Results 9,841-9,860 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have listened in silence to Deputy Kenny but he refuses to listen to me.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is his game the whole time.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: He is not. He is speaking while I am speaking.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is a sign of a weak argument, if one can not listen to what is being said. I listened to what Deputy Kenny stated.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The point is this, a budgetary strategy this year which provided a fiscal stimulus of 1.5% into this economy was the right stance given the outcome that we have now seen. We can take corrective action which is proportionate and allows this economy to withstand the challenges that are in front of us, but we will not do so——

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The ESRI has not suggested that we should take such corrective action, as it would totally disrupt the provision of services for remainder of this year.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I make that point because there is a contention by the Opposition that this is what the ESRI is saying, but in fact it is not saying that. What we will do——

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: We freely acknowledge that tax revenues will be down this year and the Exchequer returns for the first six months show this. We will work within the approved spending limits that we have set ourselves and we will ensure that we devise a budgetary strategy and carry out the Estimates process and the next budget in a way that will see this economy recover as soon as possible.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: We will not defer the corrective action that is necessary now because we know from bitter experience under Administrations of which Deputy Kenny was a member that deferring corrective action only exacerbates the problem. The position of the Opposition is that it has a finance spokesman who says I spent too much, yet Deputy Kenny and everyone else say I spent too little. Fine Gael has...

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will not get involved in political-speak; I will be very direct with Deputy Gilmore. The Deputy was a member of a Government which provided €1 million for emergency services——

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have a record in this area that I stand over.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the specific matters Deputy Gilmore raised, I am glad to be able to inform him that, as my colleague the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy John Moloney, informed the House last night, the commencement of planned developments as outlined in the HSE 2008 service plan will be proceeding. Developments will include new day places for young people leaving...

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy wants the answer to the question and he is getting it. The HSE hopes to be able to finalise the position regarding the commencement of the developments, including those required to meet the needs of school-leavers with disabilities, over the next ten days. We are trying to ensure that those people are not the sufferers. I stand over the record of the Department of Health and...

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: We will seek to deal with that situation in the best way we possibly can. When I talk about corrective action, I mean we must cut our cloth to meet our measure on the basis of the revenues available. That is what we must do and we can do this on the basis of consolidating the progress that we have made thus far, if we go about it in a sensible manner. However, there is no painless or easy...

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It must be done in a certain way and we will do it as conscientiously as we possibly can. There is a contention that the economy has not grown this year compared to last year and it will not grow much this year, if at all. I make the point to those who are trying to run down the economy that output this year compares favourably to last year and is 30% higher than in 2002. The economy has...

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: If we can maintain the same level of output this year, compared to last year — which itself was a record output — that is not a bad position to be in, considering the international situation. Every other country is facing precisely the same issues we are and does not have as much ability to take the hit in the way that we have been able. We have tried to devise a strategy, because we...

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: We have also used current budget surpluses over that period as a means of providing an enhanced capital programme to try to build up the capacity of the country. Regarding the specific issue raised this morning, I am glad to say that my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy John Moloney, has been able to ensure that the provision of those services...

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I can stand over my own record.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I stand over my record.

Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the matter mentioned again by Deputy Gilmore, it is correct that employment was being created when his party was in Government, at a rate of 1,000 per week. We raised this to 1,500 per week, creating 600,000 jobs in the past ten years. He blew over that very quickly.