Results 6,521-6,540 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: First, I congratulate the Leader of the Opposition on the ingenuity of his line of attack.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Second, it is the Government's determination to lead and not to snipe, and to govern and not to pontificate, and to act and not to theorise.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Unfortunately, I listen to Deputy Kenny's knockabout stuff every week despite the fact that his critique of the Governments in which I was proud to serve is that it was, as far as he was concerned, not spending enough.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: On every occasion now, as we seek to correct the public finances-----

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----Deputy Kenny criticises every action that is taken to bring the public finances under control, yet he seeks to suggest that were he in Government, not alone would he be doing this amount but much more.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The inability, of course, to identify any areas in which he would cut his spending programmes has been confirmed on a number of occasions.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The bottom line is this.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The bottom line is this, that after 5 June the Government will continue to take whatever steps are necessary in the interests of this country to get us back on the road to growth and prosperity.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Despite the Deputy's sniping, despite any tactic in which he wants to engage, that is what we will be doing. He will continue with his game.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Without a mandate.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree with Deputy Kenny's views. That is why I do not intend taking them up. I want to give my reasons. It is important that they are put on the record. The Fine Gael plan appears to rely heavily on allowing the financial system to default on certain bonds or loans that have been issued or availed of. That has been clearly stated. In deciding whether the State can allow the...

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: The director of the National Pensions Reserve Fund stated that, in fact, the idea Fine Gael is putting forward, which is effectively to default on some bond holders, would have the effect of hugely increasing-----

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----the cost of borrowing to the State.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Considering the implications of such a default would like be severe given that we are seeking to raise €25 billion this year,-----

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----most of which will be used to deliver key public services such as education and the health service. In view of this I would be slow to take up the Deputy's offer. The Fine Gael plan does not clearly address the central problem in our financial system of impaired assets in the land and development books of the banks.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: If these difficulties are not addressed, neither the existing financial institutions nor Fine Gael's so-called national recovery bank would be able to access the credit that all parties agree is required for the economy. The NAMA proposal sets out what the Government will do with the impaired assets and without this problem being resolved there will be no resolution of our economic...

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: -----but to access this funding Fine Gael's national recovery bank would have to give the ECB assets of equivalent value. That is the reality of the situation.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is clearly the case that the proposal from the Fine Gael Party to default on bonds as part of its issue of dealing with the problem in the banks will, in fact, increase borrowing.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It has been stated by Fine Gael's recent guru, Mr. George Lee, in an interview.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Mr. Lee stated it on a number of occasions in radio interviews. He stated that one should let them go swing for it. It has also been the case made by Deputy Bruton in my presence at a meeting that I attended with Deputy Kenny. Those are the facts of the situation.