Results 81-100 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: If I may, a Cheann Comhairle, I do not at all accept the contention of the Deputy. We have made it clear that this is the final parliamentary term for the Government and that we will seek to dissolve Dáil Éireann upon the enactment of the Finance Act. We have already indicated that the timeframe for this will be the end of February-early March, and we will move in that way. Therefore, on...

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: That will be tested. If the Labour Party means to test that next week, that is fine.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: On every occasion that it has been questioned so far, that confidence was available to me and I am confident it remains available to me. There is another point to make in regard to the internal party matter that was resolved yesterday. If the Deputies are suggesting that I do not enjoy the confidence of my own party then that would suggest that democratic decision-making is something they do...

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: It is unfortunate the trade unions did not have a vote. Deputy Quinn should do something about that. He should try to become a socialist some time by giving them a vote.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The point I am making is important. When Deputy Quinn got more votes than Deputy Howlin, all of the Labour Party subscribed to the leadership of Deputy Quinn, and rightly so, and everyone united behind that decision. It is similar with my party.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Deputies are suggesting that people take the opportunity to vote in a certain way when an issue comes up but do not subsequently support the leader.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I recall the time when the Deputies opposite were more interested in democratic centralism than they are now. That was not something in which they would have been involved, in a situation where everyone agreed or, more likely, the late Eamon Smullen or somebody else would send in a text and it would have to be read out because the politburo in Gardiner Street was telling the Labour Party...

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Climate Change Response Bill is in the Seanad at present. It is envisaged that other Bills will be taken in parallel with the Finance Bill. Budget related Bills, must be taken sequentially. Within the period of a week or two following the passing of the Finance Bill other finance related Bills can be brought by the Minister, with other legislation running in parallel with that. The...

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: It is not envisaged that legislation would run beyond the Finance Bill. It would be dealt with in parallel, trying to get all the work done.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The responsibility for foreign affairs has been assigned to me. It is a matter for the Taoiseach to decide whether there will be anything else. That is the situation this morning.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: No. I have been here since half past ten. I have not received any.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Chief Whip outlined in the parliamentary schedule last week which Bills were published, which were already in the House and which have yet to be published. Those were outlined as our priorities. He also said it was not an exhaustive list. However, those are the priorities and we are working to the timescale set out therein.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The mental capacity Bill is at an advanced stage. Much work was done in the last session to prepare it for publication. The work has not been completed and I am not sure if the priority list that has been devised by the Government will affect the finalisation of that work. The best one can expect, given the circumstances, is that the Bill may be published before the dissolution of the...

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Welfare of Greyhounds Bill passed Second Stage in the Seanad yesterday, with the agreement of all parties, including Deputy Reilly's. If he has a principled objection to it perhaps he would tell the lads in the Upper House.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Deputy James Reilly published the Medical Practitioners (Professional Indemnity) Bill - a private Member's Bill - on 8 July 2009. Officials of the Department have been in discussion with the Attorney General's office and are currently preparing a memorandum for Government seeking approval of the proposed amendments and of the provisions set out generally in Deputy Reilly's Bill. That draft...

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: What does it feel like?

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I welcome Deputy Howlin's suggestion. I believe the Minister of State may have in mind the possibility of this happening. He has been engaged in some informal discussions with spokespersons thus far and will report back to the Government next week. The Government will seek to facilitate a constructive dialogue on this issue as a matter of priority.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: We know how accurate are Mayo forwards.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The heads of the Bill were approved in December and it is being drafted at present. It has not yet come before the Government but I expect it to so do within this session.

Order of Business. (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Not in the immediate future, no.