in a discussion that took place on an RTE programme was to the effect that, obviously, no decisions are yet taken but every area of public expenditure, including social welfare, must be looked at in the context of what contribution it can make towards making the €4 billion savings that must be...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I have made the point to Deputy Kenny that total expenditure must be looked at in all aspects. Decisions will be taken by the Government in due course in terms of whether there must be a reduction in the area of child benefit expenditure, which amounts to €2.5 billion, in a way that is as fair as possible given the varying degrees of household income to which it applies. That is something...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: We will look with interest to see how that will work.

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: I listened to the Deputy in silence, he should do me the same courtesy.

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: The point is that it was indicated as far back as the April supplementary budget, as well as in the McCarthy report, that child benefit is an area of expenditure that must be examined. We must see how, on the basis of the limited resources available to us, expenditure can best be allocated across the social welfare budget. There is a great discrepancy of income to which child benefit applies.

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: In regard to specific issues that arise regarding the banking situation, they will be dealt with on the basis that whatever debts are due and owing will have to be paid. Mr. Appleby and others are looking at the corporate enforcement side of this. The fact is that anything that is transferred does not exclude the liability people owe to financial institutions in respect of any debts they...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the point the Minister for Finance made, it is not correct to suggest there is a particular deal with these people; that is not the case.

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: How the capital gains tax code operates in respect of gains and losses is a matter of general character. It is a general provision in the Finance Acts. It is predicated on gains being made. In the current declining asset market, the big complaint in the discussion on the NAMA legislation was the level of discount-----

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: When Deputy Gilmore is given an answer, he does not want to hear it. The argument he put forward for the past number of weeks on the NAMA legislation related to the discount in the value of assets transferred from financial institutions to the agency.

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore's argument now is that gains will be made in respect of those assets but the opposite will be the case.

Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 10, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council framework decision on accreditation of forensic service providers carrying out laboratory activities and a Council framework decision on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, and protecting victims, repealing framework decision 2002/629/JHA; No. 11, motion...

Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Road Traffic Bill can be taken in due course and made subject to a commencement order in the normal way in respect of any technical issues that have to be dealt with thereafter. With regard to the Deputy's second question, it is a matter for the European Parliament to decide the competence of the nominees put forward by member states.