Results 34,441-34,460 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Adams circles the issue on every occasion. The question of a hard or soft Brexit is one I discussed with the British Prime Minister the night before she made her speech at Lancaster House. I indicated to her that irrespective of how that presentation might be made, if it was the case that Britain would withdraw from the Single Market and customs union, whatever construction put on...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Howlin raised several important issues, central to which is the nature of the proposition from the European Union. Of course, when Article 50 was written it was on the basis that no one would ever leave the European Union but as the saying goes, events, dear boy, events take place. Article 50 also states one cannot start formal negotiations until a country has completed its exit. ...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Let me come to that. At least every leader and country knows of Ireland's particular and special circumstances. I can confirm to Deputy Howlin that no negotiations have taken place at the two meetings of the group of 27 I have attended. As Deputy Howlin is aware, if we started that we would have to go around the table ten times and everyone would have different views on their different...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: There is a common travel area between Europe and Ireland and that will continue, as Deputy Howlin is well aware. The question of the arrangements between Ireland and England arises as well, and I expect that to be maintained, as does the British Prime Minister. I expect to have the support of our European colleagues when that question arises. Deputy Haughey referred to the European...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Burton raised the point about a distinctive position. It is true that we are one country of 27. All 27 member states are not bundled in on top of Ireland. We have made that case, as has Deputy Burton at Council meetings. The ministers in her group were not a collective of 27. Deputy Burton was one of 28 and she made her case vociferously, just as she should.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: That is why we are engaged in the diplomatic work we carry out. The idea is that they all know and will all understand. In answer to Deputy Howlin's comments, it may well be that Commissioner Barnier might decide to say that if the only area in Europe where the land border will apply is between Ireland and Northern Ireland, then perhaps the negotiators should deal with that first. There is...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The 27 member states have not sat down to negotiate.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: This is the point I am making to Deputy Howlin.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: This is the point I am making. The first thing that has to happen is for the UK Prime Minister to trigger Article 50. Second, within a two-year span, the exit or divorce proceedings will take place.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Technically speaking, under Article 50, no formal negotiations begin until that matter is dealt with. Deputy Howlin and I know that, in the real world, these things have a habit of running in parallel. Deputy Moynihan raised the question about the Government and London. The Prime Minister herself has referred to the special relationships between the Republic and Northern Ireland and...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Agreed.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The answer to Deputy Durkan's question is yes. That is why we are meeting them individually away from European Council meetings, at Council meetings, at ministerial meetings and so on. They are fully aware of our very particular and specific circumstances. In response to Deputy Haughey's question about the post-Brexit situation, Britain will not have left the EU until the exit negotiations...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: On 9 September last in Oxford, I set it out in detail.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: We will have the all-island forum on 17 February. There will be 12 sectoral divisions working in the meantime. There will be sections in every Department dealing with their particular responsibilities. That has been communicated to Europe in order that it knows that Ireland will be the most adversely affected of all the countries when Brexit actually happens. From that point of view, we...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Following Martin McGuinness’s resignation, I met with Deputies Adams and MacDonald of Sinn Féin to explore how the difficulties might be addressed. I also spoke by phone with both Martin McGuinness and Arlene Foster. I spoke with Prime Minister May and we agreed that our two Governments would do what we could to help the parties over the coming period and that we would keep...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (24 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. The Secretary General in my Department is also the Secretary General to the Government and is paid €185,350 per annum. There is one Second Secretary General and five Assistant Secretaries General in my Department. The Second Secretary General is paid €167,300 per annum. Of the five Assistant Secretaries General, two...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Obviously, this is a matter of policy. However, it is also a matter of commercial reality. Essentially, the matter is under discussion between the management and trade unions. The Oireachtas joint committee is currently hearing from the acting chief executive officer of Bus Éireann in respect of the company's current difficulties. Government policy in this area is that the travelling...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I assure the Deputy that nothing is afoot. The central issue is the Expressway service and the losses accumulating there every year, despite the fact that the subvention has increased to €35 million this year, an increase of 17%. There was some preliminary engagement with the Labour Court yesterday, the focus of which was on procedural requirements relating to future discussions. The...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I agree with Deputy Adams in his expression of sympathy to families who lost 48 members in the Stardust fire 35 years ago. Nothing we say or do can bring back those loved ones. Those of us who can remember the tragedy on that weekend can never forget it. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, negotiated, both on his own behalf and with his group, putting a particular issue about the...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: It is not the same as Northern Ireland. However, what is the same is the requirement of people who lost loved ones to find out the causes of their deaths. Whether that is in Northern Ireland or anywhere else, it is the same human reaction and feeling.