Results 19,781-19,800 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: I would love to be able to say to the Deputy that instead of cuts in this area, the reverse will happen, but that is not the case. The budget is about freeing the economy and opportunities for the many hard-pressed middle income families who will never get out of this rut unless the Government makes hard decisions in the interests of all the people and the country.

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: It ill behoves the Deputy to attack the Labour Party, in particular, as if the budget belongs to it.

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: The budget is about the people and the country. We will stand over it and attempt to implement these decisions with care, compassion and consideration and in the best way possible.

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: We have protected the majority of allowances paid under the social protection code. I have given details of the increased figure of €20 million and indicated where it will be spent next year.

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: I was in Phibsboro last Saturday with Deputy Paschal Donohoe when I met some of Deputy Gerry Adams's supporters on the street who were handing out leaflets attacking the Labour Party, but these supporters were not able to answer any question about any of the issues mentioned on the leaflets regarding the fantasy economics in which Sinn Féin was engaged. The Deputy has made a disgraceful...

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Gerry Adams knows very little about taxation matters if he makes a comment like the one he has just made. However, I will not go back over history to hear the Deputy expound on many elements of the truth. It ill behoves him to talk about the raw emotion of women, in particular, having regard to some of the incidents that occurred in his lifetime and with which he was associated,...

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: I meet carers from all over the country. I know the pressure and stress they are under. I know the pressure and stress many in mortgage distress and negative equity are under. I know the difficulties of those who are unemployed who lost their jobs and cannot find new work. I know the despair in the minds of some young people who are choosing to emigrate because they cannot see a future.

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: The Government must attempt to deal with all of these circumstances and problems. There is no easy solution to the range of problems the Government faces. With respect to all of those who went before me, few of them ever had to face the scale of the economic challenge we now face. In response to the Deputy's comment about his past business, I had this out with him a number of weeks ago. I...

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Gerry Adams has made the charge; he should now cut out the waffle and engage in some straight talking. Perhaps some day he might tell the truth about the tragedy, the remorse and the compassion that should have been shown to Jean McConville.

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: Maybe Deputy Gerry Adams might do that some time.

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: The mandate given to this Government comprised of two parties, the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party, is to deal with the problem that our country faces. That problem is that our finances were way out of line and the structures and the way business was being conducted in this country could not, cannot and will not continue in that fashion. This Government has a mandate from the people to...

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy seems to have forgotten that this is the first Government to have appointed a senior Cabinet Minister to deal with children and youth affairs. He conveniently forgets, for instance, that this budget protects the free preschool year for children. He conveniently forgets that the budget introduced an extra 6,500 after-school places for young children so that mothers and fathers...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The table sets out the information sought by the Deputy up to the end of November 2012. It has been the long-standing practice for the protocol section to assist the Taoiseach in regard to his or her official domestic engagements. This involves liaising with event organisers on a programme for the event and subsequently attending the event...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: I am not sure what the Deputy is getting at. I do not recall meeting the Society of the Irish Motor Industry for photographs. The table I have details 251 engagements, from January to the end of November. Most of them involved issues of employment and job opportunities. As the Deputy knows, one goes to Cork or Clare or wherever, where there is a list of invitations to attend other events...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: In November, for example, I opened the new UCD student centre; attended the European Parliament conference of presidents of the EU; had an EPP meeting in Government Buildings; launched an event celebrating 50 years of the Arts Council's collection and marking 60 years of the Arts Council; opened the Riverbank Centre; attended the official opening of Croí House in Galway which does such...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: I will. The impediment is time. I commit to meeting the Justice for the Forgotten group. I have a number of groups to meet and have no difficulty with this one. I hope we may be able to do this early in the new year.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: I like to think we can meet as many groups as is possible. As I observed to Deputy Martin, we will make arrangements to meet the Justice for the Forgotten group. If there are particular issues that Deputies Martin or Adams wish to raise before I do so I would be happy to hear from either of them. I reiterate I have asked my Department to pencil in a time and date for a meeting with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Social Partnership (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 7, inclusive, and 111 to 113, inclusive, together. As I have stated previously, although the Government does not intend to return to the rigid social partnership structures of the past we do recognise the contribution that social dialogue can make to maximising common understanding across all sectors of society, as we respond to the many challenges...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Social Partnership (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: As the Deputy is aware, the NESC reports directly to the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of the efficient development of the economy and the achievement of social justice. It also provides a forum for engagement between the Government and the social partners in respect of economic, social and environmental issues. The NESC also has responsibility in respect of sustainable development...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Social Partnership (11 Dec 2012)

Enda Kenny: I do not accept that view. Ministers, Ministers of State and chairpersons of the relevant Oireachtas committees have open access to groups, organisations and individuals from all over the country. We are all aware of the range of challenges faced by people, be it negative equity, unemployment, emigration, disillusionment or any of the sensitive areas covered by the Department of Social...