Results 7,181-7,200 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: There are no plans at present to introduce legislation to regulate the sector mentioned by the Deputy. In relation to alleged intimidation of persons owing money by "criminal" debt collectors, the Deputy will be aware from previous replies from Ministers on the matter that such alleged intimidation and threatening behaviour of debt collectors, as with such behaviour by any other persons,...

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy outlined, the procedure entails dealing with the legal services division in both the Commission and the Council, but primarily the latter. It involves the Presidency checking with other member states regarding the proposed contents of these guarantees and obtaining from them their views on giving support to the guarantees. That process is ongoing and it must harden up, as it...

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: One of the objectives of the Government's deliberations at present is to protect as far as possible and to the greatest extent the weakest in society as we try to stabilise the public finances and move them towards balance in the coming years. I point out that during better times this Government's record in respect of social welfare increases is a very good one, comparing most favourably...

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy's attention span was not as long for the answer as it was for the question.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is a matter for the Whips. I am sure the Deputy can deal with it through parliamentary questions and other mechanisms and that he can obtain from the Minister an expression of his views on these matters. I point out that the Government has yet to consider any detailed proposals. Policy initiatives in this area are as relevant as they were in respect of the response I gave to Deputy Ó...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is not the purpose of the statement. The purpose of the statement is to indicate the Minister's intentions on this matter. He had discussions last evening with the two directors of the Irish Nationwide Building Society, INBS, appointed by him to promote the public interest, Mr. Adrian Kearns and Mr. Rory O'Farrell. These directors were nominated by the Minister on foot of the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Government will explore all options available to it based on the facts to be established. It is a question of whether this was an arrangement that was entered into before the State guarantee scheme was brought into play; what authorisation there was for it by the board; in what way it was in the interests of the society that such an arrangement be made; and in what way were the fiduciary...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: This morning the Minister for Finance informed the Government of his intentions to ensure the public interest directors are given the opportunity exclusively to investigate the circumstances in which such a bonus payment was paid in the Irish Nationwide Building Society. The mandate given to them was to do so within a month. He has also indicated that the members of the board will come to...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Government reserves all the options available to it. It needs to establish the facts to act legally.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The statement makes clear the matter will be addressed within a month. In the meantime, apart from meeting with the public interest directors, the Minister will meet the board and existing management within the coming week and has outlined his views regarding the Government's arrangements in the building society for the future. He has indicated that the public interest directors alone will...

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 8, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009, and No. 12, pre-budget statements. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 8 shall be decided without debate; and the proceedings on No. 12 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a...

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: On 9 April.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Minister and Department of Finance have been available to Opposition parties that have any requirement to have proposals costed. There has been unprecedented access to information and briefing in advance of this budget. At the start of the month, officials of the Department, at the request of the Minister, gave Opposition spokespeople a thorough briefing of the broad budgetary...

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No. When I mentioned that we were bringing in a supplementary budget I said that the presentation of a revised Estimate in March would not apply since we were preparing for a supplementary budget in April. Revised Estimate volumes will arise out of that process rather than coming separately in March. The commitment to provide the revised Estimates volume in March was based on the fact that...

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——as informed a discussion on this matter as possible. Just as the Opposition has a job to do so does the Government, within a specific time. It was never suggested that the Opposition was to write the budget any more than that the Government should close its mind to any Opposition proposals. That is the basis for a pre-budget debate which might be of assistance if people are prepared...

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is for the Whips to arrange a debate on this or any other matter. I understand that the matter will return to the House on 9 April. It is for the Whips to decide in the aftermath of the budget, whether that will be in the context of the budget debate or separately.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand that.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I was about to come to the point that this will be based on——

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is okay.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy has raised an issue of individual concern to his constituent and concerning the general impact of such measures. It has been agreed in the recapitalisation facilities for the two main banks that there is a need to extend the Irish Banking Federation's voluntary code of conduct to a statutory code to cover all lenders, not simply those who are members of the federation, so that...