Results 35,901-35,920 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 14, inclusive, together. I spoke with Prime Minister May by telephone on the day Article 50 was triggered. I acknowledged the constructive tone of the Article 50 letter and the references to Ireland and Northern Ireland. We discussed the next steps in the Brexit process and agreed to maintain close contact at political and official level. We also...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: Under the constitutional framework of the Good Friday Agreement, citizens of Northern Ireland have the right to be British citizens, Irish citizens, or both and Brexit will not change that. Since the referendum outcome, our priority has been to ensure the terms of the Agreement are both recognised and accommodated in the final settlement between the UK and the EU. We have engaged...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: In respect of Deputy Martin's second question, the consolidated paper will refer to the question of trade both within the island of Ireland and between Ireland and the UK, which is fundamental to the future relationship. The point he made is central to the future negotiations and, therefore, that will be covered in the consolidated paper. In response to Deputy Adams, there will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy may believe it but I disagree with him fundamentally. He has to do that anyway. His party voted against nine different referenda in respect of Europe-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: ------and the Deputy has a particular tradition of not being supportive of anything to do with Europe in this House and outside it. Originally, when Fine Gael took its roots from Cumann an nGaedheal, it was known as The United Ireland Party.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is correct in that sense that the party goes back a long way. However, in respect of the potential for a united Ireland, the visionaries who put the Good Friday Agreement together foresaw a time when that may become a decision to be made by the people of the North and the people of the Republic. The answer to the Deputy's question is that there...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Ryan's question is valid. Article 50 sets out the process for the so-called divorce proceedings over a two-year period. If they are not concluded within that period, an extension can only happen with the unanimous support of the European Council which I assume would be given. The article also clearly states the future framework of the future relationship must be taken into account....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: 2 o’clock In respect of Deputy Howlin's comments about the European Parliament discussing this at the moment and Michel Barnier responding and making comments there, it is true to say that one does not do deals with any individual country of the 27. It is with the Union that this happens. That is why I have explained to others internationally that it is important to understand...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: CETA, the Canadian deal, took five years to put together and two years to get approval, and still has to go through a number of parliaments. The trading area has become quite complicated. In response to Deputy Burton, I remain optimistic that the politicians in Northern Ireland will accept their responsibilities and that, in respect of the two main parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, we...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: I have chaired 15 Cabinet committee meetings since the beginning of January. The Cabinet committees on housing and on health have met three times each, the committees on economy, trade and jobs and on Brexit twice each, and the committees on social policy and public service reform, on justice reform, on European affairs, on infrastructure, environment and climate action, and on arts, Irish...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: Cabinet committees are not the Government. Cabinet sub-committees have an important role in bringing in Ministers or agencies to progress matters through to a point where they can be sent to Cabinet for decision by Government. I will let nobody run away with the idea that Cabinet sub-committees make a stream of decisions. It is the Government that actually decides on recommendations or...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: Yes, it will affect the tender. The groups that wish to tender will be made aware that 300,000 premises previously outside the tendered area are being taken back into the commercial zone. As such, they will understand the changed nature of the tender to be conducted now. Furthermore, eir has committed to service provision for the additional 300,000 premises. There are penalties built into...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Consultancy Contracts Data (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: The relevant agency insofar as my Department is concerned is the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). The NESC has not hired any private investigation firms in the past five years to date in 2017.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together. I have restructured my Department to ensure that Brexit is treated as a crucial cross-cutting issue, by creating an amalgamated International, EU and Northern Ireland Division, under a Second Secretary General who also acts as the Government's Sherpa for EU business, including Brexit. The work of this Division includes supporting the...

Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: Yes, I do. The comments made by Deputy Martin are quite extraordinary. He would attack an officer of the State who is not here to respond. The Attorney General is adviser to the Government. She became aware of matters that she could not have known about, nor did anybody else know, or the extent of them. These were quite serious matters and she acted quite appropriately and properly in...

Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: I have already dealt with the Deputy's question. I asked the sole member, Mr. Justice Fennelly, who was in charge of the commission to deal, in the first instance, with two elements of what was considered important in the terms of reference. He dealt with those elements and the findings of the sworn inquiry are clear. The finding of Mr. Justice Fennelly was that the former Garda...

Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: I think Deputy McDonald is a little ahead of herself. As I understand it, the legal counsel is due before the Oireachtas committee in the next five minutes - it is just up ahead of us – to discuss certain matters with the committee. I do not have a report from the Oireachtas committee. Deputy McDonald had a draft report. The committee members are entitled to have their...

Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy's party has a particular use of certain words like "sabotage".

Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Paul Murphy sabotaged the Deputy's own party's view on this because Sinn Féin favoured water charges.

Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2017)

Enda Kenny: The president and the leader said he would pay his water charges and everybody else nodded in unison. Then, the sound of marching in Tallaght changed Sinn Féin's view. Therefore, I ask the Deputy not to come in here as somebody who is right on everything and exuding righteousness on behalf of the people. The Government has made some serious decisions over recent years that have...