Results 19,061-19,080 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Leaders' Questions (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: The conversation was amicable, comprehensive and resulted in a clear position in so far as this country is concerned in the view of Germany.

Leaders' Questions (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Ross's comment that this country could become a victim of the internal politics of any other country is invalid.

Leaders' Questions (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Ross may continue to wonder about the conversation but he can have the communiqué and I will sign it for him if he wishes.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, and Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together. Since coming into office on 9 March 2011, I have made appointments to the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, as set out in the following tables which will be circulated with the Official Report. I can give the Deputy the names here if he so wishes. The NESC provides guidance to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: As I stated in my reply, I made eight appointments last year. Four were men and four were women. I have made it clear that it is my intention in the limited number of appointments I have to make to increase the number of women appointees. The membership of the council now comprises 71% males and 29% females, but the appointments made last year, in June and July, were on a 50:50 basis. On...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: The persons on the list compiled were mostly academic and exceptionally well qualified. The positions were not advertised. The persons on the list compiled by the Department were included on the basis of their experience and expertise. That is not to say, however, that in the future advertisements will not be issued. If the Deputy reads the list of appointees, he will see they have a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: Women clearly are under-represented on a range of State boards and agencies. I am anxious to ensure their level of representation is increased. On the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, it was an emergency. There were unique financial circumstances and the Minister had to respond within a very short time. The matter was debated extensively in the House. That was the reason; it was...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: That is a relevant point, which I accept. The Public Appointments Service is in a position to state the skills sets needed for particular appointments. In the process in place which does not have that element formalised appointments are made on the basis of competency and the recognition of ability to do the job. It might be worth considering the Deputy's view that the Public Appointments...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: As the Deputy is aware, membership of NESC is made up from different pillars. Regarding my own Department, the Secretary General and another departmental official sit on the board, one of whom was appointed in August 2011 and another in January 2012. The trade union pillar nominees include the General Secretary of the ICTU, another individual from ICTU, an individual from IMPACT and one...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. The statutory framework relating to freedom of information keeps the decision-making process and the operation of freedom of information at arm's length from the political head of the Department. The functions relating to freedom of information are carried out in my Department by statutorily designated officials, as envisaged in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: I do not know whether the Deputy was in this House or was away with his colleagues when his party in government bulldozed through the gutting of the Freedom of Information Act in 2004. It was put through the House in one day with no submissions sought. The Minister, Deputy Howlin, will bring the heads of the Bill to reform the Freedom of Information Act before the Dáil hopefully by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: I do not know whether Deputy Martin was just the recipient of a telephone call as part of the incorporeal meeting.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: I do not have any-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: I do not have a report of meetings between the then Taoiseach and Minister for Finance. Did Deputy Martin raise questions about the matter? Last week he stated during the debate in advance of the European Council that it would be easy to restructure the promissory notes.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: That is what he said.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: He said it would be very easy to restructure them.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: I will be interested in hearing his contribution on how the promissory notes can be restructured easily in a way that is acceptable to an independent European Central Bank. He made that point clearly last week in his contribution. I will listen to him on it tomorrow if he so wishes. If we did not have a problem with this and if it is as easy as he suggests it could be of great benefit to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: We are delighted to have you.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: The reason for the slight disruption while the Deputy was speaking was that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform was just saying to me that personal information is free under the Freedom of Information Act and that the charge per request is only a fraction of the actual cost of determining the information. The Deputy said his party had put forward a proposition. The Minister,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Enda Kenny: The general scheme of the Bill is already on the Department website and can be accessed by the public. The intention is to extend the provisions to cover a number of high profile public bodies, including the Central Bank, the NTMA and NAMA, but not in full. Clearly, commercial confidentiality must be respected. It is the Minister's intention to expand the scope of the Bill, but with...