Results 1,001-1,020 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy has derived much political advantage out of the suggestion that it was possible to save our economic and banking systems in the absence of that guarantee. I do not seek to be involved in an argument every day of the week about this. I refer to the deliberations of the report of Professor Honohan, the Governor of the Central Bank, in regard to that matter. It is clear that the...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is clear-----

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is clear. The statement reads, "We welcome the measures taken today by Ireland to deal with issues in its banking sector via guarantees, recapitalisation and asset segregation and these measures have helped to support the Irish banking sector at a time of great dislocation. However, market conditions have not normalised and pressures remain, giving rise to concerns that further reforms-----

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----and stabilisation measures may be appropriate". That is the situation. If the alternative policy as promulgated by the Labour Party since September 2008, namely, that we should not have put that guarantee in place was implemented-----

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----it is clear from the report of the Governor of the Central Bank that this economy would have imploded with a level of economic and social cost which he was not in a position to calculate.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I will leave that argument there because it is not germane to the questions asked. It was a preparatory preface remark put in by Deputy Gilmore, which he often includes, and I wanted to clear that up. It is supported by the euro group, as distinct from his position.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am explaining the situation. The report is there if the Deputy wants to read it. In regard to the matters before us today, the people who will be involved from Ireland's point of view tomorrow at an official level will be the Central Bank, the Department of Finance and the Financial Regulator.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said, those are the people involved. The NTMA will also attend, if required. Officials are coming over tomorrow and have been very clear. There has been constructive engagement with them at all times throughout all the processes on the issues that affected Ireland and the euro area since this crisis began. That will continue and we will provide all the information needed because it...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said on Monday, there was an ECOFIN meeting last night and there will be discussions following that today which will start tomorrow. That will go on until such time as they will be able to bring forward proposals over the coming days. I am not going to put a timeframe on that but they are urgent and focused and will be intensive. Again, I cannot give an outcome as to the timeframe but...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: All of them referred to the fact that discussions were taking place at official level on the euro area issues generally and in preparation for the meetings which are now taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. That is the normal function of officials in the engagement which takes place between us and EU institutions and other member states. The issue for us today arises out of the meeting at...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----we would have had the implosion of this country, in economic terms, in September 2008. Those are the facts. The fact is that there is support for the guarantee system because it has been replicated in other countries. There is support for capitalisation which is necessary when one has the sort of losses which were racked up.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is also important for the segregation of the NAMA exercise. The leader of Fine Gael suggested the banking policy he has is credible. He could not even get the support of the former leader of his party for his banking policy.

Consultancy Contracts (16 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Quigley report, which was published in 2005, highlighted the need for special care in cases where a proposed consultancy comprises an element of direct service to a Minister or Minister of State, particularly in the public relations or communications area, and-or where a Minister or a Minister of State suggests the name of a...

Consultancy Contracts (16 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: If the Deputy tables a question I will have the direct answer for him. The question put asked me to report on the recent work of a committee in the Department that oversees the awarding of public relations contracts. I am not aware of the issue that he refers to but we can check it out.

Consultancy Contracts (16 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I indicated to the Deputy, that is not its role and there is no committee in existence which deals with that issue. This relates to the Quigley report which arose from the need to provide some extra guidelines for Ministers and their Ministers of State in respect of the public relations or communications area where a Minister or Minister of State might suggest the name of a person or...

Consultancy Contracts (16 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware of the relevance of the last comment about the family. Everything we do must be in compliance with the law, whether it is planning law or any other type. There has been a reduction of more than €25 million in expenditure on advertising, public relations and consultancies, as announced by the Minister for Finance in February 2009. There are public information campaigns about...

Consultancy Contracts (16 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Government Information Service has no role whatsoever in the procurement of PR consultants by Departments. It has its own role to fulfil. There are public information services available throughout Departments. Guidelines have been set out on consultancies and where there is a direct service to a Minister or a name is suggested by a Minister as being suitable, the proposal must be...

Consultancy Contracts (16 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware of any issues that arise that are not within the guidelines. Regarding departmental press offices and so forth, as the Deputy knows the technologies available today can be released by e-mail, through text messaging, paper press release, etc. It is necessary that Government be able to provide immediate up-to-date information with 24-hour media coverage involved. I understand...

Consultancy Contracts (16 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the number of cases referred to the Government secretariat, eight cases that came within the guidelines have been processed. Since September 2008 I agreed to the appointment by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources of a consultant to conduct a facilitation exercise in connection with the consultation paper on next generation broadband. In 2007 one case was...

Consultancy Contracts (16 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am not sure, but I think so, yes.