Results 9,081-9,100 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Even with the discipline we are exercising — the €2 billion expenditure cuts involved in the budget and the €2 billion extra in taxation — we still have a current budget deficit which must be addressed in future years. Further strategic decisions will have to be taken.

Leaders' Questions (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Any suggestion to the contrary is not being honest with the people. Whatever the popularity stakes, I will be honest with the people.

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 17, inclusive, together. On 16 June, I met Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Belfast on the occasion of the visit of President George W. Bush. On 13 July, I attended the Euro-Mediterranean Summit which formally launched the "Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean". This summit, in Paris, was an initiative of President Nicolas Sarkozy. The summit...

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: What was agreed in discussions on our position in the aftermath of the Lisbon treaty at the October meeting was that we would outline a progress report. The conclusion of that meeting was that we would work with the institutions and with other member states to see if we can address the concerns that arose out of the research we conducted. We can then chart a way forward from there. That...

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will take the second question first. The issue of recapitalisation does not necessarily mean that one will get more expansive lending facilities or policies. One of the issues that arose in the debate here concerning the Bill which forms the basis of the bank guarantee scheme — as set out before the Houses of the Oireachtas and subsequently enacted — was a strong assertion from...

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: If there are banks which do not wish to take up the terms of guarantee, that is a matter for them and we would not then guarantee their liabilities or assets. If they do not wish to take up the stringency of the conditions that we have attached, it is a matter for them. That is the first point.

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not a question of enforcing a guarantee on a bank that does not want to take it up. When we made our initial decision in regard to the Irish banks which were incorporated in the State, a strong argument began to emerge in this House that others needed to be accommodated very quickly. The point I made at the time was that perhaps they were joining a club but they did not know the price...

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is a matter for them.

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: If people do not come into the scheme, the exposure of the State to those guarantees does not arise.

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Let us be clear about this. There can be no question but that providing a guarantee was and is necessary in order to provide us with the time and space to see how we can bring back stability to the banking system. As far as I am concerned——

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No, the banks are subject to the terms of the guarantee scheme the same as everybody else.

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not responsible for the editorial line of the Financial Times.

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: As Taoiseach, I am answering that the banks are part of the State guarantee scheme the same as everybody else.

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Whatever line it is——

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No. What I am seriously suggesting is that a journalist in the Financial Times does not——

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am making it clear.

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am making it clear that the State guarantee scheme applies to banks——

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware of the issue that has been raised regarding a vote yesterday or the day before in the European Parliament. I will check it out and get back to the Deputy.

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The issue arising with regard to our engagement with the European Union member state partners relates to the fact we voted against and rejected the treaty. Ratifications are continuing in other member states. They are substantially ratified in 24 of those states and it is likely that 26 will have it completed by the end of the year. Obviously, member states have queries for us as to what...

Official Engagements. (29 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: As I stated, in a 27-way negotiation, 26 member states indicated they wish to proceed with ratification of the treaty. They have this right and entitlement which I must respect. They also have to ask me whether there are issues I can discuss with them that might be helpful to clarify or improve people's understanding or views of the Lisbon treaty where clear indications were given that...