Results 7,761-7,780 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I noted the Deputy's comment last week. The question is whether there is an existing committee that could do that. I am not sure of the significance of the Deputy suggesting a commission as distinct from a committee of House. The Government sees the need to bring forward regulatory reform, to restore public confidence in banking supervision and regulation. The Minister for Finance is...

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The legislation on the National Pensions Reserve Fund will be published by the end of the week. To answer Deputy Gilmore, I expect the pensions levy legislation to be published tomorrow. The Minister for Finance is working on the legislation on banking regulation. He will come to Cabinet with proposals and as soon as they are adopted, we will proceed as quickly as possible with a...

Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Minister for Finance will be introducing proposals soon on how to restore public confidence in the regulation and supervision of our banking system. That is a priority. The Director of Corporate Enforcement has two gardaí from the fraud squad working as investigators on the issues he is examining. In regard to the four main banks, three people have resigned, or have indicated their...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I did not anticipate the purview of these questions extending to the question Deputy Kenny asked. The Chief Whip has indicated that he is available to speak to committee Chairmen, Whips or whoever regarding this matter which has arisen in recent days. The question of people coming before committees was governed by the case mentioned by the Deputy, and the case of In re Haughey before that,...

Official Engagements. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 15, inclusive, together. On 22 December I visited Pristina in Kosovo along with the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea. We had a cordial meeting with the President and Prime Minister during which I congratulated them on their efforts to implement the Ahtisaari proposals, including the adoption of the constitution in June 2008. While in Kosovo, I...

Official Engagements. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: On Deputy Kenny's question on the Lisbon Agenda, the objectives were updated, I believe, during our own Presidency in 2004. The annual economic spring summit that takes place at European Heads of Government and State levels has as its precise focus, in normal times, the progress being made in regard to the achievement of those objectives. While one would like to see progress in a range of...

Official Engagements. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: That remains a matter for further discussion.

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Deputies will be aware that agreement was reached at the December European Council that, if the Lisbon treaty comes into force, all member states would retain a Commissioner. It was also agreed that a number of other concerns of the Irish people, which I spelled out at the Council meeting, would be addressed satisfactorily,...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The December Council conclusions guide the Government in this matter. They have given us until June to ascertain whether we can agree texts with our colleagues and until the forming of a new Commission to decide when a referendum is to be held. As Deputy Kenny noted, I met the Opposition leaders, both before and perhaps after the Council meeting. They gave me their views on the matter and...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: As I said, the timeline to which I am working is outlined in the December conclusions. We have until the specified time; it is not a question of waiting until then. We should get on with the work, do it as quickly as possible and see what options are available to the country. It is my strong view, particularly in the context of the economic and financial crisis with which all of Europe and...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the question on the conclusions in December and what they mean, we obtained political commitments and we are now embarking on detailed discussions as to what legal texts can be agreed with partners regarding the issues outlined in the December conclusions. The change that will take place in respect of the Commissioner can be taken by decision of the European Council but the...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be surprised to hear I do not agree with him at all. The idea that one is precluded from putting a question to the Irish people, or that it is in some way a negation of democracy, is at variance with the facts. If the people's voice is to be respected — it has been and will be unless there is a change — we will simply address the issues that cause concern. People are...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The question of adoption of whatever is agreed between ourselves and our partners on the issues outlined in the December Council conclusions would need to be agreed at a meeting of the European Council at heads of Government and state level. That could be the meeting in March, the meeting in June or a special meeting. Such a meeting can be convened at any time, it is up to the Presidency to...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: I do not see it arising at the moment but, as the Deputy is aware, a lot of work can take place in two or three weeks if it can be agreed. Whether we can make that degree of progress, where the Presidency can organise a consensus around text which has yet to be presented, remains to be seen. We had a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on Europe last week and I said that we need to move on...

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is important that we deal with these issues in a sensible and moderate fashion.

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: Please. These are serious matters that we need to address.

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Government intends to conduct a meeting today with regard to recapitalisation of two of the main institutions. This would involve a debate in the House tomorrow for that purpose. All these matters can be discussed and clarified without any problem whatever. The point that was being made during Leaders' Questions was that there were governance issues arising with regard to Anglo Irish...

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: What is in the interest of the country's reputation is that we proceed with our recapitalisation in order to stabilise the banking system, and for the debate to take place in this House on all aspects of the matter. It is open to anyone in the House to raise any issue. For the purpose of clarification, I want to make the point again that general governance issues were arising with regard to...

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: Work is continuing on the Bill on management companies. The Deputy has raised this issue on a number of occasions. It is being proceeded with as quickly as possible. On the other question, the Cabinet intended to meet this afternoon for the purpose of discussing these matters. It will give the House an opportunity to debate them tomorrow.

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Brian Cowen: No legislation is required. I understand about €30 million is being drawn down from that fund at present by the three main banks.