Results 901-920 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Of course, I will apologise for that remark, but is anyone going to apologise when I get up to speak and Deputies interrupt me all the time?

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: There is no problem-----

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: First, on the earlier interaction, I want to make clear that I was asking the leader of the Labour Party to rein in the deputy leader, not in any other capacity.

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I did not feel it was uncalled for given the fact that I am being constantly interrupted every time I get up to speak by his deputy leader. It is a constant feature of Leaders' Questions, where there seems to be a facility for two of Deputy Gilmore's party members to speak whereas there is only one of ourselves. It is a fair point to make, that Deputy Burton is constantly - it is not an...

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: There are times when-----

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----it gives Deputy Morgan a chance to catch his own breathe.

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not want to make any more issue of that. I certainly will apologise if anyone took offence but that was not my intention.

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not wish to engage in an issue. I am making the point that I would hope that the same courtesy would be shown to me from time to time. For whatever reason, a constant feature of the deputy leader's attendance at Leaders' Questions is to constantly interrupt.

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: No, I am sure Deputy Burton will be deputy leader for another good while.

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the question on the debate in the House, of course, the four-year plan should and must be discussed here in the House. The first instalment of that plan will be the budget and that will provide an opportunity for Deputies to vote on the plan because that will be the 2011 implementation of the plan. It is upon its implementation that it will have its effects. I look forward to a...

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The four-year plan will set out as a confidence-building measure in respect of the strategy that this and successive Governments will have to make on the adjustment of more than €15 billion. People will be able to make their political choices, that have to be made on an annual budgetary basis, but the plan has to set out what the level of correction is and proceed from there. The votes...

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the plan itself, from memory the arrangement for budgetary matters is that documents are given an hour in advance. I will have to check on the protocol for this. It is a question of making this type of arrangements. The plan will be launched in the normal way by the Government. We are not about to put forward a resolution to the House tomorrow for people to get...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I made clear yesterday, there is no question that the characterisation of clinging to office is my motivation. That is not the case. My sole motivation is to ensure that a four year plan is published, as agreed with the people with whom we are dealing, and that a budget is put to the House and passed. The Minister for Finance has agreed a timeline for doing so with the Commissioner, Mr....

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I wish to make clear that I do not anticipate in any way the timeline Deputy Kenny suggests would be involved in completing the necessary legislative enactments to put into law the budgetary and other matters that must be complied with when the budget is announced. Second, as the Deputy is aware, November is an important month for tax revenues and it is of critical importance to get right...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy has stated, I have given the reason to Deputy Kenny, which I reiterate to the Deputy, about the question of the end of November tax returns being an important part of the construction of any budget. In particular, for a budget that is being devised in these circumstances, it certainly is important that this is the case. This timeline is known to the Commission and the people...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: First, the budget is being introduced on 7 December for the valid reasons I have given. It is not because I am trying to be difficult. There are valid reasons for that date. It is also the earliest time a budget can be brought to the House, given all the circumstances we face. Deputy Gilmore's second point related to the timescale for the completed enactment of all the legislation needed...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore asked me to give an indication. He suggested April or May or that the process would take four months. I do not anticipate that.

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am trying to be frank. I am not playing games. Deputy Gilmore has asked my opinion and I am giving it. That is what I think is a realistic timescale for the legislative measures that have to be taken. My view is that they will be completed in the month of February. We will continue to work through these issues in the proper way. It is important that we get this job done and that we...

Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. a16, statements on the eurogroup Finance Ministers' meeting of Sunday 21 November, 2010, which is on the Supplementary Order Paper. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No. a16 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. tonight and the following arrangements shall apply: the statement of...

Public Service Reform (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: In fairness, I do not think that was the intent. Customer service and customer delivery are part of the management of delivery. There are three aspects to these operational review programmes. These include the level of strategy in these Departments, how they are delivering and the situation for customers and people who use the service. Of course citizens use the service. No one is trying...