Results 10,241-10,260 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Official Engagements. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: I would have to check the Deputy's quote in that regard before I could comment. I am sure he provided a full and complete quotation.

Leaders' Questions (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is a misguided view that increases in fuel prices will yield a benefit to Government, as if the consumer has that extra money to spend and will continue to spend the same amount of money on other goods and services. Clearly, where people have a certain level of income and must use vehicles, the increased VAT yield from an increase in fuel prices is offset by the reduced consumer spend...

Leaders' Questions (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is important to point out that the revenues available to the ESB and others are factored into their capital programmes for providing alternative energy sources.

Leaders' Questions (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: Yes, but if the people who will pay for it are to be the generators, they will simply pass it on. They have factored that money into their capital plans to move——

Leaders' Questions (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——to alternative energy sources. With regard to reducing the lower VAT rate from 13.5% to 12.5%, that would cost approximately €400 million in a year. The likelihood is that any reduction in the VAT rate would be absorbed by retailers and wholesalers and not passed on to consumers. That was the experience of one of my predecessors, as I said earlier, when he reduced the 21% VAT rate...

Order of Business. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is due this session. On the issue of the conventions and when they can be incorporated into law here, it is best to have the Minister for Foreign Affairs write to the Deputy formally on the matter. I do not have the information to hand.

Order of Business. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the disability area generally, this Administration has put on a statutory footing many important landmark statutes, which provided, quite properly, the rights framework for people with disabilities going forward. Much of the multiannual investment has been allocated quite rightly to that area and I hope that will continue. The mental capacity Bill, which deals with some of the issues...

Order of Business. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not know that so I will have to make inquiries for the Deputy.

Order of Business. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy's spokesperson on health raised that issue already on this Order of Business. It is not possible to give a date as to when the attachment of fines Bill will be ready.

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is unfair to the former Taoiseach for Deputy Kenny to characterise his efforts as having faded in recent times before he left office. That is certainly not true and there is no basis for making the claim.

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is no basis for making the claim. I have read the papers relating to meetings and representations he made on this issue.

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is no basis for making the claim. Deputy Kenny is aware that the domestic political situation in the US means this is a divisive and difficult issue on which to get a comprehensive approach because the US Congress and Government have sought a comprehensive approach to resolve this. It has not been possible to resolve it thus far despite the bipartisan efforts of people of such...

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: The questions tabled relate to the recent visit of the former Taoiseach to Washington and his visit on St. Patrick's Day. The remit of the questions does not extend to the supplementary questions being asked by Deputy Kenny.

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not mind. Any room to manoeuvre we get, the better.

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is important we deal with the Administration on the basis of settled policy at the time. There are many things said in the context of electoral contests. One has to listen to that and note it. There have been statements, which were they to be followed through in a certain fashion, would cause us some worry. We must allow the domestic contest to proceed to its finality and then deal...

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will respond to the Deputy's second question first. As I stated, I will take every opportunity to progress the efforts not alone of Government but of the Oireachtas as a whole in regard to resolving the issue of the undocumented Irish. While I do not wish to repeat myself, political conditions in recent times have not been particularly opportune to advance this case. The domestic...

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will invite him to the all-Ireland final.

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I certainly hope so.

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: I certainly hope so. We wish the company well with its restructuring proposals. Deputy Gilmore asked whether I will meet President Bush. The honest answer is that I do not know. He will visit Northern Ireland and I do not know whether I will have an opportunity to meet him then. I met him on a couple of occasions previously. I met him when I was Minister for Foreign Affairs at the US-EU...

Official Engagements. (28 May 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the question on the undocumented Irish, I indicated to Deputies Kenny and Gilmore as much as I can state on what my approach will be and my determination to continue to seek a solution, emphasising that we need agreement from the other side which has certain concerns and issues to be dealt with in the context of considering our requests or representations. We must respect that and if we...