Results 28,041-28,060 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: It was a good intention and it will not be legislated for.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: I do not want to waste any more time on it. I have already stated it is a provision in the programme for Government that is not being carried through. We do not intend to legislate for Cabinet confidentiality.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Adams spoke about clarity. If the intention was to remove the constitutional provision on Cabinet confidentiality, the insertion in the programme for Government would have said that the Government would hold a referendum on the abolition of the article concerned.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: When the discussions were taking place on putting together the Government and on its programme, one of the issues was legislating for Cabinet confidentiality. As the Deputy is aware, it is provided for in Article 28.4.3° of the Constitution. The Constitution is the highest legal edifice in this country, and this is already in it. As I said to Deputy Martin, the Government is not...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy mentioned the banking inquiry. The issues being addressed by the inquiry are of great importance to the public, and the Department of the Taoiseach will co-operate fully with it. I can assure the Deputy that the Department intends to provide the committee with as much information as is lawfully permitted and with as few redactions as possible. In responding to requests from the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: The Constitution did not always have an explicit provision on Cabinet confidentiality. That was provided for in 1997 following a referendum. It was the Seventeenth Amendment of the Constitution. It was published on 1 May 1997, following the general election, restored to the Order Paper by the incoming Government on 10 September 1997 and, subsequently, enacted on 14 November of the same...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: As I said, in so far as the banking inquiry committee is concerned, my Department will be as open and transparent as it can be in accordance with the law. That means a small number of documents may be withheld or redacted. Obviously, the Department will liaise with the committee in respect of the requests it makes. I do not know what information the Deputy has about the bank guarantee that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: That is a statement the Deputy has made. My information is that the Constitution did not always have an explicit provision on Cabinet confidentiality-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: -----and that that was inserted in 1997 following a referendum. In the two cases mentioned here where there is the interest of administration of justice by order of a court or where, in terms of an inquiry or a tribunal, there is an overriding public interest, the issues relevant to Cabinet discussions can be disclosed in those situations as contained in Article 28.4.3o. Deputy Martin is...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: If the Deputy is inquiring about the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill and looking for a presentation on that, we can provide that in respect of the detail of the question he is asking.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: It did.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: The members who serve on the inquiry-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: Philosophers.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: That is allowed for in the constitutional amendment that was inserted back in 1997, which refers to-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: -----an inquiry that has been approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas or by a Minister to deal with matters "of an overriding public interest".

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Adams took a circuitous route in failing to withdraw his remark. He mentioned a promise made by the former Minister, Deputy Rabbitte. De Valera promised a long time ago to drain the Shannon, and it did not happen either. The point I am making is that this matter was discussed during the formation of a programme for Government after the general election. Deputy Adams referred to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: I have said to Deputy Martin that we do not intend to proceed ahead with this element of the programme for Government by legislating for Cabinet confidentiality. It is already in there.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government Implementation (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 6, inclusive, together. The programme for national recovery, which was published in 2011, is a five-year plan that sets out the Government's detailed and ambitious work programme to restore the country’s finances by building on a platform of strong economic management, job creation and a comprehensive reform agenda. Much has been achieved...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government Implementation (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: If the Deputy wants a detailed response from the Minister for Health, he will get it in respect of many of the things he has commented on here. In respect of the Department I have myself, which is the Department of the Taoiseach, there were 44 commitments entered into in respect of the programme for Government and 40 and four in the revised statement issued last July. Three quarters of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government Implementation (27 Jan 2015)

Enda Kenny: Ireland comes joint first when it comes to access and appropriate use of medicines and performs better than average on prevention, such as vaccination and smoking prevention.