Results 9,161-9,180 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——we have brought forward today still respects the budgetary parameters as I have outlined and in the ways I suggested. That has been indicated to us in consultation with those medical practitioners who are at the very front line of service delivery——

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——not only with this scheme but with primary care practice generally in this country. Therefore, as I stated, it is in co-operation with those practitioners and working in good faith with them, and I thank them for their co-operation——

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I thank them for the role they have played in assisting the Government to come forward with a proposal that is far more comprehensive, should meet with far wider public acceptance and still meets the budgetary disciplines that must be met.

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny can come in here, call me callous——

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——or all the names he likes——

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——but, as far as I am concerned, I will continue to provide leadership in the solution of problems, not the Deputy's exaggeration or misrepresentation of them or his attempt to scaremonger people because he is disappointed.

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is a sad thing to have to say but the Deputy is disappointed that concerns may be allayed in respect of this matter and his political advantage cannot continue.

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: To take the final point first, we have brought forward a different proposal in respect of widening the eligibility criteria in order that more people are entitled to the medical card. Therefore, the requirement for the GP-only card or the fee payment does not arise. These were graduated responses in the past when, while preparing the budget, the Government was dealing with a scheme as...

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept for a moment the contention by Deputy Gilmore. I have already explained the context in which two adjustments have been made in specific elements of the budgetary arrangements passed last week. The adjustment in respect of medical cards for the over 70s and the willingness to provide an exemption from the income levy for people on low wages retain the essential principles of...

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: It proved possible to identify an alternative strategy which retained the essential elements of the decision regarding the granting of medical cards irrespective of income but in a way which confined its impact to the manifestly much better off. In the case of the income levy, the essential elements and financial impact are being maintained. It is right, in the context of our relationship...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No payments have been made by my Department nor any body under the aegis of my Department to the aforementioned supplier.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is about protecting to the greatest extent possible the progress that Ireland has made over the past decade. It is about ensuring that Ireland has a solid basis for economic recovery when world economic conditions improve. Every Deputy in the House, stepping outside the confines of adversarial party politics, recognises that we are in extraordinary economic circumstances. The global...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——communications and housing, giving us one of the highest rates of public investment in Europe. We dramatically increased the State pension for our elderly and child benefit for our working families. We increased the number of gardaí, teachers, doctors, nurses and people helping our special children in education and health.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The average industrial wage has also risen substantially. There are now more than 2 million people working in the country despite rises in unemployment during the past year, and, unfortunately, further rises in unemployment are predicted next year. Our completion rates for second and third level education are among the highest in the European Union. It is a key priority to protect this...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: If there is one thing we should all learn from the past, it is that the worst policy of all and the one which causes the most damage to people is to pretend that tough action can be taken without people feeling the impact. The only way to provide quality public services and to maximise support for the less well off is to get us back to strong public finances as quickly as feasible and take...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: We must take a balanced approach, significantly reducing the rate of expenditure on current day-to-day spending from 10% this year to 3.8% next year, by deferring discretionary capital spending, including holding off on further land acquisition and building on the decentralisation programme until the 6,000 public servants who are ready to relocate are in place in the next couple of years. We...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: To do that — people are entitled to put their alternatives to the House — would simply devastate public service delivery——

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——and would involve making political decisions at this time which would simply be untenable. I agree we must move to eliminate the current budget deficit to finally establish a long-term sustainable path, whereby day-to-day expenditure corresponds to tax receipts. As tax revenues are 10% less than expected for this year, with little improvement in that position assumed for next year,...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——they used to charge people on similar low and modest incomes 26% on every £1 they earned beyond the first £84 a week.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Since that time, when the Opposition parties charged a 26% rate, we have introduced reforms to the tax system which have taken 500,000 workers out of the tax net altogether.