Results 12,161-12,180 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Minister pointed out that, in principle, we are of the view that extending the franchise should form part of prospective future reform of the Seanad. He took the first opportunity yesterday to give that indication in the Seanad. I am sure it will be welcomed by Members on all sides of the House given that it is a long-standing recommendation and one that will reflect the far greater...

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is the very antithesis of elitism to extend voting rights to all third level graduates.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I never thought I would hear a Labour Party Deputy defend the current situation in regard to Seanad seats.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: As they say in my part of the country, that beats Banagher.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Minister gave his views——

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: No. He gave the Government's views on this matter as part of a wider prospect of reform that should take place. Deputy Brian Hayes may one day get to make a ministerial speech — which I hope he will, although not in the near future.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: In any case, I hope he will be making speeches as a Deputy rather than a Senator. It is possible for a Minister to give his or her views without a memo to Government. Deputy Brian Hayes should not be too stilted if he ever gets the job.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: That is not the case. Deputy Hayes should accept when somebody says something new.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: There is no better man in the House than Deputy Ring to ask about the noise Bill. He has the best set of lungs in west Mayo.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: In view of the delays in bringing forward the noise Bill, perhaps Deputy Ring will introduce a Private Members' Bill. The George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act 1998 (Amendment) Bill is at the preparatory stage.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Bill is unlikely to be taken while Deputy Ring is in the House.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The heads of the electoral amendment Bill are being prepared but no proposals have come to Government yet. When the Government gives approval we can discuss the matter.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Not as far as I know.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Both of those Bills are due next year.

Garda Síochána (Powers of Surveillance) Bill 2007: First Stage (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: There is still too much work required on it.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 10a, motion on supplementary statement of expenditure for Houses of the Oireachtas; No. 1, Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); No. 16, statements on National Drug Strategy 2001 to 2008 and the mid-term review of the National Drugs Strategy March 2005. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that...

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have no problem in principle with any arrangement that will enhance the debate and coverage of the House in plenary session, particularly with committee work. Any arrangement that would enhance the House's deliberations is to be welcomed by all Members on all sides. These matters are Whips' issues. On the interjection referred to by Deputy Quinn on statements, I took that to mean that...

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Second Stage of the Tribunal of Inquiries Bill has resumed. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has given full and unambiguous assurances that it has nothing to do with existing inquiries and does not interfere with them in any way, as the Opposition knows.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: It continues nevertheless to trot out the same old stuff in the hope that it might get a line in the newspapers. I do not intend editorialising on the tribunal's deliberations although I note that the Opposition does so every day of the week.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is intended to take the nursing homes support scheme Bill in this session. It has been in the public domain for well over a year. If the Opposition had any queries it could have used parliamentary Question Time or Private Members' motion time. It has had any number of opportunities to seek further clarification on it.