Results 6,221-6,240 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: -----when they stood before the electorate in 2007? They are now telling us they knew it all. They proposed a tax package of €3.4 billion and expenditure of €500 million on abolishing stamp duty for first-time buyers. There is no mention of the banks-----

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: -----and no mention of regulation. They say they had all the answers and that it would never have happened under them.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: What am I missing?

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: Where has it all gone wrong?

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: As I said, I recognise and acknowledge what should be the role of the Opposition.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: It is to hold the Government to account, provide constructive criticism, offer alternatives and initiate debate in order for the public to get better legislation. When I and my colleague, Deputy McGrath, initiated this debate by putting forward this motion, there was a rush from the Fine Gael backbenches to tell us how it all went wrong, and they dare not check their own manifesto from 2007,...

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: Exactly.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: I join with other speakers who spoke about the affordability package introduced by the Governor of the Central Bank this week. Like many others, we made a submission on that. We would like to acknowledge the climb-down on the 20% deposit requirement for first-time buyers but we were very disappointed that those who find themselves in a first home which has met their needs in the short term...

Other Questions: Irish Water Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: 6. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has had any discussions with the Central Statistics Office in relation to the EUROSTAT market corporation test; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3441/15]

Other Questions: Irish Water Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: The Minister has, in previous answers, briefly mentioned this issue. I wish to examine some of the specifics of it. Prior to the announcement of a new charging mechanism for Irish Water's income stream and the costs associated with it, the Tánaiste confirmed that 44% was the figure for Government subvention. Is the Minister aware of, or can he inform the House, what the percentage...

Other Questions: Irish Water Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: From what the Minister has said, it appears to me that his discussions with the CSO centred around its informing the Minister of the rules and his obligations under those rules. Based on that information, EUROSTAT will make an adjudication. However, the CSO, as an independent authority, cannot confirm whether the Minister is within the rules or meets the guidelines. Is the Minister aware...

Other Questions: Irish Water Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: I understood that 44% was the figure prior to the introduction of the new regime and the associated new costs. Apart from this, it is worrying that the Minister can neither confirm nor deny that a high-ranking Department of Finance official has stated that frantic efforts are being made to devise a mechanism to deal with this issue in the event that we fail that EUROSTAT test. I ask the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his response on this issue. I also acknowledge the public commitment he has given to the regions through the Housing First programme in the first instance and the provision of further funding in the short term to address these issues in a meaningful way. As with the first issue I raised, I hope his public relations team and officials will keep members of the public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: 4. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on progress in the 20-point action plan to tackle emergency and short-term homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3443/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: The Minister, Deputy Kelly, put in place a task force to address the crisis that emerged following the unfortunate death of Jonathan Corrie, a homeless person, before Christmas. There have unfortunately been subsequent deaths of a similar nature. Following the consultation process with the various stakeholders, the Minister and his Department introduced a 20-point plan, which we welcomed....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his response and for the publication of the status of the 20-point plan on the website. I look forward to monitoring that progress. I acknowledge that a commitment has been given on a short-term basis to address the issue of people sleeping rough, and much progress has been made here in Dublin and in the cities in that regard. Has the Minister or his Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Yield (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: That is a later question.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: 11. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the annual budget and total number of personnel employed by the Private Residential Tenancies Board in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3440/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (28 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: 36. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the future regulation of the private rented sector here; the timeframe for any legislative changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3439/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of Planning and Development (No. 1) Bill 2014: (Resumed) Discussion (27 Jan 2015)

Barry Cowen: I thank all contributors for their presentations and efforts in making the joint committee aware of and bringing it up to speed on the issues in their local authorities and organisations in order that it can be more informed in its presentation to the Minister and the Department when it comes to finalising the Bill. I am conscious of the overlap between the Government's announcement last...