Results 8,941-8,960 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: If a person——

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Obviously, I have not received that correspondence. However, were I to receive it, I am sure I could follow it up. I presume Deputy Kenny also followed it up.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The point is that health is one of the areas in which the Government has increased expenditure. The same public service pay pause, which, as matters stand has been negotiated with the social partners until 1 October next year, applies to the health service as to other services. It is important to point out that even with these savings and the efforts to economise that are necessary to...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: As for the question on the live register, I understand from memory of yesterday's meeting that the figure is approximately 252,000, or 6.7% of the total workforce. As the Deputy is aware, that figure includes those who are temporarily moving in and out of work and the labour force survey is the most accurate measure of unemployment. However, in respect of the policies that have been enacted...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Third, the Government continues to work with Enterprise Ireland, which has brought forward new initiatives to help Irish businesses.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is identifying high-performance start-up businesses and is internationalising Irish business. Moreover there has been an increase in exports by Irish business despite a difficult environment in present circumstances. We will continue to do all of that to assist in every way we can those who create business and employment and who are trying to maintain employment to the best extent possible.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I disagree with Deputy Gilmore fundamentally.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: He asked about the creation of work. The place to provide the creation of work is in the productive sector of the economy. In the State sector we have already increased employment, which has provided increased public services — more teachers, more nurses, more gardaí, and more of all those essential services. We have provided a level of service that Deputy Gilmore could only aspire to...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: We now need to see greater outcomes, outputs and better co-ordination for the provision of those services. We will conduct that process——

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——in the future as we outline our plans in that area.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the question of how we ensure we deal with the problem of rising unemployment, we have to maintain competitiveness in the economy. Every economy currently in recession is losing jobs. The European economy is losing jobs. The US economy is losing jobs. Jobs are being lost in Asia and everywhere else. That is not to be defeatist about it but it is a fact. If we do not understand the...

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: It has increased by a quarter. Excuse me Deputy Gilmore, we have a quarter more in the back to education allowance this year than previously.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am explaining to Deputy Gilmore what is happening on the ground where he claims he is in touch. The other point is this——

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: All the other schemes we are bringing forward will be used and adapted to the situation in which we now find ourselves to see what way we can assist those people, whether it is through local employment services or direct contact with FÁS itself, which is to receive funding of more than €900 million next year. Of course I am concerned at the numbers of unemployed.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Yes. But Deputy Gilmore's old ideological position——

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——that the State can provide all the answers to the employment problem is as dated as the ideology he still espouses.

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. I visited New York from 15 to 18 July 2008 during which I fulfilled a range of business, economic, cultural and community engagements. I met with The Wall Street Journal and prominent business media networks Bloomberg TV and CNBC to discuss economic issues. In my discussions and briefings with business contacts, I set out the...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The website of the Government's climate change awareness campaign, www.change.ie provides a carbon calculator which enables people to work out their own carbon footprint. Using this tool, it is estimated that the carbon emissions from commercial air travel undertaken by me, since taking office as Taoiseach, amounted to 3.8 tonnes in the year to end October, 2008. This is accounted for...

Written Answers — Price Increases: Price Increases (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: Neither my Department nor the Agencies under its aegis have imposed price increases for public service, product or tax since 1 January to date.

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (4 Nov 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Government appointed Deputy Pat Carey as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Defence. Deputy Dick Roche was appointed Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs. As Chief Whip, Minister of State Carey's primary responsibility is for the organisation of...