Results 121-140 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that advices from the Attorney General are not available to anyone other than members of the Government but the basic point behind the wording is no transfer of competence will take place under this proposal and that has always been seen as the threshold of requirement in terms of whether a referendum is required based on the Crotty judgments. With regard to President...

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: First, I do not have a draft of the text of the conclusions with me but I will ask that our people pick up on the technical drafting issue raised by Deputy Gilmore. We will provide an answer to him on that having got the text. From memory, I cannot recall the issue raised by him. The second point raised by Deputy Gilmore relates to the Attorney General's advice. The normal approach is that...

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I know what point the Deputy is making now. I am sorry. I thought he was talking about general conclusions. I did not pick up on the point. He is talking about the proposed amendment itself.

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I am sorry. The proposed amendment states: The Member States whose currency is the euro may establish a stability mechanism to be activated if indispensable to safeguard the stability of the euro area as a whole. The granting of any required financial assistance under the mechanism would be made subject to strict conditionality. As Deputy Gilmore indicated, a strong political view is held...

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The third matter, the question of the ETA development, was not discussed at the European Council. One welcomes any improvement in respect of that situation. We hope it leads to a process that will bring a permanent outcome appropriate for the situation there. The Spanish Government has definite views on the matter regardless of the political composition of such governments. It is a matter...

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: This issue did not come up at the European Council. It is a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to respond on where exactly that dossier is at present. As a general point, the competitiveness of the European economy is being challenged seriously by other growth areas in the world. International investment patterns are changing and prospective, sustainable growth...

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: It is a matter for the Whips but I would welcome a discussion in the House. That would be beneficial and it would help the House to come to a common conclusion.

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I guarantee Deputy Eamon Gilmore that when the campaign is over he will be very tired. He need not worry about it.

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore should not worry about it. He should build up his strength because he will be very tired by the time this is all over.

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: He has gone paranoid at this stage for a man in a handy position. He must be feeling the heat.

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: There are three furlongs to go and Deputy Gilmore is running out of juice. He cannot get out there quick enough.

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: A major concession by the Deputy.

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I thank the Deputy for the first representation I have received in my second tenure as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: A letter is on the way.

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Informal contact and discussion with the Spanish Government in the normal way would be the best way of influencing this situation, rather than trying to raise this to a European level. There is a strong view in Spanish society that this issue is a jurisdictional one to be dealt with solely by the Spanish Government. Political developments in regional autonomy arrangements in Spain only...

Official Engagements (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny raised a good point. There would be political discussions at the European Council dinner about this whole matter. It is important the confidentiality of much of these discussions would remain so as to allow people to be open and frank about prospective issues, developing trends and the assessments from the Commission and European Central Bank. The Euro Group, under the...

Termination of Ministerial Appointment: Announcement by Taoiseach (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I wish to announce for the information of the Dáil that the President, on my advice, today accepted the resignation of Deputy Micheál Martin as a member of the Government. Pursuant to section 4(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1946, I have assigned the Department of Foreign Affairs to myself with effect from today.

Termination of Ministerial Appointment: Announcement by Taoiseach (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Information provided by Bank of Ireland to the Department of Finance to the effect that no performance-related bonuses were paid was incorrect. The bank has apologised to the Department for this and the Minister for Finance views this issue very seriously. An intensive investigation of the additional payments made by Bank of Ireland since the introduction of the guarantee scheme is under...

Termination of Ministerial Appointment: Announcement by Taoiseach (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Government is in charge. When the Department of Finance obtained the information that this was the case, having been told incorrectly that there were no performance related bonuses, it took up the case and an extensive investigation is being carried out. I have made it clear that consequences will follow if wrongdoing is proved to have taken place. I and the Government would condemn...

Termination of Ministerial Appointment: Announcement by Taoiseach (19 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: When the investigation is completed we will know how much is involved. The investigation is under way.