Results 19,201-19,220 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy's question is whether we are entitled to change contractual arrangements arrived at, agreed and signed off on. The Government has made two appointments, both of which were subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance, and they are in line with the cap. I am not sure how the conditions of contractual arrangements previously arrived at are vested. In terms of the legal...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together. Yesterday I chaired meetings of the Cabinet committees on European affairs, economic recovery and jobs, climate change and the green economy, mortgage arrears and Irish and the Gaeltacht. The last meeting of the Cabinet committee on economic infrastructure was held on 25 October and the committee on social...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: The role of the cabinet sub-committee on mortgage arrears was to oversee the effect of implementation, on a cross-departmental basis, of the Government's response to the issue of mortgage arrears; to agree a detailed implementation plan for the recommendations of the interdepartmental report on mortgage arrears, which was published; to ensure appropriate priority was given to the delivery of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: A Cheann Comhairle, you are the boss and-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: I understand that.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: I appreciate that. In respect of the comments - the speech - made by Deputy Higgins, I told Deputy Ó Fearghaíl that I do not regard it as being acceptable that the solution arrived at in restructuring mortgages in the majority of cases is merely to put them on interest-only payments for a period when the issue will come back again in any event. That is a recurring decimal, as it...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: The Cabinet sub-committee on mortgage arrears was set up to deal with the issue of mortgage distress being caused to significant numbers of people throughout the country. It is not the case that the Government can direct the banks to do what it would wish. We want the two pillar banks, which were previously dysfunctional and have been downsized, to be able to return to engagement with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: To answer Deputy Ó Fearghaíl, the banks now know the circumstances which apply in the vast majority of cases where mortgages were taken out. However, what Deputy Higgins said is not true because one cannot apply generality to all of these cases. There are all individual circumstances and they must be dealt with individually. I came across a case recently where a person with a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take together Questions Nos. 13 to 16, inclusive. Last March, the Tánaiste and I launched the Programme for Government Annual Progress Report 2012 which set out the Government’s work and achievements in its first year in office. It is my intention to publish a second progress report next March, which will review progress made by Government during its second year. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: This is a five-year programme and we are just over 18 months into the lifetime of the Government. The proposal to introduce universal health insurance is a specific commitment of the Government to be delivered towards the end of the first term of its life. Page 43 states:In the first term of this Government, the foundations will be laid for the introduction of Universal Hospital Care...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: I do not accept that at all. In the past 12 months, more than 17,000 jobs have been created in the private sector. While a live register figure of more than 430,000, including those working part-time, is much too high, the Deputy will acknowledge that there has been a change in the order of 12,500 every month on the live register since the beginning of the year. This demonstrates the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: It is a question of providing education for employment, not just education for education's sake. I do not accept the Deputy's argument at all. On the contrary, the entire focus of Government has been to shift away from the type of picture he paints.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: On the Deputy's last point, I thank all the Members of the House, with the exception of one, for their support for the referendum on children.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: This is a separate matter from any difficulties we might have in terms of political views on the economy or anything else. I recently met a young woman in Blanchardstown who spoke with courage and passion about the defilement of her body, mind and soul by her swimming coach. Her courage and strength was so far-reaching that nobody who heard her, irrespective of their political views and how...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: The amendment will insert a specific article in Bunreacht na hÉireann setting out a new standard for this country whereby children will be both seen and heard and where their rights and their protection will be vindicated by the State. However, neither I, Deputy Adams nor the Minister can make that change to the Constitution. It is the people's Constitution and I hope they take that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: -----which will, in turn, lead to great change for the benefit of the people of this island, old and young, as we move towards introducing universal health insurance. I recognise that health is an issue which causes great difficulties, in any country, for Ministers. We hope to do the very best we can, working with everybody and in the interests of everybody, before the progress report in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: I heard a comment about it, but I cannot say for sure.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: It is proposed to take No. a15, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 15, motion re leave to introduce a Supplementary Estimate - Vote 35; No. 16, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimate to select committee - Vote 35; No. 20, Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 21, Personal Insolvency Bill 2012 - Order for Report,...

Order of Business (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: Yes. We have no objection to such a debate.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: Quite a deal of work has been done on this. From talking to Deputies and other public representatives from all parties from around the country, I find that the medical politics applied between hospitals is sometimes much more Machiavellian or vicious than actually applies between politicians themselves. Common sense and pragmatism are needed concerning the best thing to do in providing...