Results 14,361-14,380 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: The answer to Deputy Martin's question is "No". The total running costs of the Seanad have been estimated independently by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to be in the region of €20 million per annum. That is based on the 2012 out-turn and includes all direct and apportioned or indirect costs. Direct costs relating to Seanad Members' salaries, expenses and staff costs amount...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: I do not accept Deputy Martin's assertion that this is a con job.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Martin has made statements about the abolition, retention and reform of the Seanad. He has not been consistent in his view about Seanad Éireann. He made an assertion recently to the effect that every party in the House campaigned with the statement that they would give the people an opportunity to vote on reform. Deputy Martin will recall that four years ago I set out a view on...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: Article 28.4 of the Constitution makes it clear that this House has the constitutional responsibility to hold this Government or any other government to account. This is where the authority is vested, but it has never been translated into a factual demonstration of the involvement of the people in a real way. However, that is what will happen with the changes in the way this House,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: Yes.

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: We have a general policy of attempting to make homes more comfortable, warmer and better insulated. Some time ago the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, announced the allocation of €50 million for that purpose. I do not accept the Deputy's assertion that we have lost touch with reality. Very much on the contrary, we engage with people on a very regular basis...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. These questions relate to work undertaken by my Department regarding the Government's proposal to amend the Constitution to abolish Seanad Éireann. The legislation to abolish the Seanad has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and is now before the people. They will make their decision on 4 October. As my...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: We all share the fundamental principles which make Irish people different from many other peoples. Imprinted in our DNA is an understanding of interdependence and interconnection. This is because of emigration, which did not start in the past ten years but has been taking place for many centuries. This is one of the reasons the capacity to involve the vast majority of the Irish diaspora...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy did not ask a question. He made a number of observations for which I thank him.

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: He made a statement that we should reverse the cuts; he did not ask a question. Deputy Healy, like other Deputies, is in contact with people in his constituency. The Government is not immune to the difficulties people have to face and has been cognisant of them as we have attempted to make decisions, difficult as they are, to sort out the economic situation. Only this morning, the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: I am sure Deputy Martin will agree that following the change to central processing, applications for medical cards or discretionary medical cards are now all treated on the same basis. For years we had a situation whereby individual community welfare officers, based on their assessment, could make a recommendation for the issuing of a medical card as applied under the old health board...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: As an elected representative, particular claims are also made to me. The bottom line is that more than 22,000 people who previously held discretionary medical cards do not now have them because they are eligible for an ordinary medical card. Since this Government took office, more than 250,000 additional people who previously did not have a medical card have been awarded one. We now have...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: I hope Deputy Adams will attend the ploughing championships during the course of the week. It is an expression of modern Irishness and the evolvement of the former Spring Show into a magnificent showcase for Irish industry with particular reference to the agri-sector. As pointed out on a number of occasions by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, exports this...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: I thank Deputy Martin for his question. There has not been any change in the policy that is adopted here. The number of people with free access to GP care is now the highest in the history of the State. Some 43% of people now have access to free GP care, while 40.7% have medical cards and 2.72% have GP visit cards. In the past two and a half years, there have been an extra 250,000 people...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. The Cabinet Committee on Mortgage Arrears has met on nine occasions since March 2011: 1. 14th March 2012 2. 3rd April 2012 3. 24th April 2012 4. 15th May 2012 5. 5th June 2012 6. 25th June 2012 7. 19th July 2012 8. 5th November 2012 9. 14th January 2013 The Cabinet Committee on Mortgage Arrears and Credit Availability has met on four...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Infrastructure has met on 14 occasions since the Government took office. The work of the Committee includes the implementation of commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to NewERA and infrastructural investment. It is supported by a Senior Officials Group which brings together the key Departments.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Statutory Instruments (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: The electronic files for Statutory Instruments (SIs) are produced through the electronic Statutory Instrument system (eSIS) by the Government Publications Office and sent to the Attorney General's Office in batches of 30-50. When received, they are processed for publication on the electronic Irish Statute Book web site (eISB), in a searchable format, with relevant cross referencing/linking...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Agencies Board Remuneration (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: Appointments are made by the Taoiseach to the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) in accordance with Section 13(2) of the NESDO Act 2006. NESDO is the body corporate of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). The Taoiseach appoints members to the NESC in line with Section 14 of the NESDO Act 2006 and Statutory Instrument No. 603 of the National Economic and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together. There are currently no vacancies on the National Statistics Board (NSB) or the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). The term in office of the NSB is due to end in October. The Statistics Act 1993 sets out the composition and membership of the National Statistics Board (NSB). The NSB comprises a Chairperson and seven Board...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (24 Sep 2013)

Enda Kenny: The savings arising under the Haddington Road Agreement have been incorporated in my Department’s Revised Estimate for 2013 and will be reflected in the Estimates for 2014. Further details for 2015 and 2016 will be incorporated in the relevant vote allocations in the context of the overall Estimates process. The table below shows the estimated savings for my Department for 2013 and...