Results 13,561-13,580 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: The mess Deputy Martin left behind must be changed. I do not second-guess the eminent consultant who spoke on the radio this morning.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: I was merely speaking about Mr. McCormack, who delivers cancer support services to patients who need them. The budget for hospitals this year was increased by 3%. The Mater and Tallaght hospitals both received increases to rebalance their budgets.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: It is not the same old story. It is a case of cutting the costs of services but not the services themselves, and I reject the Deputy's assertion.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: Sometimes when Deputy McDonald gives her eloquent speeches she seems to forget what legal responsibilities are. That sometimes seems to be a tendency in her party. The legal responsibility after the budget is passed is for the HSE to prepare a service plan based on the figures in the budget for the Department of Health and present it to the Minister for Health. The Minister is not looking...

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: The HSE prepares that plan. The letter is from four CEOs and sets out their position. This year's budget is for a 3% increase for hospitals. Both Tallaght hospital and the Mater hospital received increases as a result of the rebalancing of budgets this year and not based on historic spends that, as the Deputy knows, were always boosted up in the last months to make a case for the following...

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: I have a sense of responsibility to the people we serve. We serve the people. This is not a joke, but a very serious matter. This letter from the four CEOs is a serious letter and is written from their perspective. The budget for health this year is over €13 billion, with a capital programme of over €350 million. We had a situation for a number of years in which the...

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: The health budget this year is €13.263 billion, with a capital fund of €357 million. The total savings identified this year are over €600 million. Everyone understands this will be a very challenging year for the health service. The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, is operating with a budget of €3 billion less than in 2008 and 10,000 fewer staff. He is...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: The Bill is due for publication early next year.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: The Bill is not due until next year. A draft of the legislation has been published and discussed by the relevant joint committee. The Bill will not be dealt with until next year.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: I understand the draft Bill will be published shortly and the Cabinet will make its decision arising from that.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: No, the commitment has not been ditched. This is a very costly process to which the 100-year rule applies. The Minister, Deputy Deenihan, has reported on this matter on a number of occasions. The commitment has not been ditched. The water services Bill is due for publication in this session and I expect the NTMA Bill to give effect to expenditure by the National Pensions Reserve Fund of...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: In respect of the Deputy Adams's first comment, I note that he took part in the programme broadcast last night. I accept what he said about having a genuine interest in seeing that those in possession of information relating to this matter should make it known and available in order that closure might be achieved. The fact is that somebody ordered that Jean McConville be murdered, someone...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: I have already answered most of the questions posed by Deputy Kirk. The Constitutional Convention has made a number of recommendations. The Government indicated that a response would be given to the convention's reports within four months. It also indicated that if it were inclined to accept a recommendation made by the convention, then an indicative timeline would be provided. I have...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: Committee Stage of the Companies Bill 2012 is being taken this week and next week. This morning the Government approved the companies (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, which deals with the question of easier and less costly access to the Circuit Court for companies in wind-up situations. The issue regarding driving licences and the centralisation of the offices will sort itself out over a...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: The health (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is due to be published early next year. The issue of homelessness is giving rise to increasing concern. I hope to engage shortly - through the apposite committee - with the relevant organisations.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: I am not sure the Whips had an engagement on this and I do not know whether this was actually agreed at the Whips' meeting. If Members are of the opinion that we should add another half an hour or 40 minutes, I do not object to that. We could extend the sitting by that amount and just shove things forward, if Members want to have a deeper reflection on these appointments of the Ombudsman...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: I do not disagree with Deputy Martin. I happened to see the programme and it speaks for itself. The television shot of the mother with the hands speaks for itself in terms of Irishness, motherhood and the loss of loved ones. It is an important programme from the point of view of engagement with the independent commission that has been set up for information in respect of those who are...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: Cabinet committees generally meet if an issue will arise before the Government. We have already dealt with the climate change Bill and rather than having specific targets which will lead to one being in court on a regular basis if they are not achieved and given that the target date is 2050, it is better to set principles and objectives at which a Government can aim. The Minister published...

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re withdrawal of the Betting (Amendment) Bill 2012; No. 13, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval of the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2012; No. 14, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval for Council decisions re the agreement between Canada...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (5 Nov 2013)

Enda Kenny: This issue must have the relentless focus of the Government for 2014. We will have the local and European elections in 2014, but there is no referendum planned for 2014. I would like to see every Department and agency focus on employment opportunities for 2014. For many years, the people who occupied these benches operated in a kind of individual tunnel and there was no collective focus of...