Results 24,301-24,320 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Order of Business (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: This is an important Bill. The Deputy is right - tourism is of central importance in job creation and providing a stimulus for the economy. It is expected the Bill will be published before the end of June.

Order of Business (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: Health debates are always of considerable importance in the House. I have favoured holding such debates during the years. However, the business to be conducted this week has been fixed. The Deputy could seek to raise the issue on the Adjournment or, through the Technical Group, she could raise it with the Whips for consideration in the House. The issues raised are important, which is why...

Order of Business (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: This suggestion has been promoted by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Lucinda Creighton. Europe Day is 9 May and it is to the credit of the Ceann Comhairle that he has allowed MEPs an opportunity to attend the House for a discussion on European issues. This is important because a significant volume of legislation begins in the European Commission and passes...

Order of Business (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: I will. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is taking the matter seriously. It is a question of having sufficient time for a real debate on the issues involved. The Government Chief Whip will raise the matter at the Whips' meeting.

Order of Business (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Minister will appoint an interim board, pending the introduction of legislation that will provide a statutory base for the changed structure of the HSE. Work will now proceed on that legislation.

Order of Business (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Minister of State, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, informed me of her intentions a few weeks ago and I supported her fully. I understand the matter was raised at the Whips' meeting and that Members were informed by the Government. Was Deputy Catherine Murphy present?

Order of Business (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: There seems to be a contradiction. I am informed that the issue was raised and that Members were informed about it. That was the time to raise questions about the format.

Order of Business (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Minister informs that it will happen soon afterwards. I cannot give an exact date.

Constitutional Convention (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. The programme for Government commits the Government to establishing a constitutional convention to consider comprehensive constitutional reform and report on the following matters: the review of the Dáil electoral system; reducing the term of office of the President from seven years to five; provision for same sex marriage;...

Constitutional Convention (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: I agree with that last comment. I do not see why we cannot have a proper discussion about that when it is in the interests of the country and the House and those who are elected and will be elected here in the future, and I am amenable to that. The terms of reference will be broad enough to encompass all of these matters. I hope the constitutional convention will be a more focused and more...

Constitutional Convention (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: I have not decided on the nature of the make up of the composition yet. As Deputy Martin will recall from being a Minister from many years, one of the weaknesses of social partnership was that the last people to be informed of the decision were Oireachtas Members. I do not envisage this would be the case with the constitutional convention. It will have an inclusivity which will allow...

Constitutional Convention (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: As Deputy McDonald knows, all referendums end up with a "Yes" or "No" question, and voter is asked to put an "X" beside the box of his or her choice. The difficulty in framing the question is always with regard to the consequence of the changes that occur in the Constitution. I have made clear for some time that the Attorney General is working on a range of Articles which need to be either...

Constitutional Convention (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: I am not sure what the Deputy means by a stuffed Seanad but the Attorney General is currently examining the Constitution to determine what Articles need to be amended or removed. I will give consideration to including a northern connection in the constitutional convention. That is an important issue and, as I previously stated, the convention will be as inclusive as I can make it. As Deputy...

Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Government has decided that new arrangements will be put in place for the making of appointments to State boards and bodies. In future, Departments will invite expressions of interest on their websites for vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis. Ministers will not necessarily be confined to those who make...

Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: The change here is pretty dramatic in the context of what went on before. We also discussed this at the last round of Taoiseach's Questions. This will take effect from the time the Oireachtas committees are set up, which will be in the very near future. The first person to appear before an Oireachtas committee will be the nominee for appointment to Bord na gCon, for which there has been a...

Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: It depends on the organisation, agency or committee involved. The Government set policy, as decided by the Cabinet, and a range of organisations, agencies and Departments implement it. If one wants to see the scale of change, one should note that Oireachtas committees never had the range of competencies required or the necessary experience. Members were appointed on the basis of friendship...

Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: That is prehistoric at this stage.

Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: As the Deputy stated, he is not interested in the Punch and Judy business of the past. I am concerned about making changes that will apply in the future. I am not giving committees absolute authority to make appointments but the opportunity to discuss policy with the person proposed by the relevant Minister or the Cabinet as chairperson of the relevant organisation or agency. That is a big...

Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do not believe there should be Oireachtas hearings for the casual filling of vacancies on boards that might not rank in the top three in the order of priority. The chairperson has the fundamental function of chairing the relevant body or agency and to steer it in the direction, in so far as the committee is concerned, of the relevant element of Government policy. I am anxious to see how...

Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2011)

Enda Kenny: The difference is that previously there was a one line announcement to the newspapers that person X was appointed as the chair of a board, agency or organisation. The relevant committee had no function at all, other than to welcome the new arrival as the chairperson. In the case of these chairpersons, the Minister or the Cabinet will make a nomination, the person will appear before the...