Results 7,801-7,820 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: That will have an impact socially, or deal with the social impact.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: That is a discussion for the House to have in the run-in to the budget. I do not see any reason the Minister for Finance would not be able to set out for the House the options he must consider in preparing his budget. The same would apply to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It is something I consider eminently feasible.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The assertion Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett made at the start of his contribution is typical of him. I have no intention of looking for credit or thanks. People who do so in this business follow a fool's philosophy. My job is not about being best boy in class; it is about dealing with the legacy of an unprecedented mess that was left to be sorted out. I am proud that the Government has...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on social policy and public service reform last met on 23 February.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I already answered the question the Deputy originally tabled. One could ask 1,000 questions in respect of issues of detail and that which he has now posed obviously relates to a serious matter for those affected. The scheme involved was ended for good reason and those who were in receipt of payments continue to be paid. I understand it is expected that a replacement scheme to deal with...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The Cabinet committee on social policy met three times in 2011, four times in 2012, seven times in 2013 and four times in the first half of 2014. It was then merged with the Cabinet committee on public service reform in September of last year. A further six meetings have taken place since then, four in the second half of 2014 and two so far this year. The latter were held on 26 January and...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: Opportunities are being examined for other business to be done in post offices, even to the extent of people being able to pay water contributions through the post office system. Postmasters and postmistresses agreed on charging a fee for it, which was less than what they originally sought. The recipients of social welfare payments from the Department of Social Protection are entitled to...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: -----the vast majority of people in receipt of payments from the Department of Social Protection choose to have it paid directly into their bank accounts when they are asked the question. That is their choice. The Department will follow those instructions.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: If everyone said they wanted the payments made into post office accounts, that is what the Department would do. It is the choice of the recipient. If Deputy Seamus Healy thinks it is different, let him give me the evidence of it. The vast majority of people, when asked the question where they want pensions or social welfare payments paid, they ask for to them to be put into bank accounts,...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The Government values the network of post offices and has written to people to say that any new business opportunities or options will be followed through. Mr. Bobby Kerr is hugely experienced in this area and he will report to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, by the autumn on the terms of reference as set out. Some 24 were closed since 2010,...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Tom Fleming is well aware that the only people who can keep open the post offices are those who use them. Unfortunately, in many areas around the country, people prefer to go to the nearest town and do their business. It is a fact of life. I represent the county where this has happened on many occasions. From first-hand experience, I know that when a postmaster or postmistress...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I came across a case where someone said they would take it on but went back on it six weeks later. It is not true to say that. The only people who can keep the post office open are those who use its services. The community must say it wants the post office, values it and will use its services. As far as the Government is concerned, we want to see post offices being able to do more business.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The opportunity for that exists and if all of those who receive social protection payments in a parish were to say that they want the money to be paid into the post office instead of the bank account, it would change the nature of things. Deputy Tom Fleming is also aware of the volume of material coming into the country from outside, which passes through the post offices. The Government...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Tom Fleming raised an important point that consultation in advance might be an important element of what the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, is considering. In other words, if the economics of a post office are in serious decline and it is not being used, the community should be informed before a decision is taken to close it down. That...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: It is an unfortunate fact of life and, while we wish to keep them open, communities must support post offices in order for that to happen.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The Government listened very carefully to the many thousands of people who expressed their anxiety and concern and reduced the charges to a very modest contribution of €1.15 and €3 per week. The Cabinet will consider and decide on the propositions from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in terms of the legislation to ensure full compliance here. ...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I support the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and I await him coming before Cabinet with his proposals to ensure there is fairness and equality of treatment here and compliance in respect of the modest contribution that is required for water. Obviously, we will consider and decide on the proposals the Minister will bring to Cabinet. I support him in what he is...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: The Minister is quite prepared to answer any questions here or at the Oireachtas committee. There is no need for a formal investigation because these matters have been signed off on both by Cabinet and the regulatory authority, and the Minister has answered questions right along the line in this regard.

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I thank Deputy Tom Fleming for his question. This is an important issue in rural Ireland. The world in which we live has changed very much over the past ten to 30 years. Some 24 post offices were closed since 2010 and 197 closed between 2006 and 2010, figures that speak for themselves. Post offices were an important social element of rural Ireland. In many cases, post offices were part of...

Leaders' Questions (24 Mar 2015)

Enda Kenny: I thank the Deputy for raising this as it is a serious matter. It is a sensitive issue because it refers to parents and the birth of children. Yesterday the Minister publicly affirmed the absolute independence of HIQA. The letters from the HSE to which the Deputy referred have, according to Mr. Tony O'Brien, been published on its website and speak for themselves. It is regrettable that...