Results 14,681-14,700 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: Let me now issue the challenge to Deputy Adams to say again on the record for all and sundry that he confirms that he had nothing at all to do with this and we will move on with the commission to see can we bring closure for remains of the disappeared that are not yet recovered.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: We can only tax companies on the profits they make here. Many companies use multi-jurisdictional tax approaches. The end result may be that through the use of those other tax environments, the rate of tax is reduced from our 12.5% corporate tax rate. It is recognised that this cannot be dealt with individually and the approach must be collective. That is why the European Council, which I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: There is no disagreement between Deputy Martin and myself in respect of these issues. It was a very short visit and the tightness of the schedule meant we could not have formal bilateral meetings. Like every Member, I share the view of the necessity of doing something about the undocumented Irish. I am in regular contact with a number of people in the United States about the progress of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: I do not accept the assertion that Ireland is a tax haven and I do not accept that there has been a conspiracy of silence. I spoke to Senator McCain about both issues at the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington. This matter was never mentioned and, in respect of the business people I met in Boston, it is fully understood that this country is not a tax haven. Ireland's reputation...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. I visited Boston from 18 to 20 May following an invitation from Fr. William Leahy, president of Boston College, to receive an honorary degree in law and deliver the commencement address at the 2013 graduation ceremony. This was a very prestigious honour, particularly as Boston College is celebrating its 150th anniversary this...

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: I thank Deputy Halligan for raising this personal issue with the man concerned and I commend Deputies Barry Cowen and Clare Daly on having discussed his circumstances with him. I was just made aware of this before I came into the Chamber. From what Deputy Halligan said, and I do not know the individual or the circumstances involved, it is principally an issue with the property tax.

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: The legislation is very clear in respect of property tax being paid and a contribution being made by every person, but it also clearly includes the opportunity for a deferral of the payment of the tax. I do not know the man's circumstances in that regard. The right of protest is perfectly legitimate in this country.

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: I meet various elements of it around the place all the time, including in Waterford yesterday. The point is that nobody wants to see something like this happen, where an individual feels they must resort to a hunger strike. In respect of the second issue raised by the Deputy about jobseeker's benefit, I know from reports from the Minister for Social Protection that very substantial numbers...

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: I do not know the actual financial circumstances of the individual involved here. Clearly, this is a matter we can have examined. I do not know whether Deputy Cowen or Deputy Daly have an up-to-date set of facts about Mr. Rochford's financial circumstances but, from what Deputy Halligan has said, first, he is entitled as a citizen to a deferral of his property tax, depending on his...

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: I do not have any difficulty at all meeting Mr. Rochford but I need to know what the circumstances are so the Minister for Social Protection, the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners can deal with this question of the property tax. As I said, I do not know his circumstances but I am willing to find out and, hopefully, have the matter resolved to some extent.

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: It is not true to say that former construction workers or those engaged in the construction sector in general have been completely ignored.

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: As the Deputy is aware, the situation was that over 7,000 jobs a month were being lost for nearly three years, most of them from the construction sector. At least 100,000 people have had direct contact with the Department of Social Protection in one form or another and many of those were involved in the construction sector. One of the changes that was made concerned the age-old problem we...

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: I note the confidence that is beginning to return is evident in the fact that 2,000 jobs a month are now being created and there were 16,000 individual start-ups last year. We need to build on that. Clearly, we are not at the level where we need to be, but it is heading in the right direction. I noted this morning reports from a number of organisations that business sees confidence...

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: -----I will certainly be willing to have his circumstances checked. Hopefully, we can at least have this explained in a way that the man does not have to be on hunger strike outside the gates of the Irish Parliament.

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: It is not the Deputy's normal practice. Everybody in the country recognises the value of the family home, more so than in most other countries. We want that to be the end of it, which I know the Deputy accepts.

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: The Government strategy was set out in five points which I have made known to the Deputy previously. They include comprehensive advice and assistance, introducing innovative new measures to deal with these cases, rebalancing personal insolvency legislation, the introduction of measures to assist families to stay in their homes, if possible, and challenging the banks to live up to their...

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: I hope that in two weeks time when the Central Bank publishes the evidence from the banks, we will see whether they have lived up to the targets set. The targets will become progressively stricter and more detailed in the quarters ahead.

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: The public interest directors were appointed by the late Minister for Finance, our late former colleague, Brian Lenihan. As a public interest director, I had words with the former leader of our party in respect of our party's view that Anglo Irish Bank should be wound down. I listened to the interview given by Alan Dukes last week and he clearly indicated that he had given all of the...

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: As I understand it, the appointments of public interest directors by the late Minister were made from outside the bank circle. However, as directors, they must adhere to company law. I know that Alan Dukes, a former distinguished Minister, is nobody's lapdog. He has regularly attended Dáil committees and just last week said he was willing to attend any inquiry, investigation or...

Leaders Questions (9 Jul 2013)

Enda Kenny: The appointments were made quite a number of years ago. They were additional directors from outside the bank circle but are bound by company law. Whatever information this particular public interest director has, he is quite willing to talk on it during any investigation or at any committee or inquiry we set up. It is important to remind the Deputy that Mr. Dukes, as he would be well...