Results 9,221-9,240 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——tax revenue raising of €2 billion and——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: One moment, please. In addition, there is €1 billion in regard to the capital programme. I regret that is the situation, but we have sought to achieve that seven of every ten people over 70 will be eligible for that medical card on the means test grounds, based on the data that are available for those who were in receipt of medical card between the age of 66 and 70 and who got the card...

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: There will also be people who will be entitled to the GP-only card and those who will be entitled, up to a dual income limit of €1,300 per week, for the €800 payment towards medical expenses.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am sure it would be better for everyone if we were in a position where it could continue to be universally applied but that is not possible in the financial circumstances in which we find ourselves. We had to make an adaptation, a change, a modification which still provides more cover.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I say to Deputy Quinn that I am more proud of the achievement of the Government towards the elderly throughout our time in office than anything he was able to achieve in his three budgets.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will provide my speech on the budget debate this morning and I outline in it that I acknowledge that sacrifices are being asked of people. I acknowledge that people will be in a worse position next year than they are in this year. That is true. I state that openly and clearly. The reason is that we have to make adaptions to address the situation.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: We have to make those decisions because if we do not make them — as difficult and unpalatable as they are——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——for some. I accept that. Of course I understand that. I am a politician who represents constituents as much as Deputy Gilmore. I get as many telephone calls from constituents as he does.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I know those things, but I have to say to people that if we do not make decisions in the context of the deteriorating situation, then we put at risk not only the provision of those services, but other services. That is the hard lesson we learned in the past, that by deferring those decisions we hike it over.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I did not forget it.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept for a moment that I forgot it because the complaint from the Labour Party benches in each of the past three budgets was that I was not spending enough. I recall in regard to the Labour Party's manifesto that Deputy Quinn was calling for a hugely increased capital investment programme way beyond what we are providing, which will still be between 5% and 6% of GNP next year, in...

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The position in regard to those who do not have a medical card, those with a GP only card, is that their expenditure will not exceed €100 on medical expenses per month.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: No, per month. Anything over that will be paid for by the State.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: In the past I recall that people had to pay for their medical expenses for three months regardless of the cost before they could seek a refund.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: That was the old situation. We changed that through the drug payment scheme when I was Minister for Health and Children. As a result, that brought a huge reduction in the concern people had about the cost of drugs.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: We are continuing with that scheme. It is only fair to say that because of the difficulties we face, unfortunately, it is not possible in the present situation to provide universal entitlement in respect of all of these matters, as was the case in the past. The great majority of the advances we have made for the elderly have been protected in the budget and can be protected for the future....

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am proud of that record because it far exceeds the record of any other Administration, despite the claim of the Labour Party that it was always in favour of and better able to look after people than we were.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The record points to the contrary. The same is true of child benefit. Despite that fact, the point is that people in this situation——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——are still entitled to acute hospital services. The vast majority of people will receive a medical card or a GP only card.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Only 6% of those who currently have a card will not be entitled to either a GP card, a medical card or the grant payment to look after their medical expenses.