Results 2,541-2,560 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: Yes, I will make it a priority. The Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy David Stanton, is also working on this. This morning I attended an event hosted by the Gaelic Players Association. GAA players, who are ambassadors for sport and role models for young people, are working hard on the issue of addiction to drugs, drink or gambling. In many cases, the...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: I thank Deputy Donnelly for his comments and question. I acknowledge his assistance with the Finance Act and other matters, particularly with section 110, which the Deputy raised and to which some changes were made and brought about in this House. I recall the comments that were made at the US Senate committee indicating that Ireland was alleged to be a tax haven. That was later disproved...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: -----relating to the misuse of certain vehicles that were being used for Irish property transactions.

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: As I said, I acknowledge the fact the Deputy raised section 110 on a number of occasions, which was a subject of quite intensive discussion and change during the passage of the Finance Act. The second of the changes the Minister brought in related to the Irish fund vehicles. The Finance Act provides for the introduction of a tax regime for Irish real estate funds, or IREFs. That...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: The housing allocation will increase from €800 million to €1.2 billion next year, which is a very substantial increase in funding for housing.

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: Government has intervened and intends to intervene in the market. It intends to intervene for the very specific reason that the rental structure is not working------

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: -----and people are being forced by huge increases in rent in some areas to vacate their homes. The conditions for rental pressure zones are set out in the document presented by the Minister and approved by the Government yesterday. Those conditions are very clear. They are assessed by the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. The essential condition is a sustained increase in rent of over...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: The report published by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, yesterday showed that those on lowest incomes benefited most from the budget. We have tried over recent years to improve the lot of those on lower incomes, principally by reducing the level of unemployment and providing a pathway and a road into jobs which is the route out of poverty but also by assistances such as...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: We do not meet any of the international standards for being considered a tax haven. We are fully compliant with all the best practices in the areas of transparency and exchange of information. We have and want real substantive foreign direct investment, the kind that brings real jobs and investment into the country and the wider community. The Oxfam report includes Ireland's 12.5% rate as...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: We have nothing to hide. We have been very clear and upfront about all these matters. I will find an opportunity where that can happen, where the Oxfam report can be debated in public and where we can stand over what we say about the changes we have made in the tax position, the actions we have taken both nationally and internationally and disprove any claims or allegations that this...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: I point out to Deputy Micheál Martin that this came into the Seanad approximately six weeks ago. It was made perfectly clear - and every spokesperson and all the parties understood - that it would be in the final week session that the matter would come before the Dáil, so it is not a case of it being very late for consultation. Consultations are ongoing with Fianna Fáil and...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: It clearly does not interfere with new houses or the elements to provide supply.

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: First, Deputy Adams has not read this document. It is not ill-thought-out at all. It is the result of intensive discussions, negotiations and presentations in recent months. Some 500 submissions were sent to the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and they have been very carefully scrutinised. Of course, the starting point is the rental pressures in Cork and...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: I thank Deputy Martin for his question. This situation is unprecedented. It has been around for a very long time. Particular aims are set out in the Minister's comprehensive, targeted and focused rental strategy programme, which is the first intervention in the housing market here to be made by any Government. A great deal of discussion is going on with Deputy Martin's spokesman, whom I...

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: -----New York, where increases of 7.5% per annum are allowed until maximum rent is reached; Sweden, where rents can go beyond an agreed price ceiling up a maximum of 5%; and Switzerland, where rents can be increased to ensure there is a return, with nominal rates of return of approximately 6%.

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: This is a really important issue.

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: I hope that through consultation, we can manage to get it through.

Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: I stress that the 4% limit has been set by the Government for very specific reasons.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: I am happy to clarify Deputy Howlin's question, which I have answered previously. Second or third-hand reports generated into headlines are not what I was talking about. The Good Friday Agreement clearly contains within it the opportunity in the future, if so desired by the people, North and South, to vote in a referendum on the question of Irish unity. In other words, if there was a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Dec 2016)

Enda Kenny: Gabh mo leithscéal. I would like to know, and I would be happy to hear, what the British proposition is as to the kind of relationship it wishes to have in future with the Union once Article 50 is triggered. There are court cases with decisions to be made. We can then decide on the options and how that relationship should be structured. We need to focus also on the future of the EU...