Results 6,741-6,760 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: We are not electing a Government on 5 June; we are electing local authorities, people to the European Parliament and there are to be two by-elections. We look forward to engaging with the people in those campaigns, as many of our hundreds of candidates are already doing.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Despite what the Deputy says, there are many people in the country who recognise that corrective measures must be taken and the Government has a responsibility to discharge, which they respect. There are those like the Deputy who seek to suggest there is an easier way forward without increasing income taxes. He stated in his supplementary question that he would have provided a greater level...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: It has been acknowledged that the changes we had to make in the tax system are progressive, in that a greater requirement has been made, rightly, on higher incomes. The Deputy has made a series of assertions claiming the Government has failed to rectify the public finances. We are in the process of rectifying them but it will be done over several years. The country would not be in a...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Brian Cowen: Some of the most advanced and developed economies in the world are also suffering from this global recession. Germany's economy will contract by over 6% this year. The people know there is a context in which this is happening. The mandate we obtained in 2007 to provide government for this country until 2012 is one we wish to discharge.

Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The forthcoming criminal justice (forensic sampling and evidence) Bill is necessary to take account of a European court judgment of December 2008. The court's decision, in a case relating to the arrangements for the retention and destruction of DNA samples and profiles and fingerprints taken from people who are not charged or who are acquitted, was that indefinite retention should not be...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: There must be a sustainable public finance position. Former Ministers for Finance know that. There is no point in playing around with that matter. We must take these decisions. Of course we will provide hope, but on the basis of taking necessary decisions now and next year. The country will be then in a position to take off again when the international demand improves, as is predicted by...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Unfortunately, there is not an easier way given the scale and magnitude of the problem we are facing. We will continue to do whatever we can to help the people through this problem.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: There will be plenty of people and plenty of opportunities on the Opposition benches to suggest there is a handier way out.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The fact of the matter is that there is not a handier way.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: We will continue with this consistent policy approach in the interests of making sure that we will have a return to growth and jobs and that we will help those who lose them in the meantime.

Departmental Programmes. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. I am circulating with the Official Report a list for the information of the Deputy detailing the principal cross-departmental teams and interdepartmental committees on which my Department is represented: The following cross-departmental teams or interdepartmental committees meet three to four times yearly. Name Purpose Senior Officials...

Departmental Programmes. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: In respect of the rule governing this matter, when an answer is printed in the Official Report and not provided orally, I understand the rule is that Members await a reply rather than pursue matters by supplementary questions. Upon receipt of the reply, there will be an opportunity to put various detailed questions based on the considerable number of committees which have been communicated....

Departmental Staff. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 7, inclusive, together. The Government press secretary and the staff in the Government press office and the Government information service are subject to all current guidelines applying generally in the Civil Service, as set out the in the Civil Service code of conduct, staff circulars and relevant legislation. No particular guidelines have been...

Departmental Staff. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: There are no guidelines and I do not believe there should be any strict rules of engagement. There is always a two-way communication process between Government and media organisations and this also applies to Opposition party press officers. It would be unhelpful to have any form of ban or restrictions on such communications or to suggest that there should be guidelines on Government...

Departmental Staff. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore would know more about that than I would. I have always regarded the Deputy as an acute observer of current affairs.

Departmental Staff. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: No more than myself.

Departmental Staff. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Like myself. At the same time, in fairness to the Deputy, they know where to find him when they are looking for him. When people talk about the independence of organisations it does not mean that contact is precluded or that if there is a complaint to be made either way that people should be too shy about making their views known. It is important that the relationship is respectful and...

Departmental Staff. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The vast majority of the people to whom the Deputy refers deal with the information side of a Department. They provide information services. As the Deputy will be aware, there is a plethora of people interested in what is happening in the Department of Social and Family Affairs such as people in voluntary organisations and apart from the wider public who need to access information. There...

Departmental Staff. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I stated in my reply, I inquired whether a centralised solution was available that would achieve the objectives of improving efficiency, eliminating duplication and implementing cost savings. A tender was issued for a centralised Government contract for the provision of a press cutting and media monitoring service for all Departments. However, when the tenders were received it turned out...

Departmental Staff. (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Whatever the existing arrangements, the proposed new arrangement was not going to be less costly than the existing arrangement. There may be some Departments using outside media press cutting arrangements but I do not have that information available to me, although that may be the case. I am not saying it is all in-house but rather that the suggested alternative which might have been...