Results 22,941-22,960 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: -----and it is my privilege to lead the Government, which is making serious decisions to make serious changes to rectify this. I pointed out to the Deputy that there have been 16 consecutive months in which there has been a fall in the numbers on the live register.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: The unemployment rate has fallen from 15.5% to 13.5%, consumer confidence is at its highest for six years and there has been a return in places around the country to confidence in the construction sector, which is very important. There are unprecedented levels of confidence and potential in the agrifood sector.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: Deputy Adams does not wish to know these things because his deputy leader sitting beside him last week sought to confine all the young people to the dole for the rest of their lives.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: Sinn Féin does not see opportunities for them to get out to have an opportunity to have a job, a career or to have retraining or upskilling in the many areas of opportunity and potential in the time ahead.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: Consequently, I do not accept Deputy Adams's premise for a resignation. The Government is not in the business of shirking responsibility, unlike some others on the far side of the Chamber.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: This is a case of dealing with reality and people's lives, and we will make those decisions in the fairest and most equitable way that we can.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: In 2016 the people will have their opportunity to judge this Government on whether we fulfilled our mandate.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: Between this and then we will continue to make our decisions in the interests of our country and people in the fairest and most equitable way we can. Things are not easy and decisions are never easy. It must have been great to do budgets in 15 minutes when you had mountains of other people's money to throw out without any responsibility.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: The Deputy covered a lot of ground in her speech. As I said in response to Deputy Adams, the budget included €100 million more to maintain pensions for the elderly at a very high rate, much higher than in many other countries in Europe. I made the point that the State pensions, the carers scheme, the free travel and the free television licence have not been touched. Neither has the...
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: The USC does not apply to social welfare payments, including pension payments made by another state or any other territory and of a similar nature to State pension payments.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: I advise Deputy Daly that such payments will not be taken into account in determining if an individual has exceeded the €60,000 threshold. These are all protectionist measures and facilities because we recognise the importance of the contribution made by elderly people over the years. As the Deputy will be aware, those aged 66 and over are not liable to pay PRSI on any of their...
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: I hope the Deputy's attempt at derangement, waffling or mumbling speaks for itself. The Department of Social Protection pays €75 million a year for free travel. Whether the Deputy likes it or not-----
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: -----contributory and non-contributory pensions in this country for our senior citizens are among the highest in Europe. The ESRI, which, for the Deputy's information, is a completely independent body, has said that since the bank guarantee and all of the adjustments that have taken place, elderly people have lost about 1.4% in all of those adjustments. Deputy Daly might think that her...
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: Does she think it is not right and proper that the contribution made by these people-----
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: -----over past generations should be reflected in favourable treatment in the way the country looks at them in terms of tax, the universal social charge, USC, or exemptions in respect of PRSI payment?
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: As I have said to the Deputy, on the question of Dublin Bus, which is a fundamental service for the public in this capital city of our country, the non-driver grades have accepted the recommendations. The drivers have rejected this on three occasions. The best personnel that could be got from the Government, from ICTU and from IBEC have made a genuine last attempt-----
- Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: -----to see that all of the issues that were of real concern to the drivers would be analysed in terms of the Labour Court recommendations. I hope the drivers in their ballot this week will accept the recommendations based on the proposals from the personnel who went in there to examine them. It is an essential fact of life, whether the Deputy likes it or not, that Dublin Bus be returned to...
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Jobs has met seven times this year, most recently yesterday. A sub-committee of this committee, dealing specifically with Pathways to Work, has met on seven occasions to date in 2013, once since the summer recess.
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: Go mo leisceal. I will read it again for the Deputy.
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (22 Oct 2013)
Enda Kenny: I said I was taking Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.