Results 34,501-34,520 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I was not consulted in advance about the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly. My reading of the reports and the indications, hearing this, that and the other led me to believe it might happen.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Northern Ireland Assembly has collapsed, there will be an election and there is not a First Minister or deputy First Minister. The election takes place on 3 March and I hope the people make a decision that will give us a working assembly in the shortest possible time. I made no suggestion that Secretary of State Brokenshire would represent Northern Ireland in the negotiations.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I made the point that when he was speaking recently, he was not talking about devolved government or direct rule from London. It is not for me to say who will be elected to the Assembly nor is it for me to dictate-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: There is no need for Deputy Burton to put words in my mouth by saying that the Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, would represent the devolved Assembly of Northern Ireland at the negotiations on Brexit.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The First Minister of Scotland and the First Minister of Wales will do so for those devolved administrations. It is not for me to dictate which elected members will be representing Northern Ireland at these discussions.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Members should look at the sequence. The election will be on 4 March. Let us see if there is an Assembly in place after that. Before the end of March, Article 50 will be triggered. In the meantime, legislation will go through the House of Commons to give effect to that intent. Negotiations on the exit strategy commence immediately the letter of intent to withdraw-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Obviously, that depends on whether the parties in the North can agree on members to be nominated in the interim. Deputy Howlin knows that it is not our call to suggest that it should be elected member X or elected member Y.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: What we are doing is working with the sectoral relations in Northern Ireland. We have the all-island second plenary forum on Brexit on 17 February. We are engaged, full-time and on an ongoing basis, in respect of the post-Brexit situation, which is what interests me in terms of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland - as the island of Ireland - and future economic and trading...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 20, inclusive, together. I met the Spanish Prime Minister, Mr. Mariano Rajoy, in Madrid on 12 January. Our meeting was extremely warm and constructive. The discussion focussed on EU-UK relations in light of Brexit and its implications for Ireland, Spain and the European Union more generally. My visit to Madrid was part of the Government’s...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I support Deputy Micheál Martin in that. The availability of teachers who have a language is important. The Deputy introduced Spanish, French, Italian and German, important languages in the European sense, to primary schools. It is certainly one thing I can say he did do. I might differ with him on other matters.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I did discuss with the Spanish Prime Minister, Mr. Rajoy, the particular circumstances and the special situation which applies in Northern Ireland. It is different in Spain's case with Gibraltar in that when Spain joined the European Union, Gibraltar was with Britain. Any issues that arise will be between Spain and Britain. In respect of Catalonia, as the Deputy pointed out, it is illegal...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Let Deputy Adams be under no illusions. I gave Prime Minister Rajoy a very detailed briefing of the situation that applies in Ireland. He is very aware of that. I have known him over many years and met him at different meetings. He made the point that there is serious investment in Britain from Spain and that a very sizeable number of British people live in Spain. He was interested in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: In respect of the Deputy's comment about Catalonia, as Deputy Martin pointed out, it is illegal to hold a referendum on separation in Spain. The Spanish courts would rule against it. The question of being outside in the cold does not arise in that context. It is an internal Spanish matter. The question of Gibraltar is different because it is a matter between Spain and Great Britain....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I discussed the question of Gibraltar with the Spanish Prime Minister. As I pointed out, it is in a different situation. That is a bilateral matter for discussion between Spain and the United Kingdom post Brexit. It is entirely different from the Good Friday Agreement which, I agree with the Deputy, is not about disputed territory but has been a solemn, internationally legally binding...

European Council: Statements (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on the outcome of the December European Council meeting. The agenda included the current migration situation, security and defence, a range of economic and social development issues, including on youth and external relations, specifically the situation in Syria, and the Dutch ratification of the EU association agreement with Ukraine. We discussed...

European Council: Statements (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: Does the Deputy mean in respect of the commitment regarding Calais?

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Programme for Government (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Programme for Partnership Government sets out the agreement between the Parties and Deputies who are participating or supporting the Government. The Parliamentary Unit was established to perform a liaison function to help ensure that Ministers and Government Departments are properly informed of new responsibilities and procedures in the 32nd Dáil. The Unit does not have any...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister’s speech provides greater clarity on the proposed approach of the British Government to the Brexit negotiation process. I note that the Prime Minister has made clear that the UK wishes to secure the closest possible future economic relationship with the EU.That is an objective we share. Prime Minister May made clear that her priorities...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Responsibilities (25 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: There are four Ministers of State assigned to my Department. Their responsibilities are as follows: - Deputy Regina Doherty is Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department, with oversight of the Central Statistics Office; - Deputy Paul Kehoe is Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Defence, with special responsibility for the Department of Defence; -...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2017)

Enda Kenny: On 27 January the President of the United States signed an executive order expressed to be done under the powers vested in him under the US Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the Immigration and Nationality Act, INA. The precise meaning of a number of the provisions of the executive order are uncertain. Federal judges in Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Virginia and...