Results 7,721-7,740 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——it is nonsense because those debts are owed by those people to the bank and to the greatest extent that they can be collected——

Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——under the terms and conditions of that they remain owing and we intend that the management and board will collect those debts——

Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——to the greatest extent it is possible to do so under the terms and conditions of what was brought forward.

Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The contention being made is absolutely wrong. Let me emphasise again, Anglo Irish Bank was nationalised for the good——

Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——of the country. If it is being contended by those who would not even support the guarantee, let alone the recapitalisation of the banks, that we should allow that bank to default, clearly the situation would have been a greater liability for the taxpayer. We need to make sure Anglo Irish Bank gets on with its business, including the repayment of debts due to it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is unfortunate that in asking a question about 2006, Deputy Gilmore did not give me some prior notice. I cannot give him the accurate information immediately, but I will get it for him as soon as I can now that he has mentioned it here. If he had wanted an accurate answer to that, he could have put me on notice to it and I would certainly have provided it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: It was 2006 but I will get the information; I have no problem with that. I recall, however, that the decision on those matters also followed official advice.

Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I will get the full explanation from the Department of Finance and will supply it to the Deputy in public in case there is any suggestion that I did something untoward or at someone's behest. I did nothing at anyone's behest; I did it on the basis of official advice on a matter which was having an effect on the trading of shares. That is my general recollection of 2006 but I will get the...

Written Answers — National Flag: National Flag (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The National flag and the EU flag are both represented in the backdrop to the podium in the Government Press Centre. In addition, the National flag is present at all major press conferences held there. However, camera angles, interview positions etc. can mean that the National flag does not always come into view in newspaper photographs or in television coverage. While obviously my...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. Year: 2007 Month Rec'd Granted Part Granted Refused i.e. exempt from release No Records Withdrawn Jan 14 5 5 4 Feb 1 1 Mar 8 1 3 3 1 April 4 2 2 May 2 2 June 6 1 1 4 July 9 4 1 2 2 Aug 10 3 3 4 Sept 0 Oct 4 2 1 1 Nov 7 3 2 1 1 Dec 6 3 1 2 Total 71 23 17 11 17 3 Year: 2008...

Written Answers — Smarter Travel Policy: Smarter Travel Policy (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: My Department supports the Government's Smarter Travel Policy, launched by the Minister for Transport on 5 February 2009. This travel policy recognises the valuable role that workplace travel planning can play in making commuting travel patterns more sustainable. As announced in budget 2009, the provision of bicycles and associated safety equipment will be treated as a tax exemption...

Written Answers — National Flag: National Flag (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The National flag and the EU flag are both represented in the backdrop to the podium in the Government Press Centre. In addition, the National flag is present at all major press conferences held there. However, camera angles, interview positions etc can mean that the National flag does not always come into view in newspaper photographs or in television coverage. While obviously my...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The official costs to my Department associated with St. Patrick's day 2008 are detailed in the following table: 2008 Costs € Foreign Travel 2,968 Accommodation 14,202 Official Costs (including Subsistence, Official gifts and Photography) 4,946 Total 22,116 I expect to visit New York and Washington during my official trip to the United States for St. Patrick's Day in March. The St....

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand it is intended that it will be published this year, possibly in this session.

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering) Bill will be taken in this session. The company law consolidation and reform Bill is a large one with, I understand, almost 1,000 sections. A lot of work has been done on it but it is not complete. I believe the Deputy has been advised in recent weeks that work is continuing on the multi-unit Bill.

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: It will be brought in this week.

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: l will have the Chief Whip follow up on that.

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I outlined in a previous response our initial reaction to this question of compellability and how it might be approached. It is not without difficulty. I saw members of the particular committee raise this issue on television. The Chief Whip responded helpfully and suggested that if he received a request, we could sit down to see if there is a way through this. I am not sure there is. The...

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: It was not a Labour Party parliamentary party meeting.

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should not hold his breath.