Results 24,421-24,440 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Official Engagements (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: We will continue to support the development of the all-island economy where it impacts to the benefit of both jurisdictions, namely, the Twenty-six Counties and Northern Ireland. I am flabbergasted that someone such as the Deputy should decry the value of a democratic body such as the Assembly, which has brought peace and stability to Northern Ireland. With few exceptions, the people of...

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. A new post of second Secretary General is being created in my Department which will support two important new mechanisms which are being established, namely, support for the Government economic management council and a new role in European Union co-ordination. This new approach in respect of EU co-ordination will support the...

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Secretary General posts in the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance do not come within the ambit of the Top Level Appointments Committee, TLAC, but are matters for decision by the Government directly, as are the posts of the Secretary General to the President, the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners. All suitable...

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: While we have revised the structure of TLAC, these posts are not subject to TLAC and are outside it as they are appointed directly by Government.

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: They are sensitive positions, all with responsibility attached to them. Given the numbers involved, we should wait to study the list of expressions of interest and how that should be considered. These are fundamentally important positions for any Government. That is the way it is.

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: As I said, with regard to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Government has agreed to change the structure of TLAC. It is part of the Government's programme that there be the opportunity for people from outside the existing public service to bring in expertise, competence and management skills, which is already happening. The appointments of Secretaries General to the...

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: If the Deputy goes back on the record of what we discussed in this House in recent weeks he will find that the Government has made decisions about reducing the numbers of advisers to Government and to Ministers of State and reducing staff numbers in private offices and private constituency offices. I pointed out in my reply to Deputy Martin that the transfer of staff from the existing...

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: That is true, but the creation of a new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform already signifies the decision by Government to have a serious and comprehensive analysis of how public moneys are spent. The people being transferred from the Department of the Taoiseach to a specific unit within the new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will see to it that there is a proper...

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: Staffing will reduce with the transfer out to the new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I consider it very important that the driving force in respect of European Union co-ordination, which is becoming increasingly important, should be driven by the Department of the Taoiseach. There is a very small number of staff in the Department currently involved in this work, and we will...

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I want to sort out a range of problems faced by this country and neither the Deputy nor I is interested in Punch and Judy politics.

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: That is a broad-ranging question from the Deputy. I called together all the staff of my Department recently. I am very proud of the work they do and I spoke to them about the work in which the Government is involved. I do not accept the Deputy's wild assertion that Labour Party Ministers have been bullying Civil Service unions or any other trade union.

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: This involves dealing with reality. As the Deputy is aware, the Croke Park agreement was put through this House and contains within it the potential to bring about that transformation of the public services sought by the Deputy and everyone else so that they are delivered efficiently and professionally by highly motivated staff. As a union, the CPSU is entitled to its view. I listened to...

Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: It is very important in the sense of allowing public servants to do their duty as they wish to in a streamlined and efficient operation that delivers the services the public expects. The public service unions want this to be delivered and I intend to work with them in the interests of ensuring that the agreement is implemented in full as quickly as possible. The Labour Party Ministers and...

Official Engagements (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 17, inclusive, together. As the Head of Government, I wish to see-----

Official Engagements (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: -----North-South relations continue to advance and levels of economic co-operation increase.

Official Engagements (19 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: A number of the questions refer to the North-South Ministerial Council, parliamentary forums, cross-Border activities and so on. As Head of the Government, I wish to see North-South relations continue to advance and levels of economic cooperation increase, to ensure peace and stability on this island and with a view to accelerating economic recovery to our mutual benefit. I am also acutely...

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy is around here a long time and knows as well as I do that in the past Governments did this all the time. I raised this matter with my predecessor here, the former Taoiseach, Brian Cowen and suggested to him there should be no appointments made between the dissolution of the Dáil and the formation of the new Government. That was advance advice, but the Ministers of his Government...

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: The person has been nominated and appointed by the Government. He will have to go before the committee and, I assume, on the basis of what I said earlier, all such persons will have the necessary credentials and competencies and will present those credentials in a fitting manner at the Oireachtas committees. That will bring about an openness and transparency and provide an opportunity for...

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: The Minister was anxious to make an appointment to Bord na gCon a few weeks ago but we did not allow that to happen because we wanted the process to be in place. There are some urgent matters that need to be attended to in respect of Bord na gCon.

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: The person appointed will have to go before the Dáil committee once it is set up, which should be in the very near future.