Results 7,701-7,720 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Economic Management Council (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: It is not about control, but focus on the challenges and issues that must be addressed and the kinds of views that should be presented to the Cabinet for its consideration so that we can make decisions on them. I have never favoured holding endless meetings without a focus in which everybody throws in opinions just for the sake of it. While I am not suggesting this happens at Cabinet...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Economic Management Council (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I do not believe there is any formal engagement but on the run-in to the preparation for the budget-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Economic Management Council (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: -----the independent fiscal council will have all the information available to it. There is no proposal to have a formal engagement with the fiscal council about the spring economic statement. As I said, that is not a budget or a vehicle for indicating what issues the Government will announce. It concerns the general economic landscape as the Government sees it right out to 2020. That...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Awards Scheme (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The bravery awards are, as the Ceann Comhairle said, very special and very much appreciated by the people who receive them. I had the privilege of launching Anne Chambers's biography of T.K. Whitaker, an extraordinary citizen who was selected by popular vote of those interested the most influential and important citizen of the 20th century, which is an extraordinary commendation from people...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Economic Management Council (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 12, inclusive, together. The Economic Management Council, EMC, was established with the status of a Cabinet committee to manage the Government's programme of economic planning, budgetary matters and banking policy. It has four members, namely, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Economic Management Council (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: There are a quite a number of Cabinet sub-committees in existence. I choose to devote one day per month to them. For instance, yesterday I started at 8.30 a.m. and finished at 7 p.m. I went through a range of ministerial responsibilities, programmes and policy issues that need to be moved on by individual Departments or where there is a relationship between Departments and Ministers. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Awards Scheme (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: For the information of the House, I will give some background details. In July 1930, Mr. Blythe, as Minister for Finance of the Executive Council, decided that unofficial negotiations on the matter of an Irish honours system should be opened with the British Government at the earliest convenient opportunity. This was not pursued prior to the constitutional changes in 1937, at which point it...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Awards Scheme (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: In January 1946, the Government decided that the then Taoiseach, Mr. de Valera, should examine the question of an honours list, as they put it, in the light of the relevant provisions of the Constitution and of the practice in other countries. A draft memorandum setting out those general lines for a State declaration of honour was circulated to the Departments of Finance and External Affairs...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Awards Scheme (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Keating is part of what is a very long line of prestigious comments made in the House over 80 years. Somebody else may stand up here in 20 years' time and say that Deputy Keating was pursuing it when he was here. I thank him for the intervention and for the question.

Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The situation regarding the appointment of commissioners has changed. It is an independent process. In this case, applications were sought nationally and internationally. The establishment of the policing authority is being followed through by the Minister for Justice and Equality. I expect that to be legislated for and enacted by the middle of May. Also, with regard to the continuation...

Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I sent Deputy Wallace a note asking him for details about what he raised on the last occasion, but he chose not to answer it.

Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy chose not to respond to the Minister for Justice and Equality when she invited him to Farmleigh to give his views and proposals in respect of the work that was taking place. The policing reforms include the establishment of the independent policing authority, the appointment of a chair designate for the new authority and the first ever international competition for the position...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Awards Scheme (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The issue of a State honours system has been discussed many times in the past but there has never been all-party support to sustain its development. I believe that such support would be required if consideration of an honours system were to proceed. While I have no objections to all-party consideration of this matter, the timing of any...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Awards Scheme (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I do not have an objection to this in principle. In fairness to Deputy Keating, he has raised the matter each year since 2011. He has been consistent in doing so. It is not the first time this has been suggested but the absence of all-party agreement is the deterrent or obstacle. Article 40.2.1° of the Constitution clearly states that titles of nobility shall not be conferred by the...

Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I would have appreciated if Deputy Adams had given me some prior notice of a specific case he wished to raise in respect of a nursing home, in this case Redwood. I have said on many previous occasions that the fragile, elderly and vulnerable deserve to have nothing but the best level of care and consideration given to them irrespective of where they are. I am aware that there are regulatory...

Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The people in the Redwood residential centre are residents as opposed to patients and they deserve the very best level of care and attention. I empathise with the Deputy's comments in respect of the persons whose cases he has mentioned here and is entitled to raise with their permission. How will we know about these things? Clearly, there have been incidents in the past, the last of which...

Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: On the previous occasion the Deputy raised the matter here, I sent him a note asking him to supply the details about which he was talking. He did not respond to that note. I reject his assertion in respect of the former Garda Commissioner. I reject his assertion in respect of the current Garda Commissioner. The Government has taken action to introduce the most radical changes to the...

Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy asked a number of questions. The reason for setting up the Fennelly commission of investigation was the recording over many years at Garda stations of citizens' telephone calls without their knowledge. This matter was brought to my attention at that time, with potentially serious consequences. The commission of investigation was set up primarily for that reason. The Deputy has...

Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The Fianna Fáil spokesperson requested that a commission of investigation be established. That is what the Government approved at my request. The commission is independent and not subject to pressure from any quarter. The terms of reference are very clear. They were adopted by the Government and voted on and adopted by this House. They include the two matters referred to by me in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (31 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: Insufficient information was provided by the Deputy to enable my Department to reply to this question.