Results 34,321-34,340 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Functions (17 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: My Department is fully aware and committed to meeting new Public Sector duty requirements set out in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 which outlines how all public sector bodies must incorporate human rights and equality into the performance of their functions. Arising from my own Department's engagement with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, my...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I will abide by the ruling of the Ceann Comhairle. The Minister, Deputy Ross, is not responsible for what has happened. Bus Éireann commissioned a report from Grant Thornton into the circumstances and conditions that apply to the company. As I pointed out yesterday, the commercial arm of Bus Éireann, Expressway, is losing €6 million a year. That is the reality and it is a...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy is being very hard on the Minister.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy is being very hard on him at the start of a new session. The Minister confirmed to the Cabinet yesterday that he had not received the report but that, from what he had read about it in newspapers and elsewhere, the focus seemed to be more on the structure of the company and the conditions that apply there than on individual routes. He has already commented publicly that we will...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: -----will be constructive and progressive and that we can move on and continue to provide services for people. However, it is losing €6 million a year, which is a problem.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I referred on many occasions to what we want for our country and citizens, namely, a continuation of a strong economy; the preservation of the common travel area; no return to a hard Border or borders of the past; to maintain our trading links; and to negotiate, as part of the European Union team, our position in the European Union of the future. What happened yesterday is that, following...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The type of politics contained in the Deputy's commentary is typical of where Sinn Féin is now, namely, without responsibility in this matter, blaming everybody and with its own wish list. I have already pointed out to Deputy McDonald that what we want for this country is a continuation of a strong economy, our own citizens and no return to a hard Border.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: We want the common travel area preserved and we will work for that. All of the details will not be known for some time because the negotiations have not yet commenced. As stated by the Deputy, I stand in this Chamber today as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, which requires me to ensure that the institutions of Northern Ireland work in the interests of the people of Northern...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I remind Deputy McDonald that the first ever all-island forum was held last November, to which Sinn Féin contributed. The next forum is scheduled to take place on 17 February. In the meantime, 12 sectoral locations from Northern Ireland will give us their views on Brexit.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I will take those views to Europe in the context of the discussions to take place. I hope to see Deputy McDonald there.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I am not sure what the Deputy wants me to say in respect of that.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: There are certainly elements of what the Deputy said with which one cannot disagree. In recent weeks, University Hospital Galway has reported very high attendance rates and a number of infection control issues. That is a fact. Consequently, the full escalation protocol has been in operation for some time. It is implemented on a regular basis. The HSE advises that there continues to be an...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Saolta group commissioned a report into the emergency department. That report, comprising a cost-benefit analysis, was accepted by the HSE last November. Now, the Deputy does not want to recognise the fact that a clinical research facility has been put in there. She does not want to recognise the upgrade to the maternity unit.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: She does not want to recognise that the cystic fibrosis outpatient department has been put in place. She does not want to recognise any of these things and instead she comes in here and blithely calls for a new hospital. She knows as well as I do that these things take time. I am saying to her that the emergency department in Galway, as I said before, is not fit for purpose.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I did not want to see a cost-benefit analysis to know that much. The answer to that is that one has to deal with that problem. Therefore, the Minister for Health is going to go down to University Hospital Galway very shortly both to look at the conditions of the emergency department and to discuss what might be possible to have put in Merlin Park.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I thank Deputy Grealish for his question. There has been very strong growth and an increase in employment in the Galway area in recent years and it has exacerbated the problems that were already in existence in the city, which now has a population of 90,000 in the immediate city area. As Deputy Grealish is aware, the overall transport strategy was prepared by the National Transport...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy has made a novel suggestion in respect of park and ride facilities and I will have it brought to the attention of the National Transport Authority. Obviously, it is concerned that the major propositions for the Galway outer ring road would be seriously expensive. At the same time, there needs to be a focus on more than tweaking a traffic light at Monivea. The suggestion made by...

Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The heads of the Bill in respect of valuations are being prepared. They will come to Cabinet and go from there for pre-legislative scrutiny in the normal way. I am quite sure everybody will have their opportunity to give their opinion at that stage.

Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy mentioned a number of measures. I understand the Attorney General has given some detailed advice in respect of the mortgage Bill being prepared. The outcome on that is awaited. I will communicate with the Deputy as to whether the issues relating to tracker mortgages will be included in that mortgage Bill.

Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Work is being done here and the pre-legislative scrutiny has to take place. I believe the Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, was in America last week dealing with elements of this. It is a priority for Government and will be dealt with in this session. I hope it can come to Cabinet and have its pre-legislative scrutiny carried out quickly. I think that is what is awaited at the moment.