Results 29,621-29,640 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Order of Business (29 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: I do not hold any brief for Deputies Joe Behan or Finian McGrath but I find this to be quite vindictive. I gave approval to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, when he sought concessions for the special sub-committee on the Lisbon treaty which is of considerable importance. I did not raise any racket about it because, as the Taoiseach is aware, for the committee to...

Order of Business (29 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: ——but this is vindictive. If the Government wants to remove convenor's allowance is its own business. On this basis, I oppose No. 10.

Leaders' Questions (29 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: Last week, during the Taoiseach's absence in China on national business, this country witnessed the power and anger of elderly people who came on to the streets in their thousands to make the case against what the Government was doing to them. Later in the afternoon they were joined by younger people regarding the Government's intentions on third level education. The Government does not...

Leaders' Questions (29 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: The Taoiseach has not answered my question. The Government has the enrolment figures which were submitted at the end of September. Is the Taoiseach prepared to publish those figures so we can verify the number of teaching posts that will be lost? The question is a straightforward one — will the Taoiseach publish the figures? I do not have access to the figures but the Department has...

Leaders' Questions (29 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: The Government is going to bring mayhem to classrooms, cause savage disruption for parents all over the country and deliberately do down the education of the young. Children need to be in classes of a reasonable size in order to be able to compete with their peers internationally. We will fall behind in that regard by virtue of the Government's decision. Does the Taoiseach accept that a...

Leaders' Questions (29 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: That point was not mentioned before now.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (23 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: Question 27: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the files which have been requested from his Department by the Mahon tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29480/08]

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: The motion before the House is simple. It calls on the Government to reverse the decision that was taken to withdraw the universal principle of a right to a medical card for persons over 70 years of age. In my long experience in this House, I have never witnessed what I saw on the streets today. We saw the ignominy brought down on the elderly by this Government, forcing them to travel from...

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: The Government could have done it so differently. There have been three botched attempts to quell a backbench revolution. There have been three botched attempts to quell the fears of thousands of elderly people. The Government could have made the savings required by a switch from branded to generic drugs, via pay freezes, through redundancy savings in targeted schemes or by means of a far...

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: They are the people who shook their hands and wished them well in their work for the country. They should think of their sense of disappointment at what they are now doing and of their own sense of guilt when they walk through the division gates to end a right given to the elderly seven years ago.

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: I believe that when they walk through those gates they are making a statement to the effect that they believe that should end. I reject that. Let it be said that Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and some Independents will have inflicted a scar on the body politic of this country, the likes of which has not been seen for 50 years. Long after we all leave here, people...

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: That scar has been created by Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats Party. It has been created by cynicism and a lack of respect, appreciation, competence and confidence. Surely, this Judas response to the elderly will be the Government's epitaph. I commend the motion to the House.

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: Where is the Minister, Deputy Martin?

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: Did the Deputy say the Green Party would pull out of Government? I will lead her across the lobby if she wishes.

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: Come up those stairs and vote with me.

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: Correct and withdraw this amendment.

Medical Cards: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Mansergh is obsessed with Deputy Reilly.

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: I seek clarity on the issue of legislation. Yesterday, we were given to understand the Social Welfare Bill will be published in the first week of November. Will the Minister for Health and Children deal with the element of that Bill that deals with the automatic right to medical cards. Is it the case that the Bill will be taken by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs but that part of...

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: It is reported in today's papers that the proposal to have a 2% levy on income for persons earning over €100,000 may now be applied to lower thresholds to pay for the cost of removing the 1% levy from those earning below the minimum wage.

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Enda Kenny: It is an important issue.