Results 21,641-21,660 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do not agree with the Deputy. We have not done the same things. We live in the land of reality. One cannot move into Government and change the entire country overnight. In times past a blank cheque was signed off to put the full extent of the bank debt onto the sovereign debt, which the citizens of this country have to pay for. Young people do not have the job opportunities I would...

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: I have a fundamental difference of opinion with the Deputy. The Government of which he was part did sign a blank cheque. Minister after Minister came in here during the period in question and said the crisis would cost €6 billion, €7 billion, €14 billion or €20 billion. The fact of the matter is that the previous Government signed a blank cheque and crucified every taxpayer for...

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: -----the debt.

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Martin denies that his Government wrote a blank cheque, but that is what it did, because it did not know the scale of the situation and the outcome. That has crucified everybody in the country.

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: When I seek information on what exactly happened in that regard, I cannot find it.

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: No, I cannot find it. The decision was taken in the middle of the night.

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Martin's colleague, Deputy Willie O'Dea, said in the Sunday Independent the following Sunday that he was responsible for the idea and it was a brilliant one.

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: The evidence given by the Government of which Deputy Martin was a member was that there was a finite limit on this, but there was not. His Government signed a blank cheque. We reviewed and published the capital programme only last week. Some €17 billion will go into capital programmes in the coming years. Against all of the recessionary trends we have still managed to provide clarity in...

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy is becoming expert at listening to his own words. What I said was that we need to change the structure under which services are delivered in our health system, because it is not working as it should. We must reduce the overall cost of the delivery of the public sector. That is why the programme for Government clearly sets out a reduction in personnel of up to 25,000 for the...

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: I am glad that the public sector itself recognises what needs to be done and is working in that regard. Any reductions in the overall cost and changes in the structure of the delivery of health services must be focused on the quality of service for the patient and the quality and capacity of front line services. I do not know whether the Deputy wants to understand that but that is what involved.

Programmes for Government (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy should not be baffled. I will be happy to give him further information.

Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together. The Deputies will be aware that Cabinet confidentiality is provided for in the Constitution. Any consideration of legislation would have to take this into account.

Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: I agree that there should be no breach of Cabinet confidentiality. In the 36 years I have been in this House, I have seen it happen on different occasions, with different taoisigh trying to find out what was going on. I abhor any breach of Cabinet confidentiality. However, there is a big difference between fact and speculation. The media in general are entitled to their views, but I have...

Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Deputies will be aware that Cabinet confidentiality is provided for in the Constitution. Any consideration of legislation would have to take this into account.

Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: That is what this is for. Obviously as an elected Member, Deputy Adams has an absolute right to ask his parliamentary questions and raise issues as he does as the leader of his party. He is aware that the Constitution did not always have an explicit provision on Cabinet confidentiality. Explicit provision was inserted in 1997 following a referendum. The Seventeenth Amendment to the...

Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: The question was about opening up Government decisions to greater scrutiny. That is what the House is for.

Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: When I bring forward that legislation we will debate it here and the Deputy can have his-----

Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: I will bring it forward in the context of the Article 28.4.3° of the Constitution, which refers to Cabinet confidentiality. I agree with Deputy Martin that it is very important that people would respect what they sign on for and I am quite sure they do. In the general course of events when the public at large know that decisions need to be made on particular issues, speculation always...

Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: -----and commented upon and agreed with or disagreed with by people elected to the House such as Deputy Adams.

Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Enda Kenny: I hope to have discussion shortly with the Deputy and the other leaders about the constitutional convention. Obviously an issue of legislation in respect of confidentiality is a matter that could be considered by the constitutional convention. I have not advanced work to finality on this issue but any legislation that comes forward here will be in the context of Article 28.4.3°. I do not...