Results 10,061-10,080 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Obviously he did not, he was not in government at the time. The challenges remain the same. I stand over my budgetary policy in respect of providing a fiscal impetus this year to the tune of 1.5%, which was the right thing to do. In terms of current expenditure I refused to put the brakes on completely, which was accepted by most economists as the right thing to do. We will continue to...

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: To maintain it.

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: With respect, I have done so and will continue to do so. I accept the acknowledgement that we are not in a 1980s situation. Hopefully other Opposition parties will also do so. At the same time as I provide Deputy Gilmore with a critique as I see it of where we go from here, let the Opposition put its critique on the table, but it must be coherent.

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is the first point.

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The direction of the Government is clear.

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: If Deputies want to hear the answer, I will tell them. We will work within the budgetary parameters we have set for this year.

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: We will try to come forward next year with a sustainable budgetary position, which will obviously moderate the level of increase in current expenditure because we are anxious to maintain capital programmes that provide the building blocks and increase the productive capacity of the economy to take the upturn when it comes. That is our basic position and we will do that in a way that ensures...

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——on the performance of the Government over the past decade which has seen hundreds of thousands of jobs created.

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: As regards the challenges we face this year, Enterprise Ireland has exceeded its targets in its annual report. The IDA will confirm that more than 114,000 major investments will come to the country this year with a total investment of more than €2.5 billion.

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: All of this is important. A total of 40% of IDA investment is by companies already situated, located and trading here. This is what we will continue to do and provide a robust analysis of this situation. To portray that suddenly from being a very successful economy we are an unsuccessful economy is——

Leaders' Questions (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——obviously an absurd proposition. The position for us is how do we resume growth as quickly as possible. We can only do so by taking the necessary corrective measures now and this is what we will do.

Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 3, Prison Development (Confirmation of Resolutions) Bill 2008 — Order for Second Stage, Second and Subsequent Stages; No. 19, Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 4, Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil...

Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: We try to achieve consensus on matters on which we can agree. We debate matters on which we cannot agree and sometimes the House divides. The issue with regard to Private Members' business will be debated this evening and I am not sure as to the possibility of avoiding a vote. It will not stop us having the debate or people articulating their views. The Bill on nursing homes will not be...

Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: We need to find a new legal basis on which to organise it. It cannot be simply done without changing the legal basis of the current arrangements. We need legislation and I do not see a way around that. I do not see an interim arrangement other than legislation that meets the requirements of the situation. With regard to the transposition of directives and regulations, there are many issues...

Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will take the last question first. I am not aware of legislative consequences in respect of this transfer. I will have to check it out and come back to the Deputy. To my knowledge, the Department of Finance has not received a request for a Supplementary Estimate. The civil partnership issue was discussed at Cabinet earlier and proposals have been published. I will have to check with the...

Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the line Minister.

Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The management company Bill will not be published before the end of the session.

Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: It will not be with us this term.

Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The road traffic Bill will be taken later this year. There is no date for the collective investment schemes consolidation Bill.

Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The earliest we will have that is late this year.