Results 7,061-7,080 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Official Engagements. (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Wolf Blitzer was the gentleman's name in CNN. The official position is that the EU is currently taking a common position on this matter and is engaging with the United States on the Guantanamo issue. All countries have adopted a common position. When asked a straight question, I made the point, which I stand over, that Ireland will not be found wanting in terms of making some contribution...

Official Engagements. (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: That will have to be taken into account. It was not intended that they would be set up immediately. The consulate in Atlanta will be set up in the first instance and Houston in due course. It is hoped that this can be done from within existing resources. We have to take cognisance of the financial situation also, but I believe those consulates will emerge in time as the priorities suggest.

Official Engagements. (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I thank the Deputy for his comments. The question of the undocumented Irish is a very difficult and long-standing issue. There are real hardships and human consequences to the inability, thus far, to regularise people so that they can come and go. People miss funerals of family members and are not in a position to attend other functions one would hope they could attend. This tells a tale...

Official Engagements. (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, I did not seek those assurances because I have accepted those I have received to date. I would not regard it as very diplomatic to question, at the first meeting with a new US President, the assurances I have received. It would not be very sensible or judicious. Given that the US Administration is closing Guantanamo and that the question of rendition thereto arose internationally in...

Official Engagements. (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The new President had already made his position clear. One way to make friends is not to question the assurances one has already received. It is not necessary to question them. There has been no evidence whatsoever of any rendition from this country and we have received assurances to that effect. There are many people who would like to suggest there is rendition but there is none.

Official Engagements. (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am sorry but I am not getting involved in an argument with the Deputy. I am answering the question he has raised and giving him my strong view on these matters. There is no equivocation by my Government on these matters. There is none on either the issue itself or the nature of the assurances I have received from a country that I regard as a friend of this country. On Deputy Naughten's...

Official Engagements. (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Yes. We have set out in our strategic review ways and means by which, short of granting citizenship entitlement, we could recognise people's Irish ancestry through certification of various kinds. The strategic review outlines ways and means by which we can develop networks beyond the Irish-American community. For Ireland, the Irish-American community should be used as a gateway to the...

Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 16, statements on the European Council, Brussels; No. 14, Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); No. 15, Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad] — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; and No. 3, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding...

Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The heads of the fisheries (amendment) Bill were cleared a few weeks ago and it is progressing to detailed drafting. The heads of the education (patronage) Bill are expected shortly for consideration. The Privacy Bill is on section D of the list because it was published in 2006. The questions of defamation and privacy were to be considered. It has been published for a long time and is...

Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the second matter, the moratorium decision applies to a range of people, including the temporary appointment on a fixed-term basis and the renewal of such contracts. Any exceptions to this principle, which will arise in very limited circumstances, require the prior sanction of the Minister for Finance. This sanction will be forthcoming only when the Minister is satisfied that...

Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The idea was that one was supposed to have a sense of humour and laugh at it.

Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: The financial services (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is due later this year.

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: They are to come out this morning. The live register to the end of March was 371,300, which represents an increase of 16,863 on last month. The standardised unemployment rate for March is expected to be 10.9%. The rate has continued to rise strongly but it has shown some signs of abating. A fall is, however, unlikely in coming months and seasonal factors mainly associated with holidays in...

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: As stated on previous occasions, it is not for me to become involved in a contretemps with the Leader of the Opposition regarding any policy documents he may put forward. When they have been properly examined and assessed, such documents should be debated in the House. There are aspects to the Deputy's proposals about which we have serious concerns.

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I would prefer if such matters were dealt with as part of a formal debate. I look forward to the opportunity to debate these proposals in detail. The introduction of the budget next week will allow people to provide their initial views on the Deputy's proposals. I do not wish to seem churlish or to give the impression that I am not prepared to consider everything. However, we would be...

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——the implications of so doing and the extent to which such a development would contribute to competition and innovation. I do not wish to say any more than that. Deputy Kenny has put forward a policy document and we can debate it when the opportunity arises. In the context of rising unemployment and during a period in which the economy is contracting to a considerable degree, we are...

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept that the Government, in tandem with the State agencies, is not seeking to find a solution to this problem or a viable way forward for the company in question. There have been some serious expressions of interest and, as the Deputy is aware, our efforts in respect of the company are ongoing. Government Deputies and Ministers and other Members have been seeking a solution that...

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: First, what will keep people in employment, which is the objective of the Government as well as everyone else, is to obtain and provide a viable way forward for the company. Deputy Gilmore is not alone in his concern or in relation to the work that has been ongoing on this matter for some months.

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: Second, the Government will make every effort consistent with obtaining a viable proposal with the purpose of having an aircraft maintenance facility in Ireland. That is the purpose for which the work is ongoing, with the agencies as well. I presume the Deputy does not regard the people in IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland as being not interested in trying to maintain employment, although...

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is predictable but I heard political attacks coming from his spokesperson this morning. There is no harm in balancing that out for a moment. We are focused on trying to see if there is a way forward that will maintain employment in a viable way.