Results 10,881-10,900 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

House Prices. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Housing output this year — a relatively poor year compared to others — is still higher than ten years ago. Concerning this idea of the market crumbling, we must keep a sense of perspective.

House Prices. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The point the Deputy is missing is that markets adjust to supply and demand.

House Prices. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I did not interrupt the Deputy while he was asking his question. The criticism beforehand concerned when the Government would try to increase supply to meet demand. Now that the market has adjusted and built up capacity to meet demand, the Deputy's problem is that we allowed the market to grow too quickly. The market grew in response to demand.

House Prices. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The demographics of the country are such that, at a per capita level, housing output in the medium term——

House Prices. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——suggests 60,000 units per year is the best way forward, according to the ESRI and others.

Climate Change Strategy. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my previous replies regarding the proposals published by the Commission that will lead to an agreement on the contributions of individual member states towards meeting the EU targets agreed at the 2007 spring Council. The Commission proposes that Ireland reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 based on 2005 emissions figures and achieve an overall target of...

Climate Change Strategy. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The targets are challenging and the objective is to try to meet them on the basis of avoiding a detrimental effect on economic growth, jobs and investment. A serious behavioural change on everyone's part will be required. We are discussing with the Commission the method to achieve the targets. As matters stand, they would be difficult to achieve were there no flexibility. Part of the...

Climate Change Strategy. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: We were not able to meet the rate of growth requirements set out in our programme for Government. A number of available mechanisms, such as the emissions trading system and the non-emissions trading system, must be considered. This is a lesson for the future. Regarding carbon sinks and so on, we must determine to what extent we can ensure a comprehensive approach by the Commission——

Climate Change Strategy. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——to allow us flexibility. We need flexibility to try to reach the targets.

Climate Change Strategy. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not fair to say that they are being set back by years.

Climate Change Strategy. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: When one sets about putting in place complex and ambitious public sector projects, some of which are proceeding quickly——

Climate Change Strategy. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Luas extensions are proceeding through their various phases. We must give credit to public service agencies when they are doing a good job on our behalf. Surely we have not become so politically correct that we must criticise everything. The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, has been doing a good job in moving those extensions through the various phases that must be passed in our...

Pension Provisions. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The total accrued liability in respect of public service occupational pensions is estimated at €75 billion as of 2007. This figure represents the present value of the expected future pension payments to current staff and their spouses in respect of service to date with the full liability for all future payments to current pensioners and their spouses. The figure represents a projection of...

Pension Provisions. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The large size of the accrued liability figures, €75 billion, is due to it comprising the total of pension payments for many years into the future. It will continue until the last spouse of serving staff has died, which probably will be in more than 70 years time.

Pension Provisions. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I must check on where the Deputy is coming from with that figure. I will try to get that information for him. This is where it is coming from at present. I will answer the question in a manner that may be helpful to Deputy Bruton. Last year, the figure of €45 billion that was mentioned in a parliamentary question only covered serving staff, while the figure of €75 billion covers both...

Pension Provisions. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the Deputy's policy question, Ireland has a demographic window. Although it is not a reason to do nothing, Ireland is not at the stage reached by a number of our fellow EU member states, in which the time bomb is not only ticking but can be heard. The issue in Ireland relates to ending the consultation on the Green Paper in May and bringing forward a White Paper as soon as possible...

Pension Provisions. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: My recollection of the Act that established the National Pension Reserve Fund is that the Government is statutorily obliged to transfer at least 1% of GNP to the fund per year until 2025. Therefore, in the event of there being room to so do in good times, the prospect of continuing with a contribution that is greater than 1% is a matter that is open to any Minister for Finance to decide on...

Pension Provisions. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is correct.

Pension Provisions. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is correct. There was a suggestion that the Government should raid the fund from time to time.

Pension Provisions. (24 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is a matter for——