Results 8,101-8,120 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: What has been agreed for tomorrow's business is that there will be statements on delivering sustainable economic renewal and securing our public finances. This issue is of great importance and during the next two days, all Members of this House will have the opportunity to give their views on what they, their parties or those they represent consider to be the best way to try to solve the...

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: On the one hand, some people say we need less borrowing while on the other, people believe we should reflate the economy.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: Some people consider borrowing to be the problem while others state it is the solution.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: There will be a debate tomorrow and the day after and everyone will have an opportunity to set out their views. I am sure good things will be said by many Members of this House on a range of issues that may be of importance and may be of help.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: That is the business before the House. At present, discussions are taking place with the social partners and no agreement has been reached on anything. People are working constructively, while recognising the size and difficulty of the problem we face——

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: ——to ascertain whether there is a basis on which we can proceed. These discussions continue and if and when they are agreed, we all will be the better for it and will know the outcome of that exercise.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: In the meantime, we will continue with the policies needed to address the issues before us.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: No, Members of this House can take on their responsibility to put on record their views.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: However, this also will provide us with an opportunity to outline what ideas and alternatives exist to bridge these problems and gaps. People who have ideas as to how that should be done should air them on the floor of this House.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: However, one cannot simply come forward with the negative view that problems exist without solutions.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Government has proposed solutions within the framework of economic renewal that it provided before Christmas.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: As for what will be done tomorrow, the principles that should inform how we resolve this problem on an ongoing basis include a commitment by all that the first step should be a saving of €2 billion and we will proceed immediately thereafter on that basis.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: No.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no date for that yet.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: There is no Bill relating to the third matter. As for the fines Bill, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is preparing a fines Bill, for which I understand the Minister shortly will seek Government approval to publish. It will include provisions, with some redrafting, that were addressed in the Fines Bill 2007. Such provisions will be aimed at giving the courts new powers to...

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Quinn stated he has written to the Minister concerned on the position. I do not have the detail in front of me. I will take the matter up with the Minister. I understand there is a Bill in preparation, due to be provided shortly. Deputy Quinn has devised his own Bill. I do not know whether it is in line with what the Minister proposes. I will have to check.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: It is not easy either. The Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting. It is receiving the highest possible priority from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The Bill restates the law in several important respects. It is fully intended that the Bill will be published before the end of the spring session.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: I understand from the Chief Whip that he is seeking to schedule arrangements whereby a statement will be made in the House on this matter in line with a commitment made. He is seeking to arrange that through the whips.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: The Government is working intensely on this issue of multi-unit developments which is being treated as a priority. It is an ongoing issue which has been raised in the House and I have raised it at Government level. We intend to bring forward legislation, either one Bill or a number of them, in this regard in the not too distant future.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Brian Cowen: We are well aware of that issue. Work is progressing toward bringing the heads of the Bill to Government at the earliest available opportunity. Officials from the Office of the Minister for Children are working with their counterparts in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to bring forward legislation. It is extremely complex and potentially has constitutional implications,...