Results 23,561-23,580 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Next week.

Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do not object to this-----

Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett's question, the programme for Government is quite clear in this regard. Over its lifetime the Government will realise €2 billion in respect of the sale of non-strategic State assets. This issue will be decided on by the Government at the appropriate time and there will be a full discussion on it in this House. Deputy Martin has suggested a longer debate...

Freedom of Information (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: On a point of clarification, I am not turning the Department of the Taoiseach into a Cabinet secretariat. It will operate as a Cabinet secretariat, but it retains its functions and constitutional position. However, it is important as a driver for implementing Government policy by co-ordination through the Cabinet sub-committee system and with all Ministers, whom I meet on a regular basis....

Cabinet Sub-Committees (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together. The following Cabinet sub-committees have met since they were established: the Cabinet sub-committee on Irish and the Gaeltacht has met on two occasions, on 14 April and 9 May; the Cabinet sub-committee on social policy met once on 9 June; the Cabinet sub-committee on economic recovery and jobs had its first meeting on 26 May; the first...

Cabinet Sub-Committees (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The function of Cabinet sub-committees is to focus on issues and matters of importance to particular sectors. The sectors covered by the Cabinet sub-committees are relevant to everyday life in order that the committees will have an opportunity to focus and concentrate on particular areas of importance and make decisions on them to be referred back to the Cabinet for final approval. Of...

Cabinet Sub-Committees (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Following the discussions that we had at the Cabinet committee on social policy, as health is of such importance to the general well-being of our nation I considered it sufficiently important to form a specific Cabinet committee dealing with health. It has not yet been formalised but will be by next week and Ministers involved in health will obviously serve on it. It will focus on the...

Cabinet Sub-Committees (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: It has not met yet.

State Visits (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. I understand that separate questions have been addressed by the Deputy to relevant Ministers regarding the costs incurred by their Departments in regard to these visits. With regard to my own Department, the final total costs of the recent visits by Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama are not yet finalised. The projected cost of...

State Visits (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: No. I said I would take both questions together. The first question is about the cost to my Department and I have outlined that for the Deputy. The second question concerned the total cost to the State of the visits. I do not have that information because it has not yet been finalised from each of the individual Departments involved.

State Visits (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: It is four weeks after the event. I am quite sure that in Deputy Higgins's own election, it took more than four weeks to finalise how he spent the €41,000 allowance he received as an Independent.

State Visits (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Gabh mo leithscéal. My apologies.

State Visits (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I apologise. The Deputy is the leader of the esteemed Socialist Party. I stand corrected. I expect the final cost of both State visits will be somewhat in excess of €20 million. The estimated generated separate print and media broadcast pieces were more than 38,000. The estimated cost of that is about €300 million, not to mention the impact in terms of Ireland's status and reputation...

Departmental Appointments (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The position is unchanged from that I outlined in the House on 1 June. Expressions of interest were sought and have been received. All suitable officers, regardless of whether they submitted an expression of interest, will be considered before a decision is made by the Government. In accordance with established practice, the filling of...

Departmental Appointments (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, with approval by the Government, has appointed a Secretary General and is very happy with the outcome of that process. I expect the appointment of the second post of Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach will be finalised in a very short period. That Secretary General will report to the Tánaiste in...

Departmental Appointments (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do not regard this as an inordinate delay. There has been a pretty hefty programme of legislation and events in recent weeks. The recent period has provided an opportunity to reflect, in the general interest of everybody, on the range of qualities of the people to be appointed. It is clear that the two positions in the Department of the Taoiseach are important. The people to be...

North-South Ministerial Council (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 8, inclusive, together. I chaired the 12th meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Farmleigh House on Friday, 10 June last. It was the first occasion for this Government to meet collectively with the newly appointed members of the Northern Ireland Executive since the recent Northern Ireland Assembly elections. At the outset, I joined the...

North-South Ministerial Council (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Always.

North-South Ministerial Council (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The tone of the meeting was very good. Because it was the first time for members of the Government to meet members of the Executive, there was genuinely a very good interaction. I certainly encourage members to exchange contact numbers so they could have informal meetings and make informal arrangements which, as Deputy Adams will be aware, are beneficial between formal meetings. I expect...

North-South Ministerial Council (21 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I have got a briefing note in respect of that which I will be happy to share with the House if Deputy Adams asks the question on Leaders' Questions.