Results 10,221-10,240 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Commissions of Investigation. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have not dealt with that case. We have processes in place, including a secretariat and Ministers to take up these matters and, where appropriate, I will obviously take them up when an appropriate occasion occurs in a meeting between the British Prime Minister and myself. I have had reason to do that in the past in other capacities. In defending the cases the State is honouring commitments...

Commissions of Investigation. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Obviously I will check to ascertain my predecessor's views on these matters. If it is on the record of the House that he is in agreement, I do not have a problem with trying to devise a process that would allow the Houses of the Oireachtas, if they felt it appropriate, to state once again our position regarding these matters. Mr. Bradley and the former Archbishop, Lord Eames, indicated that...

Commissions of Investigation. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: People will recognise the political background against which these efforts have been made. For example, mention was made into inquiries into a number of cases which affected both sides of the community were handled at the same time by Judge Peter Cory. I was there at the time. In that context we were able to have him investigate the Finucane and Nelson murders and the killing of the two...

Commissions of Investigation. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have no idea where it is on the Supreme Court's list, which as Deputy Gilmore knows, is a matter for the superior courts. Hopefully, as the Deputy said, it will be as soon as practicable and possible given, as he mentioned, the length of time and the particular subject matter we are addressing. As I said in an earlier response, I have no objection in principle to doing anything that would...

Commissions of Investigation. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not think I, as the appellant, have any role in that matter since the papers have been lodged. However if there is any appropriate contact or inquiry I can make on it I will check it out.

Fire Services. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: My predecessor in office, Deputy Bertie Ahern, met twice with the families of the two fire fighters who died last September responding to a factory fire in Bray, County Wicklow. He took the opportunity to convey the sympathy and condolences of the Government to both families on their loss. During the meetings, discussion focused on the concerns expressed by the families for the safety of...

Fire Services. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy knows, in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, Wicklow County Council, the Health and Safety Authority and the Garda Síochána each announced it was carrying out an investigation into the fire, so three inquiries are currently underway, each dealing with particular aspects of the tragedy. In these circumstances, it is best to await the outcome of the inquiries and then...

Fire Services. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: As I said, I can make inquiries of them as to when they expect to have their inquiries completed, if that is in order, which I am sure it is. I will tell them the matter has been raised in the House and inquire in what way they can complete their investigations.

Fire Services. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: The provision of a fire service in its functional area is, as we know, the statutory responsibility of the local authority——

Fire Services. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——which is Wicklow County Council in this case. Without revisiting the issues raised at the time, I do not think it was a question of whether it was a part-time retained or full-time service. It was an unfortunate accident which occurred when two gentlemen——

Fire Services. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: In so far as one's understanding of it is at the moment——

Fire Services. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Fine. If there is another view, that is fair enough. That is perhaps why we should await the outcome of these inquiries and wait for those who are competent in these areas to comment further. I am just giving the response to Deputy Gilmore's point. My understanding, subject to the outcome of the inquiries, is that this was not the critical issue in this case, although I am not seeking to...

Official Engagements. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 9, inclusive, together. On 8 May, I travelled to Belfast to attend the Northern Ireland investment conference. I also had meetings with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Brown, the First Minister, Dr. Paisley, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr. McGuinness. On 24 May, I travelled to Cardiff to meet the First Minister of Wales, Mr. Rhodri Morgan, and I also...

Official Engagements. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I met the Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, at the airport in the first instance when I arrived and we had a bilateral discussion on our own for about half an hour. I had known Mr. Brown when he was Chancellor and we discussed many issues and had a general political discussion. We joined officials thereafter and discussed issues of bilateral interest between Britain and Ireland, the...

Official Engagements. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: We have worked hard to develop a good working relationship with China, a country of great importance and complexity. Where issues arise, they are dealt with through dialogue and engagement. EU Ministers have not supported the calls for a boycott of either the Olympic Games or the opening ceremony. Instead, the importance of continuing to deal directly and frankly with the Chinese...

Official Engagements. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: He would not be as obsessed by his opposite number as Deputy Kenny.

Official Engagements. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is a preoccupation of mine.

Official Engagements. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I can confirm what the Deputy had to say regarding the latter matter. On the question of taxation policy in other jurisdictions, that is a matter for the governments of those jurisdictions. The matter was raised by investors at the question and answer session and the Prime Minister outlined his well-known view that when one takes account of allowances and other arrangements, the net position...

Official Engagements. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am a strong proponent of co-operation between the North and the Republic in all areas and in every possible way because I believe it represents the best deal for the taxpayer and the best way by which the country can progress. The CAWT initiative has been ongoing in the health area for many years and a co-operation agreement has been reached, for example, between the north east and Daisy...

Official Engagements. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: In respect of the question on China, I am of the belief that one should not mix sport with politics. We should show solidarity towards those who will be competing, in the spirit of the Olympic Games and all it represents. I am strongly of the view that since its reconstitution, the Olympic movement has been a unifying factor. The boycotts of the Olympic Games in Moscow and Los Angeles did...