Results 13,141-13,160 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: This is a massive legislative requirement. Two thirds of the Bill have been drafted, but there are approximately 1,300 heads in that Bill and it will not be published until late spring next year.

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. The proposed agenda for the meeting of the European Council on 23 and 24 June is a wide-ranging one, covering economic issues, migration and asylum, and international questions. Economic policy issues will include the making of country specific recommendations on foot of the recent proposals made by the Commission. These...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do not set the agenda. That is the responsibility of Mr. Van Rompuy whom I will meet on Friday. Obviously, we will discuss a number of matters in that regard. As the Deputy is aware, the Minister for Finance has been carrying out extensive negotiations on the principle which was agreed of a reduction in the interest rate. I am sure that matter will again be the subject of discussion at...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy claimed I had abandoned all diplomatic negotiations in this matter and then he asked if I would abandon the matter. There is a contradiction there. I assure the Deputy that we have not abandoned our negotiations in this matter. In respect of diplomatic offensives, the Deputy is aware that the Tánaiste recalled all our ambassadors and called in the European Union ambassadors to...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Since his time in the Department of Foreign Affairs, it seems the Deputy has been imbued with the requirement to travel. I have met the leaders of the Union on two occasions at the Heads of Government meeting. If the Deputy wants us to set off on a 27 nation tour on a regular basis, he would have a different story on which to comment.

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The ambassadors from the European Union countries were called in by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and were given a very clear message that this country is open for business, that there is a new Government with a different set of priorities and that it is making decisions, which had been left in abeyance for years to the detriment of our people and our country, to repair the...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I accept that.

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I will meet and speak with the person who determines the agenda, Mr. Van Rompuy, on Friday. I will discuss a range of issues with him when he has clarified his proposals for the final agenda. I am concerned about the matters we have discussed here previously, such as Europe's stance towards countries that face a challenge and how best to deal with that. Obviously, I expect there will be...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy's entire career has been based on resistance. His three questions ask whether I will consider conducting a fact-finding mission to Greece, if I will raise the agenda for the meeting with my European counterparts and if I will have a fringe meeting with the representatives of Portugal, Greece and Spain at the Council meeting. I have enough to do in terms of getting in there and...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Boyd Barrett is very wrong and is completely out of line if he considers this country is in the same boat as other challenged countries, notably Greece. We are not in the same position, we are in a very different position. The deputy head of the IMF said recently that Ireland is heading in the right direction, that it is meeting its commitments and is proceeding along a path to get...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Yes, they are but from a slightly different perspective. I hope the Greek Government and people, with the support of all the countries of the EU, can deal with their problems. We are in a bailout situation and severe conditions are attached to it. It is causing difficulty for a number of our people but we are meeting the challenges and heading in the direction we must go to be in charge of...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: It is different. The situation of international banks in Greece is different to Ireland. I have pointed out in my reply the main areas that will, more than likely, be discussed at the Heads of Government meeting. I intend to meet with Mr. Van Rompuy on Friday. Ireland's position is a priority for us. Let us be very clear that the Heads of Government agreed there should be or could be a...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: It is the principle of unanimity.

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Minister for Finance is being represented in court in respect of the burning of subordinated bondholders. I explained to Deputy Boyd Barrett our position in respect of dealing with the ECB and its responsibility. The situation is being pursued by negotiation and we will continue along those lines. I hope the principle accepted by everyone unanimously can be adopted. The country has...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: -----and get to a point where we are again in charge of our own affairs. An element of that is an interest rate reduction, which is being pursued by the Minister for Finance. When I meet Mr. Van Rompuy on Friday I will speak to him about our priorities and I want to assure him that I intend to participate fully in the debates taking place at the leaders' meeting about issues concerning...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The answer to the Deputy's question is clear. We can have all the discussions we like on the margins of Council meetings and there can be discussions between the leaders of any countries about issues that might affect them and relations between countries. These are European decisions which require unanimity from the Council. The Deputy is aware of the process of enhanced co-operation in...

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: He did.

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: He has not been here.

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: No.

EU Summits (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: This matter has been delegated to the Ministers responsible for finance. The Minister for Finance has had several meetings with the French Minister, Ms Christine Lagarde, about the matter. He has had extensive negotiations with other Ministers responsible for finance, and that is the duty and responsibility assigned to them. I expect and have every faith in the Minister being able to...