Results 11,521-11,540 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The bluster is very much on Deputy Kenny's side of the House in terms of the game he is playing. The game he is trying to play is not only to try to destroy the good name of one individual, but to try to destroy the good name of a whole party——

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——whom he failed to beat on the electoral field on a number of occasions. I see a few of the hyenas are in to make sure I cannot get my point across.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The point I make to the Deputy is simple——

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: We all know that even Deputy Kenny cannot control Deputy Ring.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The situation is that a tribunal of inquiry was established into planning matters and corruption. An unsubstantiated allegation made by Mr. Gilmartin continues to stand against the Taoiseach——

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——that he obtained moneys in regard to Quarryvale from the developer, Mr. O'Callaghan. No supportive material has been provided for that proposition but Deputy Kenny has decided otherwise.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The fact of the matter is that Deputy Kenny has decided as a political tactic to constantly come to this House and prejudge and pre-empt the outcome of that tribunal, not after evidence was given but even in the course of evidence being given. A particular set of circumstances arose in regard to a building trustee account which has been paid back into that account.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The guffaws are also organised.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Shatter only received the confidence of the people recently. They quite rightly rejected him for a while. I have not had that experience myself so I do not have to take any lectures from him.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not have to take any lectures from him. I am pleased to say that rejection took place when Deputy Shatter was health spokesman in opposition to me when I was Minister for Health and Children.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the matter before us, we in this party will not take lectures from Deputy Kenny on the tribunal of inquiry. As I understand it, on a number of occasions the judges of the tribunal of inquiry asked people to desist——

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——from the constant politicising of the inquiry of which Deputy Kenny has been at the head.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Until such time as that ends, Deputy Kenny stands indicted for the tactics he is employing.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I disagree with Deputy Gilmore's suggestion that the Taoiseach, in giving his evidence, has compromised his position to lead this country. The issues under consideration by the tribunal relate to a two-year period after his separation from his wife and the settling of his family affairs. As Deputy Gilmore suggested, he did not have a bank account at that time. There was the question of the...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: We will not discuss fees. That is the Taoiseach's position. While this is a painstaking and drawn-out process, the Taoiseach is adamant that this is the position. No material has been provided to the contrary. Deputy Gilmore has consistently been of the view that the tribunal should get on with its business and we should get on with ours. He reiterated that here today and I agree with...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: During the two years, about which he obsesses, Deputy Kenny's party at headquarters level, not constituency level, was involved in systemic tax evasion, paying under-the-counter payments to its employees, and had to settle six years later, in 2001, with the Revenue Commissioners.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have heard nothing about standards on that matter. The political arena is not the place to judge anybody's guilt or innocence because those words are not the currency of politics.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is why we established the tribunals. The problem with the tribunal is that it has gone on for so long. That is because we do not have sub judice rules and because of the inadequacy of the legislative framework under which they operate, the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921, which people in this House have consistently debated and highlighted in the past ten years. The Taoiseach,...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Yes.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Again I do not agree with the Deputy's assertions. He said that the Taoiseach does not enjoy the confidence of this House, but in fact he does.