Results 181-200 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: It is.

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Yes, it is in the arrangements for both the Dáil and the Seanad, presuming there are no recommendations in the Seanad.

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Yes, exactly. It is the Minister for Finance who sets out the schedule. The Deputy's finance spokesperson has the schedule. It is not complicated.

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The idea is that they will be done in parallel. That is what I stated a few minutes ago.

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I sought to give clarification. I said I could not anticipate further consideration of the Government or any of its decisions. I said the matter was brought to the attention of spokespersons. The Government reserves the right to bring forward a referendum if it considers that is the correct thing to do. I do not wish to anticipate the outcome of our deliberations but we have checked out...

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: On the first matter, the medical indemnity Bill, I understand that the Minister has indicated she is interested in introducing a Bill herself. I accept a Private Members' Bill on the matter was introduced by the Deputy. It is a matter to take up directly with the Minister herself. I do not expect the second Bill will be taken during this term.

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I will come back to the Deputy on the matter.

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: On the first matter, the report will be considered by Government in the first instance and then published as usual. On the second matter, I will have to check what is the state of play on it.

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Work is ongoing on the matter. We expect to have the Bill published and enacted this session. It is a budget-related Bill.

Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: That will not be ready this term.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: It is important to recognise the developments that are taking place at a European level in this matter regarding a discussion on the context and content of the current policy. The Minister for Finance met his eurozone counterparts yesterday to discuss the size and scope of the European assistance mechanisms. This matter still is being considered by the euro group, which is at an early stage...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: First, the reason we are obliged to raise taxes or levies-----

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Sorry, may I be allowed to answer the question without interruption? I listened to the Deputy without interruption. It may be-----

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Whenever Deputy McCormack is ready.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The reason that taxes are being raised is because there is a gap between what the Government spends and what the Exchequer receives. Quite separate from there ever having been a banking crisis, Ireland has a serious public finance position it must address.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The continuing attempt to suggest that revenue raising is about paying for the banks or the IMF is a separate question altogether. The reason the Government is raising taxes is because Ireland's taxes were at 2002 levels before the last budget, while expenditure was at 2010 levels. This gap must be closed by reducing expenditure and increasing taxes and this is the reason for the increase...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I have no interest in playing politics as usual with Deputy Gilmore in regard to taking his confidence motion. He can take it in his own time. Everybody knows it will be defeated. We have work to do and are going to get on with it. On the corporation tax rate, President Sarkozy's statement was responded to last Friday by the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs,...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: -----than there were last August. The rate of increase, month on month and year on year, has been decreasing considerably and that is reflecting the stabilisation in the economy we are seeing as a result of the successful implementation of the budgetary policies being pursued. The amount of revenue we forecast for 2010 came in not only on budget but was €700 million more than expected and...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I did not hear the question but I will answer it anyway. The reason why the Dáil is sitting is because there is serious business to be done in this parliamentary term. The finance Bill and pension legislation related to the budget needs to be passed. The Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill will be taken tomorrow and will reduce the interest rate in the IMF agreement by 15 bases...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy said President Sarkozy has a view on corporation tax. He is entitled to that view; it is one that has been expressed on many occasions. I heard it at many ECOFIN Council meetings down through the years. One of my predecessors, Deputy Quinn, would have heard it a few times. Our corporation tax regime is simple and transparent, unlike the complicated system of allowances and...