Results 13,161-13,180 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Programme for Government (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 13, inclusive, together. The programme for Government was adopted by the Government at its first meeting as the framework for its work over the coming years. It sets out the policies and initiatives to be progressed over the term of the Government to tackle the many challenges facing the country. My Department will be supporting the implementation of...

Programme for Government (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: If Deputy Martin had kept scorecards in his time, the scores would not be great. It is important that we get things right. The Government created entirely new Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Children and Youth Affairs. That was done deliberately so there would be a real change from the carry on of the past. The Deputy indicated he is not interested in Punch and Judy. The...

Programme for Government (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: One could have added a further 20 pages to the bord snip report and say "of course, away you go" but Governments have to make decisions about people and their lives. We are trying to achieve the right balance. In respect of the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, we have to be thorough and comprehensive about the issues that may arise in regard to children, youth...

Programme for Government (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I acknowledge it is only perception but it is important that people understand this. We have addressed the issue of ministerial pay and we will do the same again if the people decide to pass the referendum in respect of judicial pay. The Minister for public expenditure will make proposals on ceilings for higher paid public servants and at the highest level in semi-State bodies. Everybody...

Programme for Government (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: On Leaders' Questions the Deputy raised the legitimate issue of junior doctors and failings within the health structure.

Programme for Government (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I did answer him.

Programme for Government (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Minister for Health will deal with that matter on Friday morning. In order to deal with those structural defects, we have to determine the scale and nature of the problem and make decisions as to how we are going to rectify and pay for it. That means every cent of public money has to be assessed in terms of its effectiveness for the people it is supposed to serve.

Programme for Government (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy appears to assume that a five year programme is not being implemented in 100 days. He is aware that I support transparency and accountability, and that is why he will be asked, whenever the date of the presidential election is fixed, to vote on giving Oireachtas committees greater powers of compellability of attendance so answers can be given to the public. I share his concerns...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The ESRI is a private limited company with charitable status – it is not publicly owned. It is an independent body which operates in a commercial environment. Therefore I have no policy or administrative responsibility for the ESRI. Whilst the Department of Finance provides the ESRI with Grant-in-Aid to cover the public interest aspects of their output, I understand that it is not the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General audits the accounts of my Department. Under Article 33 of the Constitution, the Comptroller and Auditor General is defined as the person who shall, on behalf of the State, control all disbursements and audit all accounts of moneys administered by or under the authority of the Oireachtas. In addition I have an internal audit unit in my...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: There are 5 staff working in my constituency office, three are based in Dublin, one of whom is a Civil Servant, and two are based in Mayo. Their total annual salary is €280,882. IT equipment to the value of €1,200 has been supplied to my Constituency office in Castlebar. Phone charges of €23.61 have also been incurred to date. No rental or leasing costs accrue to my Department in...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: My Department has a travel policy which is based on the guidelines laid down by the Department of Finance. It is applicable to all staff in my Department. The aims of the travel policy are to minimise official travel costs and to achieve value for money for expenditure necessarily incurred, consistent with the effective discharge of official duties. An officer is authorised to use his/her...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I am informed by the Chief State Solicitor's Office as follows. There are currently 27 Junior Counsel on the Asylum Panel. Junior Counsel are nominated off this panel for each case. There are currently 15 Senior Counsel on the Asylum Panel. Senior Counsel are nominated off this panel when required. In major cases and cases involving constitutional challenges, counsel are nominated by the...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Earlier this year members of the Green IFSC Steering Group, a sub-committee of the IFSC Clearing House Group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, were tasked with developing a detailed business plan for the delivery of an Initiative to secure a leading position for Ireland as the world moves towards a low carbon global economy. This Initiative seeks to build upon the reputation of the...

Departmental Appointments (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The position is unchanged from that I outlined in the House on 1 June. Expressions of interest were sought and have been received. All suitable officers, regardless of whether they submitted an expression of interest, will be considered before a decision is made by the Government. In accordance with established practice, the filling of...

Departmental Appointments (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, with approval by the Government, has appointed a Secretary General and is very happy with the outcome of that process. I expect the appointment of the second post of Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach will be finalised in a very short period. That Secretary General will report to the Tánaiste in...

Departmental Appointments (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do not regard this as an inordinate delay. There has been a pretty hefty programme of legislation and events in recent weeks. The recent period has provided an opportunity to reflect, in the general interest of everybody, on the range of qualities of the people to be appointed. It is clear that the two positions in the Department of the Taoiseach are important. The people to be...

North-South Ministerial Council (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 8, inclusive, together. I chaired the 12th meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Farmleigh House on Friday, 10 June last. It was the first occasion for this Government to meet collectively with the newly appointed members of the Northern Ireland Executive since the recent Northern Ireland Assembly elections. At the outset, I joined the...

North-South Ministerial Council (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Always.

North-South Ministerial Council (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The tone of the meeting was very good. Because it was the first time for members of the Government to meet members of the Executive, there was genuinely a very good interaction. I certainly encourage members to exchange contact numbers so they could have informal meetings and make informal arrangements which, as Deputy Adams will be aware, are beneficial between formal meetings. I expect...