Results 27,281-27,300 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ministerial Travel. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: I wish simply to make a point arising from what the Taoiseach has said. This is in everyone's interest. I realise the Minister may have had to receive delegations or deputations or had bilateral meetings wherever she was staying. However, her public servants would have been aware of the nature of the meetings she had to attend. From that point of view, why was it necessary to have a...

Ministerial Travel. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: I say that in the interests of the Taoiseach being able to demonstrate that his Ministers use the public purse effectively and get value.

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach the expert and consultancy reports that have been commissioned by him, or by the agencies under his aegis, since June 2007 to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35608/09]

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: The Economist intelligence unit undertook an independent benchmarking review to assess the comparative efficiency and effectiveness of Irish economic regulators. That report was due to be published after six months and was due last September 12 months. By the end of 2008, the cost of it stood at €408,000. It was finally published in May 2009. What was the final cost of the review? On...

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: The Minister for Foreign Affairs was very anxious that the Pope would answer queries from the Department about the Murphy report on child abuse. He was not so anxious to respond when almost €1 billion was illegally taken from elderly people in nursing homes. He said it was not his responsibility. Over the years there has been a raft of consultancy reports which have never been acted on....

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: What is the pressing evidence that required the Minister to come to Cabinet and say that he must commission a consultancy report to count the number of frogs in the country within the next two years?

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: When my own late father was responsible for the Office of Public Works he was asked by his opposite number, the then Deputy Lemass, how many seagulls flew over the Phoenix Park in 12 months. Does the Taoiseach consider the €125,000 cost for the report is justifiable, given that Deputies are inundated with requests for books from schools and children are being asked to bring toilet paper...

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: It was very important to bring in the habitats directive but the Government of the day did not decide to spend €125,000 on a consultancy report counting the number of frogs in the country.

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: Are we to see the spectre of the Minister, Deputy Gormley, in his sandals tramping through the wetlands of the midlands counting frogs at dawn or dusk?

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: Does he know the activities at dawn and dusk of the frog population? What is the evidence that he will produce as to the value of this at the end of it all?

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: We could be doing more than spending money on that at this time.

Consultancy Reports. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: It is frog watch. The Minister will be frog-marching around the country.

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach his plans to amend the code of conduct for officeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35239/09]

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: The recent revelations about expenses incurred by Ministers have shocked and outraged the country. I do not think any Minister set out deliberately to do something like this, or at least I hope not. Within the understanding of their responsibilities as Ministers, and the requirements of the Ethics in Public Office Act, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government spent...

Standards in Public Office. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: I understand the Department of Finance set out guidelines that apply in the case of Ministers who go abroad. Are those guidelines published and are they available? For example, if the Minister for Health and Children attends a conference in Italy, Spain or France, does she know in advance the arrangements made for her? Obviously Ministers are very conscious of the requirement not to be...

Ministerial Travel. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the projected cost to his Department in 2009 for overseas ministerial travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35607/09]

Ministerial Travel. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: I know the Taoiseach keeps an eye on these matters in respect of other Ministers. I note that, arising from a request under the Freedom of Information Act by a national newspaper, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, left out €26,000 of his foreign travel expenses.

Ministerial Travel. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: I am speaking to the Taoiseach of the country. As the Ceann Comhairle knows, if a Minister requires a helicopter to fly down to Kerry or Waterford, as the case may be, authorisation normally comes from the Office of the Taoiseach. In view of all the changed circumstances, I am sure the Taoiseach is cognisant of the need for an effective value-for-money spend. On numerous occasions I...

Ministerial Travel. (8 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: I share the general sentiment. Recently, the world read of a €9,000 charge for a chauffeur-driven limousine to be available to the Tánaiste to travel from a hotel to the conference centre-----

Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Enda Kenny: I agree with that.