Results 6,781-6,800 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: Legislation to establish and govern the operation of the national asset management agency will be introduced during the summer legislative session. Initial work on the preparation of the legislation is underway in parallel with preparations for the operation of the agency. As the Minister said, he is considering the establishment of it on a non-statutory interim basis with a view to...
- Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: It is being done.
- Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: I referred to initial scoping work and logistical issues. One must get on with preparing the agency to become operational upon enactment of the legislation.
- Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: I have answered the question twice.
- Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: In the interests of transparency, the Minister made the policy announcement as to what direction the Government would take in regard to this matter in his Supplementary Budget Statement. We have said the heads of the Bill will be prepared in the coming weeks. The agency will be put on a statutory basis. In the meantime, and quite properly, preparations are being made so that when the...
- Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: I understand the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill is due in this session. I hope the heads of the health information Bill will be brought to Government in the coming weeks and we can deal with those issues at that stage.
- Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: There is no date for that.
- Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: This matter can be discussed with the Chief Whip. I understand the report is out for public consultation at the moment.
- Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Second Stage debate on that Bill will be arranged by the Whips.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: I do not accept many of the points in the question put by the Deputy. Of course we are facing a difficult situation, and we have budgeted for a contraction of 7.7% in the economy. The figure according to the ESRI is 8.3%, although it is more optimistic about next year than we have budgeted for. There is no question that we are in difficult times. I am glad to see the ESRI shares the...
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: I do not accept what Deputy Bruton has to say.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: A strategy and plan are in place, as outlined in the budget.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: What we have had from the Deputy's leader is the prospect of addressing a redesign of the tax system without increasing income tax, which has no credibility whatsoever.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: In regard to our jobs strategy, first, as a prerequisite to economic recovery, we must get our public finances into order. Second, we have increased the number of placement schemes available for people who are out of work. Third, we are trying to ensure reductions in costs. We are already seeing such reductions, as well as improvements in competitiveness in terms of a reduction in wage costs.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: People in the private sector are taking decisions in order to maintain employment in the more difficult environment in which they now operate. That is happening throughout the economy.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Opposition seeks to contend that in the short term, there is a way to mid-term growth without making a change in regard to our public finance position. We have to take the corrective action currently being taken. Everyone knows that, but the Opposition is not prepared to accept it.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: The Opposition is trying to suggest there is some other, painless way forward. We will do everything we can to bring the economy through these difficulties.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: Reform in the public service is ongoing in regard to control of numbers and providing opportunities for employees to leave in a planned and regulated way. We are also seeking to implement the reforms outlined in the task force report on procurement and a range of other issues. All these initiatives are in place and were discussed here yesterday.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: The suggestion from the Fine Gael Party that there is a way of moving on without the necessity to provide for an increase in taxation is simply dishonest.
- Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)
Brian Cowen: The party's health spokesman said at the weekend that we have not reduced public expenditure sufficiently. In what areas in health, education and social welfare has expenditure not been reduced sufficiently? It is time for Fine Gael to come forward. We have set out our position in the budget. We have indicated where the tax and expenditure changes for next year and the year after will...