Results 21,981-22,000 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ministerial Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: In 2009, the cost of seven advisers in the Department of the Taoiseach was €1.085 million. It is now €576,000. Call them what one wills, in my Department there are three of the people in question at the lowest level of the public service scale that applies to them.

Ministerial Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: Two of the others are in excess of that level. This reflects the positions they held previously when they worked within the Fine Gael Party. As I pointed out to the Deputy last week, one of the persons working for a Minister was on a private sector salary of €200,000 and is now on a salary of €129,000 or €130,000 in respect of his or her public duties. It is important that, when...

Ministerial Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: I can deal with that for the Deputy. Obviously, the special advisers who formerly worked for the party and are now in the Department of the Taoiseach are well able to cover a range of sectors. The economic adviser is up to date with every element of every Department and its budget. I chair the Cabinet committee on health. It is going to meet next on 10 November. It includes the Tánaiste,...

Ministerial Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: Yes, but the next meeting is on 10 November. To be fair, I accepted the suggestions that came from Deputies about the necessity for a committee on health. I have an interaction with the Minister for Health and his two Ministers of State, who have specific responsibilities, on a regular basis. I do not need to ask for another special adviser to be put into the Department of the Taoiseach to...

Ministerial Staff (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: -----when we have access to the people who run it directly. I do not have consultants on health in the Department of the Taoiseach. I do not have a special adviser on health in the Department of the Taoiseach. The people who are there are well able to get the information I need at any time. We discuss all of these matters at the committee on health and will again on 10 November.

Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Development Office, NESDO, is the only State agency under the aegis of my Department. The NESDO was established under the NESDO Act of 2006 and is the body corporate for the National Economic and Social Council, NESC. The role of the NESDO is to advise me on all strategic matters relevant to...

Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy is making headway now that he has obeyed the Ceann Comhairle.

Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: The answer to the Deputy's question is as follows. The Deputy asked me if the National Economic and Social Development Office-----

Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: -----is the only State agency under the aegis of my Department. The answer to that question is, "Yes". The Deputy also mentioned the importance of having people on the NESC who reflect particular sectors. For instance, under the community and voluntary pillar nominees there are representatives from Social Justice Ireland, INOU, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the NYCI. The...

Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: An féidir leis an Teachta an cheist sin a chur arís? Níor chuala mé é go soiléir.

Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: Tá a fhios agam gur chur NESC tuarascáil ar fáil faoi chúrsaí traenála agus buntáiste oibre do dhaoine atá ar chúrsaí leasa shóisialaigh. Tá na moltaí sin á phlé ag an Aire. Tá an cheart ag NESC an tuarascáil sin a chur ar fáil. The NESC, for instance, covers the trade union pillar nominees, the business and employer organisation pillar nominees, the agriculture and...

Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: I mentioned the quality of the debate among members, which is important. I also mentioned that the reports should reflect the varying individual views of the members and therefore when they meet us as a council I do not expect them to have all of that distilled into a few paragraphs stating that this is the considered view. If there are varying views within the council it is important to...

Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Tánaiste set out the views here, with which I agree, to SIPTU on 5 October last. While the engagement with the social partners was a well-established part of the process of government over a number of years, we intend to initiate a process of dialogue and engagement with those who represented the social partners. I cannot give Deputy Martin the dates now, but I think I myself have...

State Awards (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: The issue of a State honours system has been discussed many times in the past but there has never been all-party support to sustain its development. Such support would be required if consideration of an honours system were to proceed. While I would have no objections to all-party consideration of this matter, the timing of any such consideration would, of course, have to take cognisance of...

State Awards (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Tánaiste, at the global forum, announced that the Government would shortly introduce a new system of recognition for sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or Irish communities abroad by individual members of the diaspora and he presented the first of those to former President Bill Clinton. For the information of the Deputies, this question of a State honours system was discussed...

State Awards (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: What is the full title of that?

State Awards (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: I forget the full range of the title Deputy Adams has there.

State Awards (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: I am not sure how it arrived on Deputy Adams's desk and I do not know whether he uses it when he goes to Britain or wherever.

State Awards (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: Baron Adams, it sounds great.

State Awards (25 Oct 2011)

Enda Kenny: That comment is very much in line with my own view. I would not like to see a situation where annually, because of who persons might be, some sort of honours or whatever were allocated on that basis. We might consider at an appropriate time a merit achievement-based recognition - call it what one will - but not honours or the conferral of titles. In respect of real merit and real...