Results 1,841-1,860 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not know the reason without notice and no one else would know the reason for the inordinate delay without notice. It is surprising the Government of the day did not lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: First, when we are talking about recapitalising the banks, as we are with two of these banks, and also financing an orderly wind-down of two others which have failed, that is clearly a case of the taxpayer being the ultimate payer of these payments. That is the truth. Our national debt will increase as a result of it. I am simply explaining the method by which it is a manageable issue for...

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I saw that in a statement from a Member of the House yesterday or today.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The second point I want to make concerns the Deputy's question regarding the budget for next year. That figure is being worked on currently by the Government.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Government is in the midst of Estimates in regard to the 2011 budget and we are now having to bring this other requirement of a four year budgetary framework because that is in the interests of the country. I note that on the basis of what we announced last week the spread reduced from 6.9% to 6.1%.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: We need to ensure that the markets generally and, more importantly, we as a people can see what the real options are for the country and what are the expenditure and taxation implications to meet this requirement of reducing our deficit to 3%. That is an obligation on this or any other Government during that period.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the issue Deputy Kenny is talking about, we will come up with that in mid-November and then in December we will introduce the 2011 budget. In terms of the purpose of what we are bringing forward, it is needed to ensure a credible pathway is set out by this country as to how we reach the deficit reduction we agreed to last February.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: No, I did not.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: This point has been made clear previously. I want to make it clear to Deputy Gilmore that the issue here, which has been confirmed in reports which have been undertaken on behalf of the House, is that Anglo Irish Bank was a bank of systemic importance. Clearly, there were questions about liquidity issues arising in the banking system. There was also the question of what was the best thing...

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: He also confirmed that were any bank allowed to go down, we would have had a meltdown in the banking system within days or weeks. That would have been the consequence had we adopted Labour Party policy at the time. Labour Party policy now seems to suggest that the issue was really the extent of the guarantee. That was not the Labour Party position at the time. The Labour Party seems to be...

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: Yet, Deputy Gilmore comes in here and suggests that the Labour Party had a solution to the problem that would have saved us.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I have answered the question and my response is very clear. We took all necessary steps to preserve our economic system after making our decision. I believe it was the right decision and that the independent reports that have followed it have been in favour of that decision, with the exception of the issue of subordinated debt, which is 3.3% of the total volume guaranteed on the night. I...

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: Let me make it clear, the current Governor of the Central Bank says that had we listened to the Labour Party view, we would have had a meltdown of the financial system and this economy would have been set back decades.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 1, Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad] - Second Stage, to adjourn at 7 p.m. tonight, if not previously concluded; No. 18, statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010 (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I cannot anticipate of the outcome of that work, which is ongoing. The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Barry Andrews, is in charge of it and he will report to the Government in due course. Many issues arise, which I have mentioned on Question Time previously, and they are being worked through at the moment. I cannot anticipate the outcome. With regard to...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand we should see publication of that Bill in the next few weeks. I hope it can be taken this session. I do not anticipate any additional costs, as will be outlined on publication of the legislation. That is not the purpose of the measure.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I do not anticipate additional costs. I believe that we will be able to come forward with a proposal which will ensure that the mayoralty will be accommodated within the considerable moneys allocated to and expended by local authorities in the Dublin area.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: I understand the mental capacity Bill will be published this session. Ireland has signed the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and there will not be an undue delay in following up on that. It is the Government's intention to do so as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure all necessary requirements under the convention are...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: That is right.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Brian Cowen: We have to take that into account the need for all the necessary requirements under the convention to be met. We hold to the legal tradition of not ratifying treaties until it is considered that domestic law in general is in conformity with them. While Ireland has not ratified the convention, that does not mean progress is not being made in meeting the requirements. It means that when we...