Results 6,781-6,800 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Gerry Adams raised the question of blasphemy. The Government made a decision that there should be a referendum on the issue. I am glad to note the support of the Opposition parties, which is different from what applied in the past. The issue can be carried forward by way of agreement. Whatever Government the people select in the future can decide to follow through on that decision...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Martin raised a number of important issues. In respect of the decision to hold the referenda on presidential age and marriage equality, I originally thought that it might be possible to hold five or six referenda on the same day. I learned from the first occasion where two referenda were held on the same day that it is not that simple. People inevitably say "I don't know enough...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: The one on blasphemy was considered along with a number of others. It was a choice. It could have been the one on blasphemy. As the Deputy said, there is a deal of substance in this. It might have added greatly to confusion and all the interest that was found in the referendum on marriage equality. It might be right or it might be wrong. We held two referenda, one of which was accepted...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: Many of the minority schools at primary level are small and isolated schools. The Minister announced some improvements to the staffing schedule for small schools for the 2015-16 school year in February. They are improved retention thresholds for second, third and fourth-class teachers and the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools, which are a source...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: I do not wish to comment on the freedom of anyone to comment or write letters. The Government had a decision made. The Ceann Comhairle made an independent, objective decision here and the Government's decision is being carried through.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 14, inclusive, together. As with public representatives generally, I often meet church and other religious or non-religious leaders on an informal basis in the course of attending official or public events. Most recently, I met Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Archbishop Michael Jackson when I officially opened a new campus development at St. Patrick's...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: I accept exactly which you say, a Cheann Comhairle. The Government had decided on 28 January of this year that there should be a commission of investigation into the matter of the Cavan Monaghan Garda division and the debate was to be taken by the Minister for Justice and Equality. You, as Ceann Comhairle, made your ruling and you were perfectly entitled to do that. I published all of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: No, I do not agree. All of the material was published from 9 September through to 17 December. That was there for everyone to examine and comment on. Deputy Adams referred to the sending to the former Minister, Deputy Shatter, of a copy of the terms of reference. I thought it appropriate as a matter of courtesy that he, as a former member of a Government with an interest in this, should be...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Security Committee (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: I do not think anyone would disagree with the comments of Deputy Martin. Intelligence and information is critical to saving lives and preventing incidents of terrorism or extremism which is why, when speaking to the British Prime Minister this morning, I said to him that we will co-operate with the British Government in respect of interception of communications where that applies, but that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. The Government had scheduled a two hour Dáil debate for 28 January this year on the draft order to establish the commission of investigation in respect of the Cavan-Monaghan Garda division. The debate was to be taken by the Minister for Justice and Equality. However, in a letter of 27 January 2015, the day before the proposed...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Security Committee (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: For obvious reasons, I do not propose to describe the discussions that were held by the committee. It does, however, cover the range of relevant security issues, including dissident activity in Northern Ireland and the international terrorist threat here. Dissident activity in Northern Ireland is clearly of great interest to the Executive in Northern Ireland and to the Government and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Security Committee (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: I appreciate that and I thank Deputy Adams for his confirmation. Ireland cannot consider itself immune from international terrorist threats and the level of threat from this source is kept under constant review by the Garda Síochána, particularly in light of changes that take place in the current international climate. There is no specific information on any threat to this country...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: It is obviously an issue of considerable importance and great sensitivity for those directly involved. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill replaced a number of pieces of archaic legislation dating back over 200 years. It is the next step on the road in seeking approval to sign the convention. It is before the House for discussion. We must have it concluded, agreed to and signed...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to contact Deputy Tom Fleming about the next likely steps and the timescales involved concerning the convention when the Bill completes its passage through this House and the Seanad. As regards the Deputy's question on disability services, there have been improvements in a number of areas. It is not always the way we would like to have it,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Security Committee (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Having regard to the confidential nature of the work of the National Security Committee, it would not be appropriate to disclose information on the dates of individual meetings or its proceedings. The committee is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government and comprises representatives at the highest level of the Departments of...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: Ireland is a part of the eurozone. We are not the central player in this, although clearly we have a deep understanding - more so than most - and an empathy with the people of Greece in respect of what is happening now. Deputy Adams knows better than anyone else in this House how many times over the past endless years that negotiations broke down and people walked away from the table. At...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: These are not the words of Deputy Adams. They are the words of Prime Minister Tsipras addressing the European Council.

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: He made the point that his country did not want to default, would not default and would move on. The agreement and understanding at that meeting was that the eurozone Ministers who were meeting on the following Saturday would work diligently, as they had throughout the week, to put together an acceptable, fair and workable outcome to this difficulty. Late in the evening, the negotiators on...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: On behalf of the people I have already written formally to the Prime Minister to express my regret at the fact that the negotiators for the Greek Government were taken away from the negotiating table and to seek their return to resume discussions. I am glad that, following the response from the leaders with whom the Prime Minister corresponded, the Greek authorities have tabled a new paper....

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2015)

Enda Kenny: I hope Prime Minister Tsipras and his people return to the negotiating table. This is a matter which can be solved but it will only be solved through negotiations at a political level. The Greek authorities, for their own reasons, withdrew their negotiating team. My request is that they come back to the negotiating table to work out a solution. We will help in every way we can.