Results 5,161-5,180 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Order of Business (2 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Three months or 12 weeks have passed since the House met before the recess and I have become concerned regarding the structure the Taoiseach has in mind for the committee system in the House. While a meeting was held today with the Government Whip, no information was forthcoming as to the number or nature of committees to be established. Members are dealing with legislation without having...

Order of Business (2 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: I will make an observation in this regard. There are no cases in which legislation was held up by chairmen who were non-governmental Members. The Government will have majorities on every committee because of the manner in which this is structured. I sent to the Taoiseach's office a document outlining the basis of what takes place in the Northern Ireland Assembly. I refer to the d'Hondt...

Order of Business (2 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: I will finish on this point. In a way, all the committees are watchdog committees.

Order of Business (2 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: They are. It depends on the definition one puts on the word, "watchdog".

Order of Business (2 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: One would not wish to expand the number of committees merely to keep happy those on the Government benches with the news that another position of chairman has been procured.

Order of Business (2 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: I wish to put down a marker that Fine Gael will become extremely obstinate on this issue. This work could have been done before now. Although I have not yet received details from the Taoiseach, I believe strongly that this should be reflected in the representation the people sent to the House. This principle is fundamental.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Question 400: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 4 July 2007, the schools in County Mayo where class sizes are in excess of 30 pupils which numbers amount to in excess of 1800 pupils; when she expects that in these particular schools' class sizes will be reduced to the stated extent of Government policy; and if she will make a statement...

Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: We have arrived at a stage in this country where whatever this Government states is quite unbelievable, whether on the subject of recent events or in the form of general statements. It is a few years ago since the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Cowen, told us that 32,000 people were on the waiting list. In 2002, the then Minister, Deputy Martin, made a specific Government...

Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: The message from the Government is that one should not get sick in this country.

Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: It is unfair of the Taoiseach to say that Opposition Members run down the frontline staff in the health service. We recognise the pressure they are under. We recognise the job they do. The Taoiseach should remember that the people did not elect the HSE. They elected the Government. What we have now is a single person Government where every member of the Cabinet believes whatever the...

Offices of the Chief State Solicitor and Director of Public Prosecutions. (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the Nally report on the reorganisation of the Chief State Solicitor's office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16803/07]

Offices of the Chief State Solicitor and Director of Public Prosecutions. (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Are there plans to provide better information for victims of crime and their families on the progress made on cases in the DPP's office? In a recent case the victim of child sexual abuse was informed by her abuser that the case would not proceed to prosecution. Does the Taoiseach share my view that before sentencing, the prosecution should be allowed make a submission to the court on behalf...

Regulatory Reform. (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the recommendations of the OECD Report on Regulatory Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16804/07]

Regulatory Reform. (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Much of what the Taoiseach said is relevant. In 2007, the cost of red tape to Irish business will amount to €6 billion, which is an enormous and restrictive burden that was meant to be simplified following the ratification of the Nice treaty. This was the concept driven through by European leaders but it has not translated into real effect. The Taoiseach mentioned the better business...

Regulatory Reform. (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Will the Taoiseach comment on the role of Dáil committees examining the range of quangos of which there appears to be a great number? I accept that regulation is necessary and that it should be as light as possible, but it must be effective. In recent years, the House has passed 50 pieces of labour legislation. There is scope for consolidation of the Employment Acts and Companies Acts to...

Order of Business (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Despite the meeting and the Taoiseach's response to me yesterday, I have not received any proposals from the Government Chief Whip regarding the proposed committees or their structure. When will I get those proposals? The Taoiseach claimed yesterday that Opposition Deputies only ever chaired watchdog committees. That is not true. In the last Dáil, for example, the Oireachtas Joint...

Order of Business (3 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Well done.

Order of Business (4 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Last December, the Minister for Health and Children promised to bring forward a nursing home support Bill to give effect to a new regime to be implemented on 1 January 2008. Enactment of the Bill is necessary to implement the scheme. When does the Tánaiste expect enactment to take place? Does the Government plan to act on the report of the Competition Authority on restrictions on...

Order of Business (4 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: As the Ceann Comhairle knows, bare-knuckle fighting is outlawed.

Order of Business (4 Oct 2007)

Enda Kenny: Under the code of ethics for Ministers, will the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, come to the House to answer the allegations about him? I do not know if they are true. According to the newspaper report, the Tánaiste was not in the Minister's presence when the alleged incident happened.