Results 17,241-17,260 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: I thank the Deputy for his questions. In his first he seeks a statement on my meeting with Prime Minister Cameron before the European Council meeting. If we changed the structure and dealt with the questions individually, such that I told the Deputy I had spoken to the Prime Minister on the telephone and again briefly before the Council meeting, it would give rise to supplementary questions...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: The intent of the Government is to achieve agreement on a re-engineering of the promissory note relating to the former Anglo Irish Bank. It could be regarded as the replacement of a bank overdraft with a very long-term mortgage. That is the context for the discussions between the Minister for Finance and his officials and the European Central Bank with a view to arriving at a situation...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: Discussions are continuing with the European Central Bank. The Deputy will have heard the public comments by other political leaders, other Ministers for Finance, the European Commission and the IMF. There is an understanding of the very great challenge placed on the backs of Irish taxpayers. We want this to be understood. The objective of the Government is to bring about a re-engineering...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: That menu is there for all to see and examine. Ireland is in a different space in this regard. However, there is a general understanding of what has been done in the case of Greece. Our discussions are about a concession in a different area, a re-engineering of the promissory notes.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1 to 55, inclusive, together. I attended the European Council in Brussels on 18 and 19 October. As I have already made a statement to the House on the outcome of this meeting, I will give a summary of proceedings to the House. The main focus of our discussions was the strengthening of economic and monetary union. In this regard, President Van Rompuy...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: I would have thought that even the Deputy would have welcomed that, particularly as she is a member of a party which was involved in closing 800 long-stay beds in Northern Ireland.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: Or indeed the way people are encouraged to pay €25 to see the Deputy play a scripted role at the Bord Gáis Éireann Theatre.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: Pay up. I do not know whether the show in question is a rewriting of a certain script and should be called "Four Angry Men".

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: The position today is somewhat different from what which obtained some months ago when it was stated that Greece would default-----

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: -----that it would be driven out of the euro and that there would be a catastrophic situation here as a result. What we are discussing here is a decision that was made by eurozone Ministers which is designed to ensure that Greece will maintain its position as a member of the eurozone and will be able to work its way out of its difficulties. The position of Greece is entirely different from...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: We have separated those positions in the past 12 months and it is recognised across the world that Greece is in a completely different position to Ireland. Deputy Ross inquired as to what Greece has which Ireland does not. The tax-free threshold there has been lowered from €12,000 to €5,000. A married couple with only one earner in Ireland only enters the income tax net at...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: -----and a single person does so at €16,500. The number of public sector job cuts in Greece will be 150,000 by 2015. Any public service reductions here were done on a voluntary basis. Monthly pensions above €1,000 in Greece will be cut by 20%, the minimum wage is being cut by 20%-----

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: -----from €751 to €600 per month. The Greek Government is obliged to raise €11 billion through privatisation by 2016. This money will solely be used to pay down debt.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: The attendance of the Minister for Finance at yesterday's meeting in Brussels means that the decision that was made will not mean-----

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: -----that Ireland will be a contributor in so far as Greece is concerned.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: Deputy Ross will be aware that we contributed over €350 million in bilateral loans. We will not be required to return profits or interest in this regard. That is a recognition of the very different situation in which Greece finds itself. For the Deputy's information, let me repeat that a great deal of work is taking place in terms of the preparation for the legal framework as a...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: -----to sever the link between sovereign and bank debt and in respect of the promissory notes with the ECB. It is the intention of the Minister for Finance, on behalf of the Government, not to have to pay the €3 billion that is due in March 2013. It is in this regard that discussions are continuing to take place with the European Central Bank. I noted Deputy Martin's comments on the...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: It takes time, diligence and patience in order to obtain a sense of trust, confidence and belief from others to the effect that they should help us.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: That recognition has been achieved and we will continue with the discussions in order to bring about a situation where the level of debt to which Deputy Ross refers can be re-engineered in the country's interests.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Enda Kenny: The Deputy left an unholy mess behind. This is part of clearing it up.