Results 141-160 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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

Brian Cowen: This issue was raised in a parliamentary question tabled by Deputy Burton last week to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Lenihan.

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

Brian Cowen: The issue has been taken up at the highest level. The Government indicated it was not acceptable. We sought detailed information by way of investigation and we are now going to ensure that the details are provided to the House and the public. The people will know that if any wrongdoing was done it will be followed up and there will be serious consequences-----

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

Brian Cowen: -----as soon as possible when the investigation has been completed.

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

Brian Cowen: I totally reject the idea that the Government is not operating effectively and doing its job. We have returned for the final term of this Dáil for good reason, as the Deputy knows. We need to enact the finance Bill and other related Bills, as well the Climate Change Response Bill and others. We have also entered into international obligations which have to be discharged in the first...

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

Brian Cowen: I do not know how the Deputy intends to instil confidence when he continues to be one of the foremost spokespersons for the negativity industry in the country.

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

Brian Cowen: He uses phrases such as " stuck in the mire", " economic corpse" and "banjaxed", which are all part of the Labour Party lexicon in myriad press releases we read. It is the usual politics of the old Democratic Left non-stop, day in and day out, to keep throwing the muck in case some of it might stick. (Interruptions).

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

Brian Cowen: That is the level of rhetoric we are hearing from the Deputy on an ongoing basis and thankfully people are starting to cop on to it. They will realise it more when an election takes place and we check the veracity of his policies and his proposed solutions for the country in the midst of the biggest crisis since the foundation of the State. We all know what would have happened. The economy...

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

Brian Cowen: That is the politics as usual we are getting from the Labour Party, but people are not buying that, much as the Deputy thinks they are. People are not buying it.

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

Brian Cowen: The lads are back on side today, are they? Do they agree with it today.

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

Brian Cowen: The lads are back on side having had a chat about it on Tuesday morning. Is Deputy Kenny back on side? Is he going with it?

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

Brian Cowen: I could not agree more with the Deputy. I knew the day would come when Deputy Kenny would realise that a no confidence motion in this Government was ill-timed and ill-judged.

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

Brian Cowen: I will tell Deputies one thing, they are worth it. It is worth coming in here for half an hour.

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

Brian Cowen: The final comment I want to make to Deputy Gilmore is that the only person who ran away from anything this week was himself, by not appearing on "The Frontline".

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

Brian Cowen: With regard to the dinner in Druid's Glen, it was not inappropriate for me to sit and discuss the economy or economic issues with the people who are in business or who are economic advisers in their own right and have economic consultancy firms. I would think that is not an inappropriate thing to do. What has proven to be a problem in terms of perception is that we are now projecting back...

Programmes for Government (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. As the Deputies are aware, the core focus of the renewed programme is to stimulate sustainable economic recovery and job creation. It sets out the agreed areas of focus for each individual Minister whose duty it is to ensure that those commitments within their particular portfolios are implemented. As I have stated on many...

Programmes for Government (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: As for the first matter, I indicated late last year that much advanced, detailed and good work has been done regarding a proposed wording for the children's referendum. As the Deputy noted, this was brought to the attention of the Cabinet and approval was given for the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, to speak to spokespersons from other parties in the House and then to proceed to...

Programmes for Government (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: On when the referendum will be held, I have to await the advice of the Minister of State concerned based on the discussions he has had in the past number of weeks with his colleagues in the House. When he reports back to Government very soon it will enable us to make a judgment as to the best way forward. On the second matter, in Ireland, compared on a pro rata basis to other countries,...

Programmes for Government (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The relevant Minister will have to take up some of the representations received in respect of individual cases. I hope ways and means will be found for those in need to be accommodated. Pursuing public service reform is about making sure that we release moneys, to the greatest extent possible, to the areas of the public service which require resourcing in addition to what is already being...

Programmes for Government (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Prior to Christmas it was decided that having completed the budgetary process and introduced and enacted the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, a parliamentary schedule for this term, setting out the legislative priorities, would be issued. The Deputy will have a copy of that to hand. Those are the issues we want resolved and dealt with in this term. Other parts of the programme...

Programmes for Government (18 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: It is unlikely, because of the term the Government has lasted, that it will be possible to complete that aspect of the programme. I do not accept for one moment the pejorative term used by Deputy Gilmore with regard to the filling of State boards. He is a person who often comes into the House and speaks about the need for proper corporate governance and the need for boards to act...