Results 20,541-20,560 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: As I said, in respect of the agreement being put to the trade unions by the Labour Relations Commission, it is now a matter for the unions, in their own way. Those that stayed in at the talks did achieve significant alterations and progressive elements of change to what was originally proposed. I do not have any time for the blather Deputy Adams goes on with in here about protecting all the...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: -----bypass.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: I have pointed out to Deputy Adams the decisions that are already in train and will be in train from 2014 for those who earn most and earn more in this country. I do not accept Deputy Boyd Barrett's premise at all. In all of this, it is important to say that we have to borrow €12 billion this year. The deficit we have is not going to fix itself unless we all contribute to that. One...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: This agreement will last until June 2016. The truth is in what I told the Deputy, namely, that it is absolutely fundamental that we bring our deficit down to manageable proportions. This is critical if we are to have economic growth and job creation. The truth is that the pay and pensions bill accounts for 35% of public spending. In the context of the additional €3 billion in...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: As the Deputy is aware, the Government did not increase income tax and public sector workers fully understand the necessity to protect front-line services. The changes made by the unions that remained at the talks have resulted in very progressive changes to what was originally tabled. A document will be published in detail later this afternoon.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 19, inclusive, together. As the House is aware, Ireland took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January. However, the Government has worked intensively on preparing for the Presidency since it entered office. The Presidency programme titled "Stability, Jobs and Growth", which has been laid before the Oireachtas, outlines the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: I agree that the reaction from Europe was not as expeditious or as energetic as one would wish when the economic crisis first began. The tools that are currently available to deal with it were not in place at the time when this country went over the edge. The situation is very different now. I have said this publicly on other occasions. Decisions have been taken at the European Council,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: I will deal first with the question about equine DNA. This scandal was uncovered due to the validity and the extensive range of testing carried out by the FSAI. It was assumed by people that this was an Irish problem. This testing has had global implications-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: Yes, I understand. However, just yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, together with the ministers in Europe, have set out the criteria that will apply. As Deputy Martin is well aware, there is no room here for cowboys. This is the case because both our standards and our reputation as an exporting nation, with particular reference to foodstuffs, are of such importance. Those standards,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: Last year I presented a paper to the European Council on unemployment among young people. No funding at all had been allocated in the budget to deal specifically with this scourge, which is affecting quite a number of countries. Rates of unemployment and employment vary from country to country. In reply to previous questions from the Deputy, I indicated that Austria has a youth...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: They will continue through 2013. I cannot see that being implemented earlier. I believe there will be substantial progress towards the back end of this year. It is expected that it will kick in from 2014 but, as the Deputy is aware, when discussions at that level get going all kinds of complications can arise. However, our objective is clear. The European Council decision is in place and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: Last year we announced a €2.5 billion stimulus package covering a range of educational, health and legal facilities around the country. Many of those are either under way or in the preparation stage. The Department of the Taoiseach's Estimate for 2013 is €20.086 million, of which €2.485 million has been allocated to the Presidency. Seven hundred thousand euro of that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: A sum of €23 million was allocated in 2012 and €36 million has been allocated for 2013. That will be used to fund the management of the Presidency here in home Departments; the operation of a significantly enlarged Permanent Representation in Brussels, with more than 90 people; a programme of events taking place in Ireland; and a cultural programme that uses the Presidency to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy was correct when he said there were 26 million people unemployed in the European Union. Growth is sluggish around the world, which is a major problem and a scourge in many countries, causing a great deal of concern and anxiety inside and outside the eurozone and the European Union. Other countries have a growth rate of 5%, 6% and 7%. When speaking about Ireland, the former US...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: We will make a decision on that in the next couple of weeks. It will not be a case of presenting documents to lending countries which have a right to see them. The Minister for Finance will present his budget in the normal way and anything presented to any other country will be laid in the Oireachtas Library at the same time. It is not a case of representatives from other countries seeing...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: I do not have the detail of the discussions the Minister for Finance has undertaken. I will advise Deputy Martin of the current position with that matter.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: In respect of bonds and interest rates, I do not have the information about the current position of that discussion. I will advise the House when I do. With regard to the European budget, there was a range of issues involved for the 27 member states. Some wanted Cohesion Funds, some wanted Structural Funds and some wanted serious cuts in administration for the Commission. There was a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: When the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, was here and I met him he said we would need something to do with own resources and flexibility to get approval from the European Parliament. When President Van Rompuy was in the European Parliament recently he was given a fairly torrid time. Some sections of the Parliament are already gearing up for the European elections next...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: I do not know what the up-to-date position is. I will revert to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): EU Presidency Engagements (26 Feb 2013)

Enda Kenny: God love Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. The Greek Prime Minister does not have to go to an estate in Ireland to see the implications of incompetence and an economic crash, nor do the Spanish, Maltese and Portuguese Prime Ministers or the new President of Cyprus. In other countries there are significantly worse conditions than in Ireland. They look at Ireland two years after the point at...