Results 23,641-23,660 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: We will continue to work at that. This country was always exceptionally highly rated by our European counterparts, but that slipped over a decade of non-attendance and non-participation and an arrogant assumption that this country was on top of the pile and would stay there. We need to rebuild that reputation, and I will be asking the Deputy for his help because he has connections in...

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do not regard telling the truth as being reprehensible. The fact is that this country was let down by non-attendance and non-participation-----

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: -----and a very limited contribution from the last Government in particular. Nor do I agree with the Deputy that it was a mistake to devolve responsibility for continued negotiation on the principle of an interest rate reduction to the finance Ministers. I repeat that the reason the Heads of Government made that decision was that the stress tests on the Irish banks were not complete. As...

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The overall position of the health system and services leaves much to be desired, particularly in respect of those who cannot get inside the system. I and other public representatives have evidence of the exceptional quality of treatment patients receive once they get into the system. However, I recently had a case of a person who was in hospital for three weeks awaiting an MRI scan, who...

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: For years the Vote for the Department of Health went through the House in the normal way. By July or August every year, health boards and the Health Service Executive ran out of money for some services. Consequently, hospital wards were closed, expensive medical equipment lay idle and trained personnel did not have an opportunity to give of their best. That is why the Minister for Health...

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: We can have more than one debate on the health services. The Minister for Health will not be afraid to spell out the truth and nature of the difficulties. Having looked at how the Government must deal with these problems, I have decided to appoint another Cabinet sub-committee to deal specifically with health issues.

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: This is central to the entire problem.

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: No, I will not withdraw this Bill.

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill also gives effect to the reversal of the cut in the minimum wage which, as Deputy Joe Higgins well knows, affected lower paid workers and who would have felt a larger brunt of the difficulties this country faces.

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: The answer is "No".

Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I want the Deputy to understand that the Government does not in any way regard this as treating people with contempt. Each day I deal with people who are experiencing the same challenges as those being encountered by the individuals to whom the Deputy refers. I do not agree with his assertion that members of the media are asleep. I am of the opinion they are very much awake and vigilant,...

Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do accept and take seriously my responsibilities. As I stated previously, as the stress tests on the banks here were not completed prior to the next meeting that responsibility was given to the Ministers for Finance. That is where the negotiations are now. The Deputy will be aware that many countries, individuals and organisation outside Europe agree with Ireland's position. I understand...

Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: It is already on the agenda. The Government is in court over this because we have taken a decision that there should be burden sharing with subordinated bondholders. I discussed the question of other burden sharing with Mr. Trichet and, as we have two pillar banks in AIB and Bank of Ireland, the Government decided not to have burden sharing with senior bondholders there. The ECB recognised...

Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do not accept the Deputy putting words in my mouth. The bilateral loan, as the Deputy knows, is part of a loan arrangement between Denmark, Sweden and Britain. From that point of view, it is clearly connected to the greater position concerning Europe. The Deputy continuously forgets to mention the fact the Government renegotiated an element of the bailout deal in that it intends to...

Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: He conveniently forgets to mention the fact the Government put a levy on the pension industry to bring in €450 million for each of the next four years so people in his constituency who do not have a job will be able to get off the dole and get a job or career.

Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I am sure the Deputy wants to see those people who are unfortunately on the live register have the opportunity to get a job and be able to contribute meaningfully to our society and country, as they want to do. The focus here is on the achieving of the principle, which has been agreed, of a reduction in interest rates of countries in the EFSF bailout situation, which incudes Ireland. We are...

Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Originally, I stated the deal was bad both for Ireland and for Europe and, from that point of view, renegotiating elements of it would be very important. That is what has happened. I reiterate we renegotiated the conditions of the deal to some extent, in respect of the reversal in the minimum wage, no further transfers to NAMA and acceptance of a jobs initiative. I am sure the Deputy...

Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Martin was part of an outfit that denied the IMF was in the country and part of a Government that caused a situation where greed, recklessness and lack of accountability resulted in a bailout deal being forced on this country by the IMF, the EU and the ECB because matters could not have continued as they were. They were out of control. That bailout deal was agreed between the...

State Visits (8 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: I had no particular discussions with President Obama about my speech at College Green on 23 May.

State Visits (8 Jun 2011)

Enda Kenny: That is a new one on me.