Results 9,901-9,920 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: Later this year.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: Last Thursday the Tánaiste said there was no date fixed for publication of the Bill.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Bill has been dealt with by the interdepartmental committee which has not yet come back with a solution to the problem, although I understand it met again recently. The Exchequer returns will be published tomorrow in keeping with normal practice. The Department of Finance team will answer whatever questions the media have for it. That will be——

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is not the normal practice, as the Deputy knows.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: We agreed some weeks ago to extend the sittings of the House to accommodate the debate. The Minister for Finance will come to the House and it will be an opportunity for everybody to discuss the situation based on the information and range of data that will be available, from the Exchequer returns, the Central Bank's quarterly bulletin and CSO reports. The Government will make its decision...

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: Dáil reform is a matter for all parties in the House and the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The Chief Whip, having taken up that position in recent weeks, will obviously consider what ideas are current. It is important to point out that Dáil reform must be about improving the workings of the House, not trying to find ways in which——

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——the House can continue with theatrics or engage in them unnecessarily and beyond its dignity.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: This matters if we are interested in Dáil reform but Dáil reform is usually a code for how we can continue the tennis match that takes place here every day.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: If we are interested in proper Dáil reform, let us talk about the issue and have a proper discussion. I would have no problem with that.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I know that is what the Deputy meant and that is why I answered him on the same subject.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I know the Deputy's party has proposals on reform but there must be all-party agreement.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is open to all Oireachtas committees, as the Deputy knows, to go through the Estimates in detail. We brought forward the annual statement in order that people would be able to see that we had done what we said we would do, and learn that targets were reached, or exceeded. There is a great opportunity in the committee system, based on the budgetary reforms we have already introduced, for...

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is open to the committees to use the Estimates——

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy obviously has a view on the matter and does not wish to hear mine.

Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Bill will go through the Houses later this year.

Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is an existing scheme which relates to mortgage interest relief. Mortgage interest relief was more than doubled in the past two budgets.

Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: This was a proper response and it resulted in much greater benefits for a larger number of house buyers and those with mortgages than would have been the case had I taken on board some of the proposals put forward by the Opposition at the time. I do not accept the point made by the Leader of the Opposition to the effect that I made an incorrect policy decision in choosing that option rather...

Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I reject all of the assertions put forward by the Leader of the Opposition and I defend the actions I took when I served as Minister for Finance. On the question of reckless spending, the national debt fell from 30% of GDP in 2004 to 25% last year. Debt service as a share of tax revenue fell from 4.7% in 2004 to 3.4% last year. In the years 2005, 2006 and 2007——

Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am answering Deputy Kenny's question on reckless spending.

Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2008)

Brian Cowen: I would like to answer the question and I listened in silence to what Deputy Kenny had to say.