Cowen, BrianTuesday, 30 November 2010 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
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Ceisteanna — Questions - Freedom of Information
Was asked: the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department during October 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. 
Was asked: the number of applications received under the Freedom of Information Act in the first ten months of 2010; the way this compares with each year since 2002; in respect of the 2010 applications, the n...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Ten freedom of information requests were received in the Department of the Taoiseach in October 2010. Some 91 requests were received during the firs...
The Freedom of Information Act provides for citizens to obtain relevant data and information regarding their own particular position, as set out under the legislation. That is fine for people who req...
When the Freedom of Information Acts were introduced they applied to about 67 public bodies and they now extend to more than 500 public bodies, an eightfold increase in the number of organisations to ...
The detailed application of the Act is a matter for the Minister for Finance but, based on the information I have before me, I will put some facts on the record that may be germane to the questions be...
As I said earlier regarding making financial information available, banking laws and legal parameters are set out. We are operating in a commercially competitive environment. No one would suggest, g...
Questions for the operation of financial institutions are a matter for the Minister for Finance to ensure up to date and accurate information. There are valid and legitimate issues of commercial and ...
Ceisteanna — Questions - National Reform Programme
Was asked: the preparations his Department has undertaken in preparation for the implementation of Ireland’s national reform programme in the context of the Europe 2020 agenda; and if he will make a statement o...
The Europe 2020 Strategy has been adopted as a successor to the Lisbon Strategy for Jobs and Growth. Its goal is to enable Europe to emerge stronger from the current economic crisis as a smart, susta...
It was agreed that we would hold back the draft programme until the four year plan was agreed because that was the priority as far as the European Union was concerned. Arising from that work, we can ...
Various targets and scenarios are set out by various organisations, including the European Commission, the OECD, the IMF, the ESRI and the Department of Finance. One can consider a range of growth sc...
It is not a question of picking what one feel’s like picking but of looking at the various assumptions that are made in various forecasts. As the Deputy is aware, forecasts are based on various assum...
There is an annual review in the programme itself and surveillance and monitoring on a quarterly basis.
Yes, of course.
It will be a matter for Governments between now and the end of the programme to decide if they wish to take up the funding based on the terms and conditions that apply. That is the issue. One cannot...
I do not agree with the contention made by the Deputy. The policy framework that we are setting out is about stabilising the economy and then moving forward to growth for the economy, albeit recognis...
The issue is what is sustainable for this country in the present circumstances and how do we ensure that we are in a position to promote policies of social inclusion. That last can only be done on th...
Leaders’ Questions
Where is the question?
I am waiting for a question.
It is a joke.
We have funding for this State’s requirements up to July of next year. There are choices available to this country. If Deputy Kenny’s view is that this deal should not be taken up, I ask him where h...
——whereas this deal offers money for 5.8%. The second point I would make to Deputy Kenny is that this country now has the ability to draw down funds. We can now find the room and space in which to pu...
On every occasion when a serious matter is discussed the Deputy seems to retreat into flights of rhetoric that fail to confront any sort of reality. That is his choice and his political style, as he ...
The substance of the issue before us is——
——that this country requires funding for its own requirements and to ensure we have a banking system in the future. This is what the Government is doing. This requirement will be a priority for the ...
——in private consumption suggested by the Commission is a feature of forecasts from every international and domestic forecaster and such forecasts from the IMF, the OECD and the European Commission ar...
——people are going to work, people are in business and we have entrepreneurs in both the public and private sector who are trying to provide a good wage and standard of living for the workers in those...
——are now on a far firmer footing as a result of making this agreement than would have been the case without making an agreement and that by setting out——
——that medium-term strategy for the country, we have a prospect not only of recovery but also of future prosperity.
First I must deal with the many assertions made by the Deputy before asking his question.
Deputy Gilmore suggested that this is a worse rate of interest than the deal with Greece and that is not correct. He probably knows this is not correct but it does not stop him trying to say it to th...
We must obtain €19 billion this year and a smaller amount next year. We are funded up to next June. If the Opposition does not have an alternative source of funding, it is saying that cuts of 38% or...
That is not a policy that is either credible or sensible. Let us get beyond the rhetoric and deal with the reality. This country ran surpluses for many years. It has been hit with a financial and ec...
We have been making corrections, but every measure we have introduced has been opposed by the Opposition. With regard to the banking policy initiatives, regardless of Deputies’ assertions to the cont...
——but he also has a savings account, can he expect to have his problems sorted out without looking to his own deposits?
With regard to the National Pensions Reserve Fund, I can quote many instances of criticism by Opposition Members as far back as the establishment of the fund.
When Derek McDowell was the Labour Party spokesperson on finance he said that €5 million or €6 million of it should be used to purchase building land——
——and other spokespersons from the Labour Party said in 2002 that the fund was a waste of money and that the money should be spent on infrastructure. The Labour Party was at no time a supporter of th...
In fact, in 2002, when Deputy Quinn was leader, it argued that the money should be spent, which would have inflated the economy further.
The agreement is not a international agreement as outlined in that article. The agreement is of the type referenced in Article 29.4 — Deputy Gilmore could have read that one out, but he did not — whi...
——on international money markets. Such bond issuances do not require the approval of the Dáil because they are not the type of agreement mentioned in Article 29.5.2°, which the Deputy read out.
However, let us leave aside that for the moment. Deputy Gilmore has not responded to any of the facts I mentioned with regard to the assertions he made.
What I have been doing, since taking office and since this crisis emerged, is to take every step possible, in the national interest, to secure our future and allow this country to move forward again.
I have been opposed at every turn by the Deputy, which is fair enough; that is his democratic entitlement. However, he should not suggest that the policy initiatives his party suggested were correct,...
They have said we must build on and accelerate the initiatives we have made to solve the problems in the banking system, and the Governor of the Central Bank, who is far more of an expert in this area...
It does not exist.
The Government, over the past couple of weeks, has sought in every possible way to make sure the parameters of the discussion and the ultimate deal were consistent with our own interests in terms of t...
Regarding the National Pensions Reserve Fund, Deputy Gilmore cannot get away from the fact that the idea of the Labour Party coming forward as the guardian of the fund is at total variance with every ...
The debate that will ensue today and tomorrow will put it on the record.
Introduction of New Member
Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháíl le Piaras Ó Dochartaigh as ucht a bheith tofa mar Theachta Dála do Dhún na nGall Thiar Theas sa toghchán a bhí againn an tseachtain seo caite. Is lá bródúil é ...
Order of Business
It is proposed to take No. 5, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the agreement between the European Union and the United States of America on the processing and transfer of financial messa...
This agreement is in compliance with our Constitution. Draw-down facilities are available on an ongoing basis. These specific facilities are being provided at rates which are far less than the normal...
Question put: “That the proposal for dealing with the late sitting be agreed to.”
Voted Yes
The scope of the application of the agreement is limited explicitly to the purpose of prevention, investigation, protection and prosecution of terrorism or terrorist financing. I cannot understand wh...
My response has set out that this matter is totally within the exercise of executive power and external relations pursuant to Article 29.4 of the constitution rather than Article 29.5 and Article 29.6...
Question put: “That the proposal for dealing with No. a15 be agreed to.”
Voted Yes
On the question of the bank reorganisation that is envisaged as a result of the discussions that took place, banking legislation will come to the House the week after the budget. We will need co-oper...
I am not aware that is the case. As I said, I am not au fait with the precise comments to which the Deputy referred, but these are matters that could be addressed to the Minister himself.
In respect of the NPRF, as the Deputy is aware, there is already legislation in place that enables the fund to be used for banking, for example, in AIB and Bank of Ireland.
The power to direct the NPRF Commission is there.
There is also the question of looking at all of the legislative requirements that would arise. We would look to the co-operation of the Opposition the week after the budget to facilitate that and to ...
Can I make a point?
There is no question of NPRF money going into Anglo Irish Bank, if that is the consideration. As to the other consideration that the Deputy mentioned concerning derivatives, this issue first came up ...
Legislation will be required and it will be brought forward as a post-budget matter. I understand it is agreed by everyone that there should be a review of the whole REA system as well.
On the basis that this issue must be addressed, there is also the issue of the minimum wage. We still have a minimum wage that is one of the highest in Europe and it has been raised in excess of infl...
It is a long sentence. I know exactly what question Deputy Ó Caoláin is asking, but I did not think it would take him so long to ask it. I can answer it.
I feel like Bruce Grobbelaar. I will try to put the Deputy off in a minute.
I have responded to this already. There is an issue on appeal to the Supreme Court and it needs to be clarified for the purpose of providing certainty regarding whatever laws are made in the future i...
I have given my reply. The Deputy may not agree with it but that is my reply.
Which does he want? He wanted a general election a few minutes ago.
He wants the three by-elections first and then a general election. The Deputy should go off to the Politburo and find out what they want. Gerry wants a general election. We are getting mixed messag...
There is no legislation.
There is no legislation promised, I understand.
It is intended——
As I said, it is intended to deal with that legislation before Christmas. We had to provide for statements here in relation to current matters. We are trying to accommodate everyone. We also have a...
It is not about replacing it, but rather of trying to get through all the business, and we will get through that as well.
I have told the Deputy about this on a number of occasions — let us be fair about this now. We have important issues to deal with, including any queries Deputies have, but I have answered this questi...
I have indicated to Deputy Durkan, and I will always be courteous to a colleague——
I have indicated to him on a number of occasions that the Central Bank consolidation Bill would be coming in next year and that there was another Bill of greater priority and importance. Consolidatio...
I have made that point on a number of occasions, and I do not see the value of us continuing to inquire about this. There must be some means of being able to circulate to Members what the up-to-date ...
——not to much effect, since it is simply a matter of repeating information that I might have given 24 hours previously.
EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements
I rise this evening to seek to bring to the attention of the House the agreement reached in relation to a financial package with our EU partners and the IMF. The key message I would like to convey is...
It is not a question of blaming anyone. I will deal with the issues as they are.
I am making my contribution now and will listen attentively later to what Deputy Gilmore has to say. I do not believe it is in the interests of this country that we conduct political debate at that l...
We will have an increasing measure of ownership by the Irish public in our existing banking system, following whatever capitalisation that emerges. We will have to wait and see how that works out in ...
The Deputy should send it over to me as soon as she can.
The aim of the facility we have brought forward is to make sure that we have an adequate funding mechanism so that this economy, which is stabilising, can provide growth and jobs for the future. With...
It does not exist.
He recommended acceptance of the loan. He made the point about insurance in the context of were such a scheme available. One is not available.
At least we know the Deputy’s strategy anyway.
Who is the lawyer?
Written Answers - National Statistics
Was asked: the number of full-time farmers in Waterford in each of the years from 2000 to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure
Was asked: the extent of any over or under expenditure, capital or current, by Vote, heading or sub-heading to date in 2010 in tabular form; the reason for any surplus or shortfall; if expenditure to date in ea...
The following table details my Department’s 2010 Estimate Provision and expenditure from 1st January to 29th November 2010. Department Estimate Provision for 2010 & Outturn as at 29th November 2010 Su...
Written Answers - Energy Resources
Was asked: the estimated energy use of his Department in the years, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; the total cost of that energy use in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The energy costs for my Department in the period requested are set out in the following table. My Department’s energy needs are met as part of the system for the Government Buildings complex which inc...
Written Answers - Census of Population
Was asked: if those sleeping rough and homeless will be included in the census count; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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