Results 18,101-18,120 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Aer Lingus: Motion. (24 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am not referring to the debate tonight. We have treaded carefully in recent months because of the strategic interests at stake.

Aer Lingus: Motion. (24 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: We proceed on the basis that the airline——

Aer Lingus: Motion. (24 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: ——will continue to serve us well. Swissair is no longer in a position to serve Switzerland well. Sabena is no longer in a position to serve Belgium well. We allowed ourselves to be blinkered in our approach and we did not see what was happening in the market. If we do not take cognisance of the market, we will put at risk the great contribution that has been made thus far and we will...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have clarified with the Deputy's office that the issue he refers to involves self-employed individuals who have reckonable income of less than €3,174 in a particular year and consequently are not liable to pay PRSI. Such individuals may be entitled to make voluntary contributions to the Department of Social and Family Affairs under the PRSI system, provided certain conditions are met, but...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that figures of claims for capital allowances in respect of yachts and similar types of ships and associated assets are not captured in such a way as to be separately identifiable. Claims for these reliefs are aggregated in tax returns with other capital allowances and do not distinguish between the claims made in respect of the different activities....

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: My Department has been advised by the financial regulator that there are currently 53 moneylenders licensed in the State. Under section 93 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995, as amended, moneylenders are licensed by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Part VIII of the Act sets out the conditions to be met by a person to obtain a licence and also governs the conduct of business by...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: As part of the Government's decentralisation programme it was decided that 250 Revenue posts should be decentralised to Athy, County Kildare. It was also decided that a further 380 Revenue posts and 34 posts from my Department would be decentralised to Kildare town. The report from the decentralisation implementation group, dated 19 November 2004, which was accepted by Government, did not...

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The decision on Aer Lingus yesterday clearly makes a difference as to how we will proceed with the matter. Last March, the Minister for Transport outlined in the House the course he would take if the Government decides to embark on a sale of all or part of Aer Lingus: I will set out for the House, in accordance with the provisions of the Aer Lingus Act 2004, the general principles of the...

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Legislation already exists, the provisions of which can be utilised to enable the sale to take place. I assure the Deputy that as we embark on the process, appoint our advisers, take advice from them and do our analysis, we will give ample opportunity for this House to discuss the options and how we should proceed. There may well be different views in the House on that matter, but the...

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand that the electricity Bill will come before the House next year. The heads of the national oil reserves agency Bill have been approved so the legislation should come before the House later this year.

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is awaiting an order for Report Stage.

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: According to the information available to me there is an order for Report Stage for the Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004. It was published in June last year.

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: If the Whips agreed to view it as a priority, it could be arranged. I assure Deputies, including Deputy Ó Caoláin, that there will be many opportunities to discuss the issues relating to aviation. I base that on my prior experience of having responsibility for that Department.

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Bill is due to be discussed by the Government and is due to be published next year. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is working hard on it.

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: On the Order of Business I must communicate to the House about the schedule for dealing with each Stage of legislation. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform answered questions in the House two days ago and a specific parliamentary question to him would elicit more information than I am in a position to give. The Deputy should accept that point rather than criticise me for the...

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: These matters are before the Government at present. Until the Government takes decisions I cannot indicate what the legislation might include or exclude.

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Supreme Court decision might have implications for how we try to address the matter. That is the reason we have not been able to progress the Bill as quickly as the Deputy would wish. I am aware that he has had a long standing interest in the Bill.

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I presume the Deputy is referring to the Maritime Safety Bill. That is due to come to the Dáil on Second Stage. A discussion among the Whips would facilitate arranging a time for the Bill to be discussed in the House. With regard to the other matter, I recall that when the Fianna Fáil-Labour Government made some strategic decisions on Aer Lingus there were prophecies of doom from Deputy...

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I believe the Deputy was expelled from his parliamentary party.

Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy was expelled from his parliamentary party.