Results 7,341-7,360 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The fact they are not interested in supporting the Deputy's party is his problem and not my problem. From my point of view I welcome as much support——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Sorry, lads, I welcome as much support——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——as possible in this House on any vote——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——and there are occasions when the Opposition votes for something and other occasions when it does not and that is the way it works. The bottom line is——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: The position is very simple; there are people who support this Government on the basis of understandings they have entered into. We work through that process and that programme as best we can with those Deputies. We are all practising politicians and we all know that in the circumstances in which we find ourselves, it will not be possible to implement every aspect of policy but priorities...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am not saying that.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is what the Deputy is saying; I am not saying that at all.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It will change a lot more than what Deputy Kenny will be able to change from those benches, I can assure him, on the basis that they support the Government.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: They have been in a position——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——to see improvements in those areas which they sought and they will continue to make representations regardless of whether they still support the Government.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: Being an open-minded Deputy, I will listen attentively to any proposal on the basis of its intrinsic merit. In fact, I have helped out a few of Deputy Kenny's own party from time to time——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——when representations were received. I am very open to helping others.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I made clear in a previous response, there are conditions attaching to political agreements with Independents just as there are for the programme for Government itself. All commitments are predicated on the availability of resources, both those the Government has prioritised——

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is not in the same spirit that this will happen. The idea that those would be central to solving the scale of the problem is an irrelevance.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am trying to answer the Deputy's question. What is not on the table is the ability of the Opposition to renegotiate agreements which Independents have entered into with the Government. Were the Deputy in my position and I in his, would he suggest that this was a tenable proposition? Absolutely not. Let us get real here.

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, that is not what the Taoiseach is telling the House, as the Deputy well knows. The Taoiseach has made it clear what the position is with regard to those agreements, the same as agreements with other parties in our own Government. As a former Minister who also negotiated with me on an agreement, the Deputy will know that all commitments are predicated on the financial provisions which...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: I am not. Deputies who support the Government are entitled to continue to pursue the priorities they have identified with the Government in good faith and the Government is obliged, in good faith, reciprocally, to progress those as best it can in the context of the overall framework we are trying to work to. That is simply a political arrangement, a political understanding that permeates...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, they do not require publication now. Those agreements were reached with the individuals concerned on the basis of and subject to the conditions I have outlined. Therefore, of course the taxpayers' interests are kept in mind by the Government in respect of delivering on all priorities, whether those mentioned in the programme for Government between parties or indeed any arrangements...

Ceisteanna — Questions (4 Mar 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is not just a number of questions, a number of tomes were brought forward by Deputy Ó Caoláin. I want, first, to thank him for advising us how to negotiate a programme for Government. If he does not mind, we shall take our own advice in that regard.