Results 12,361-12,380 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: I respect absolutely GSOC and I think it is important that GSOC would have every opportunity to state for the record in public session and that the chairman and the members of the board of the commission are absolutely satisfied with the independence and integrity of the way that they are entitled to do their business. Now, I cannot direct them to do that. It is important that the...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: That is the statement from GSOC. The section that I referred to and that the Deputy quoted from means that GSOC is entitled of its own initiative to report-----

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: -----under the law to the Minister for Justice and Equality of the day. In its statement yesterday, it said:We did not wish to point fingers unnecessarily and we did not believe that widespread reporting would be conducive to public confidence. We took the decision not to report in good faith. We regret that now and this was communicated to the Minister for Justice and Equality by Simon...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: That is the independent body with oversight responsibility for the Garda. That is its statement. It says that there was no evidence of its databases being compromised, that it made the decision not to report in good faith, that it regretted that decision and that it communicated that to the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: The balance between the Garda and GSOC is very important here. I do hope that the clarity that is necessary can be furnished at the open hearings of the Oireachtas committee tomorrow. From that point of view, the Minister for Justice and Equality will speak in some further detail after the Order of Business today.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: The Minister, Deputy Noonan, dealt with this in questions just some short time ago. The special liquidator has full responsibility for determining how the assets of IBRC are sold. In arriving at these decisions, it has considered the cases made from both borrowers and professional independent advice on each of the portfolios in the mortgage area. The decision to offer the residential...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: I am of the view, which is shared by everybody else, that we require clarity in respect of the GSOC and the integrity of that office which has responsibility for oversight of An Garda Síochána. I am also well aware of the importance of citizens having confidence in the integrity of An Garda Síochána. This issue was at the forefront of much discussion last weekend arising...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: The GSOC is to attend the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service, Oversight and Petitions tomorrow in public session. Deputy Martin is asking me today to have a public inquiry into this. Does he not think it appropriate that the GSOC should come before the committee and answer questions and provide clarification for Members of the House? Perhaps he does not want that. He is asking...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Adams made the point about newspaper reports that the office of the GSOC was the subject of sophisticated surveillance. A report claiming that the GSOC had been the subject of unlawful surveillance of a sophisticated nature was published in a Sunday newspaper on 9 February 2014. The Minister received a briefing on this yesterday by the chairman of the GSOC. The chairman said...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: A Cheann Comhairle, you have been very clear on this. Deputy Martin has raised an important question about the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. This is an essential and fundamental entity of our democratic system and it is very important the people have absolute confidence and faith in the integrity and the credibility of GSOC, no more than it is an important and...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: Because this is an issue-----

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: This is an issue of real importance and an issue of the confidence of the people in two very important institutions, both GSOC, which was set up for the purpose of having oversight in respect of gardaí, and the Garda Síochána itself. I am anxious, and I understand Deputies are anxious, to have as much information as is possible about the concerns that arose.

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: For that reason, the Government instructed the Chief Whip this morning that, after the Order of Business concludes, the Minister for Justice and Equality will make a statement to the House, with opportunities for Members to respond to that. I note GSOC will attend in public session at the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions tomorrow. It is important that there be...

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: I might say, for your information, a Cheann Comhairle, that the Government is not entitled to the report that was provided to GSOC by the company it chose. It is an independent body. However, the Minister for Justice and Equality has requested that the report would be supplied to him.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Parliamentary Procedures (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: The existing legislation governing the appointment of the Clerk of the Dáil dates back to 1959. I believe there is widespread support in the House for modernisation of that legislation to reflect the needs of a modern parliament. I have received correspondence from the Ceann Comhairle and from the Opposition on the matter. This is a matter that needs to be resolved by agreement in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: The following table provides details of all suppliers to my Department and Agencies under the aegis of my Department from 1 May 2011 to 7th February 2014 where professional services withholding tax has been applied, and the total paid to each supplier. The Department undertakes competitive tendering for contracts in accordance with relevant Department of Public Expenditure guidelines. 2011...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: The total expenditure by my Department on advertising in 2013 was €68,128, all expenditure related to print advertising. €51,660 was in relation to the EU Presidency.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Social Media Monitoring (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: My Department does not engage in real time reporting of online conversations on issues relating to it. However, staff in the Government Press Office in my Department as part of their communications duties monitor online news and social media to provide alerts and updates on information relevant to the work of this and all Government Departments. Ordinarily this relates to breaking news and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Engagements (11 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: I have undertaken 28 official engagements in Northern Ireland since taking up office in March 2011. Former Minister of State Creighton had four official engagements in Northern Ireland and Minister of State Donohue had one. The Chief Whip has not undertaken any such engagements.

Northern Ireland: Statements (5 Feb 2014)

Enda Kenny: I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on Northern Ireland. We all want to see a modern, forward-looking and prosperous Northern Ireland. In the times in which we live, however, whether it be north, south, east or west, we cannot be insular. We all must be aware of, and responsive to, external, international and global issues beyond our direct control. That is the reality of the...