Results 15,981-16,000 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: I have no intention of letting that happen. Despite the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves, the reputation and status of this country has increased with regard to the confidence of investors abroad, the perception of this country abroad and commentary from international financial analysts, business people and politicians.

Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: This country is making headway, although it is not easy. I would much prefer to stand up and say we are in a position not to pay this. There is a difference between "will not" and "cannot". This country is making its way through a very difficult period. What was committed to by a very solemn Irish Government must now be followed through. The emphasis for the Government is now in the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: It is for that reason that the Minister, Deputy Noonan, is in Frankfurt today, speaking with the Commissioner Mr. Rehn and Mr. Draghi. It is for that reason that whereas this will not be decided on Monday, or by March, it is very important to make our colleagues in Europe aware of the significant burden that this country has had to face because of the borrowing which was used before the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: Deputy McGrath was always a strong supporter of human rights and he has rightly raised questions here about the implications of activities by the Taliban, al-Qaeda and other groups. This regards EU support for sanctions against Iran because of the scale of its activities with regard to nuclear power. It is for that reason that the European Union, with the Tánaiste acting on behalf of the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: I notice that the Deputy blamed the situation on the actions of the Government. If the Government were as powerful as he said, then we would probably have been able to deal with the troika and many other issues effectively. In the meantime, I remind Deputy McGrath that approximately 6% of our oil comes from Iran. The matter is serious and has global implications. Deputy McGrath raised the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: I hope that pragmatism and common sense will result in Iran adhering to the conditions in respect of the nuclear proliferation programme in which it is now involved. I hope also that the sanctions imposed will have the desired effect and that countries can continue with their business in commerce and trade with what is fundamentally a critical supply. I hope the support given by the...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 24, inclusive, together. All of the questions relate to the European Council or the Heads of Government meeting. I attended the European Council in Brussels on 8 and 9 December. As I have already made a statement to the House on these meetings, I will confine myself to some brief remarks on their proceedings. Important steps were taken at the European...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: We have dealt with the troika very effectively. We are part of the Union and the eurozone and, as such, are a respected member. Due to the openness and trust engendered between Ministers and the troika, as the Deputy is aware, quite a number of changes to the original memorandum of understanding have been brought about in the interests of the Government's programme for Government and the...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: The first point I will make is that this country no longer controls its economic destiny by virtue of the fact that we are in a programme. The programme that we are in ends in 2013. That programme supersedes the issues that are currently under discussion in terms of the international agreement on this treaty. The language surrounding the introduction of the European Stability Mechanism,...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: I made it perfectly clear that our demands were that there be proper and adequate firewalls to prevent contagion, that there should be better governance of how the operation is run, and that budgetary discipline be prioritised. Those are the three key demands. It is not a case that when one attends a European Council meeting the agenda will include a list of sub-items submitted by this...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: Ministers of this Government attend their meetings, in contrast to behaviour in the past. That is the first point. It is not a case of President Van Rompuy speaking only to certain people. There are consultations with every country and every leader. The main items on the agenda are determined long in advance and, given the crisis we have had in the eurozone for the past three years,...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: That is the Deputy's usual rant. I prioritise people over banks. The Deputy was not in the Chamber when I responded to Deputy Gerry Adams's question about bondholders and so on. The European Central Bank has made available to this country €110 billion, at an interest rate of 1%, to enable us to run services. The Deputy will agree that that is a phenomenal amount of money. He is...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: There will be a discussion on that matter later, to which I assume the Deputy will contribute, although I do not know if he will have anything different to say. It is necessary for us to be involved in this structure because we are the recipients, through the covered banks, of €110 billion to run services. We are faced with this problem because of the extensive recapitalisation of the...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: This is the reason Ministers are introducing legislation to deal with that issue. Moreover, the reason the Government will establish a micro-finance start-up agency to provide them with a stimulus is because they wish to employ people. They want to get out of this recession and to play their part in building confidence. Everywhere I go, big and small operations are focused on getting out...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: I thank Deputy Higgins for that long dissertation and preamble. He speaks in respect of middle and low-income workers. Because the Government has a concern about this and every other sector of society, it entered serious negotiations with the troika to make changes to the original memorandum of understanding. This is the reason, based on those discussions, that results were achieved in...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy returns to his airgead draíochta, his fantasy economics. He seems to think the money to pay our bills can be presented out of thin air and that nobody will be obliged to foot the cost in this regard.

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: A Government elected since the foundation of the State is only required to hold a referendum where there is a proposal to change the Constitution. On issues relating to the European Union, if the Attorney General of the day is of the view that, in the context of formal legal advice, there is a transfer of competency which requires compliance with the Constitution, a referendum is required....

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: There is no such magic wand. There are challenges ahead and I absolutely respect the understanding of the people with which we are obliged to deal. They know that this problem will not go away or rectify itself. They also know that strong leadership is required, on the part of both the Government and the European Union, in order to bring the country back into line and turn the Union into...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: I certainly do not disagree with the concept of interaction between social and economic policy. If one gets matters right in this regard, it gives rise to opportunities to create jobs to get people back to work. On foot of his previous service in Northern Ireland, the Deputy will be aware of the importance of communities. I could bring him to many rural and urban areas in the Republic in...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Enda Kenny: Let us consider the prospects for Ireland. This morning the Government approved a consultation paper on the prospects of having an integrated marine policy. The group responsible for this paper is chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Licence applications are being received in respect of major salmon aquaculture development projects which are worth in the region of...