Results 6,801-6,820 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore can make all the contentions he like, even if the facts are different. As Taoiseach of this country, I accept fully and am acutely aware that people are losing jobs. Of course I am aware of that.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Government is taking the action that is necessary in the short term to ensure we can return the economy to growth. How does the Deputy expect jobs to come back into the economy without growth in the economy? The Deputy has referred to the ESRI report. The ESRI accepts that the balanced corrective action we are taking is the right thing to do despite, unfortunately, its very severe...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Those facts are clear. The ESRI has budgeted for a steeper drop in the cost of living this year than the Government has done. We budgeted for a drop of 4% and it says the figure will be 4.6%.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It suggests that next year will not be as difficult as we think it will be. We have been open, honest and transparent in out budgetary policy and have outlined to the people that the steps we are taking are necessary.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not enjoy taking these steps but they are necessary to get the country back to growth so that we will be ready when the upturn comes. Is it the Opposition's contention that we should continue with public spending on an unsustainable path? If that is Deputy Bruton's view there is no prospect of growth returning to the economy.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The ESRI, which Deputy Bruton quotes this morning, speaks about the importance of maintaining as many jobs as possible. Thankfully, even in the current situation, we have 80% more in employment than 10 or 15 years ago. There are more than 380,000 unemployed, and every one is one too many as far as I am concerned, but there are also 1,800,000 people at work and we must try to maintain those jobs.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: We must help, to the greatest possible extent, those who are losing jobs or who cannot find work. That is what we are doing and will continue to do. We are in discussions with the social partners about developing and evolving programmes, as we did in the 1990s when many schemes were developed. However, we must be straight with the people. We cannot grow jobs without taking whatever...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am defending my position. It is not a question of being loud or otherwise but of answering with the same gusto as the Opposition use in attacking me. I hope Deputy Gilmore does not mind me doing that. I am as entitled to defend myself, as he is to attack me.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept Deputy Gilmore's contention that it is possible to have a pro-jobs strategy on the basis of unsustainable public finances.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Opposition claims that the Government does not have a strategy or policy. In the past 12 months, through changes in income tax and expenditure, the Government took approximately €8 billion out of the emerging deficit. We were heading for a 15% deficit in gross national product. Every one of those policies was opposed by the Opposition and yet it talks about the need to take...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It now suggests we can have a thriving economy on the basis of an unstable banking system.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I did not interrupt while Deputy Gilmore made many charges against me. I never do. However, the moment I stand up to speak I am interrupted. Deputies may feel that is the way to debate but people see through that. We are taking whatever steps are necessary to get us through this problem, and that is creating real hardship for people. Like everyone in this House, I am aware of that. We...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department exceeds the 3% employment requirement of people with disabilities with 5.9% of the current employees having disclosed disability. Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 gave legal status to this 3% employment requirement which, formerly, had been a target.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The total number of official credit cards currently held by my Department is 25. One official has a credit limit of €6,350, five of the cards have credit limits of €4,000, and the remaining nineteen have credit limits of €2,500. The following table details the annual expenditure on official departmental credit cards from 2004 to end of March 2009: Year Total amount spent on credit...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The only legislation from my Department enacted in the years 2007 and 2009 was the Statute Law Revision Act 2007. The Act repealed some 3,200 statutes enacted before 6 December 1922. It did not originate from Brussels.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: There are 48 Public Servants currently serving in my Department who are in receipt of Long Service Increments at a gross cost of €135,293.27. This amount is subject to Tax, PRSI, income and pension levies.

Order of Business (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: This issue brings some improvement to the position of workers who find themselves in an ongoing difficulty for which we need to enact legislation as quickly as possible. It was intended to have it ready on publication of the Social Welfare Bill but that was not possible. It has been brought forward for a Committee Stage amendment now. I accept that this is a complex area. It does not...

Order of Business (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The reality is that were we in a situation where pension funds were not in the difficulties they are, and we know the real issues of the crisis that has hit the pension industry generally-----

Order of Business (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It would make a difference if anything happened in the interim. If anything were to happen, although I am not on notice of any specific issue, these are matters of importance which affect pension rights and the conditions upon which-----