Results 24,541-24,560 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: One of the things I have tried to do with the parliamentary section is when a commitment is made to bring forward a Bill that it actually happens and that we do not have lists of Bills which are named to be produced at a certain time but which never happens. Let us get a little focus on this. The Bill is scheduled for later in the year. I do not know the position on bringing it forward to...

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: There is no date listed for that Bill but the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is hopeful that it can be produced before the summer.

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: We are not.

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I respect the Ceann Comhairle's authority. I think Deputy Doherty got his knuckles rapped by the IMF in a couple of the contributions I heard from it in respect of his proposals. I advise him to await and debate the constructive suggestions and proposals that will be in the Government's jobs initiative. As I said, he will have it before the end of May.

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: Yes.

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: As the Deputy is aware, the Government is considering a number of proposals in respect of mortgage holders as agreed in the programme for national recovery. They include increasing the mortgage interest relief to 30% for first-time buyers who bought between 2004 and 2008; directing any mortgage provider in receipt of State support to present Government with a plan on how it intends to cut...

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: This is part of a package where the Government made it clear that banks should be required to reduce their cost base in order to ease the burden for borrowers and mortgage holders.

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I do not have a date for it. It is an important but minor Bill and we are committed to bringing it forward.

Easter Rising Centenary (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: It is possible and it should be so. The consultation group should be broadened beyond the membership of this Dáil and Seanad. There are people with a deep and brilliant understanding of the background and environment in which these events happened. It is an opportunity for the Oireachtas to be a party to sensitive and proper commemorations in the period 2012 to 2016 and beyond. These...

Easter Rising Centenary (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: The point I am making is that the 1916 Rising began the first steps towards economic independence and political independence, which came about with Ireland becoming one of the first countries to become independent in the early part of the 20th century. We do not need to differ on the details.

European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. A formal agenda has not been finalised for the next meeting of the European Council, which will take place on 24 June. However, I expect the emphasis will remain on the key economic challenges facing Europe, including the response to the current crisis, the preservation of financial stability, and laying the ground for smart, sustainable,...

European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: Tá a fhios ag an Teachta go bhfuil an-chuid difríocht idir an Rialtas seo agus an ceann a bhí ann roimhe seo. The legacy inherited by the Government must be dealt with. There is no point in running away from it because if we do nothing it gets worse. The decisions made by the Government in tackling the banking problem have brought about a positive response from the IMF, the EU, the...

European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: This Government has in its first month taken some serious decisions about the banking sector, which have brought about a positive response internationally which we did not have before. It is a small step in the right direction, although it is not where we want to be. We want to see the IMF go home and this country getting back to borrowing on the international markets at rates below those...

European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I remind Deputy Martin, who was on this side of the House a short time ago, that there were six dysfunctional banks in this country, complete confusion from day to day and from week to week, and that the Government would not even admit to the people that the IMF had landed here. Obviously, a deal was done between the IMF-ECB-EU, the consequences of which we must now deal with. The Deputy...

European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I cannot comment on all of the meetings that took place and whether people spoke on a bus. I know that the Minister, Deputy Noonan, had a number of meetings with-----

European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: -----the different Finance Ministers. At least it was known if the conversation took place on a bus, unlike when a previous Government brought assessors in a van with blacked out windows to see the site of a proposed sports centre several years ago. The German Minister for Finance made his views known, and not for the first time. This is an ongoing process. The Minister for Finance, Deputy...

European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: In respect of the corporation tax rate, there will not be any movement from our stated position.

European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I have already stated my views on a CCCTB. T he Deputy does not expect us to sit at a meeting and not contribute to a debate that is taking place. We have a very healthy scepticism about that. I have pointed out the difficulties as I see them. Obviously, the Commission is not bound by any Government in producing papers that it wishes to. As a country we will participate in the discussion...

European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I have already raised the issue of the austerity programme that has been imposed on the Irish people and the difficulties we foresee. Energy costs have risen due to external factors. There is a loss of confidence in consumer demand, which must be stimulated. That is why the Government will respond to that issue in the coming weeks by introducing a jobs initiative to stimulate consumer...

Legislative Programme (12 Apr 2011)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Government's legislative priorities up to the summer session are set out in the legislative programme published on Tuesday, 5 April. A motion restoring a number of Bills from the last Dáil to the Order Paper was passed on 23 March. I will send a list to the Deputy today.