Results 641-660 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: We did not know the outcome of the European Council meeting until Saturday.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: I could have published a much broader document about where we were headed and briefed the Deputies on such a document. If I had done so, the Deputies would have argued that its contents could change, depending on the decision to be taken on Saturday by the European Council.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: Now we have the same document, added to by the decision of the European Council. The Ceann Comhairle is familiar with what politicians do here. Deputy Gerry Adams was talking about coups and all the rest of it. Perhaps he knows something about that, but as far as I am concerned, this is work that was undertaken for the past 18 months.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: I am glad that 26 members of the European Council agreed with Ireland on Northern Ireland becoming part of the European Union without having to reapply.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: It should be noted here that Brexit is not the end of the line. The European Union has its own agenda which involves the Single Market, the digital single market, the capital markets and EMU. It wants a future of continued prosperity, peace and career and other opportunities for millions of people in a world that is changing rapidly as a result of digitisation which has been referred to as...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: We have to go beyond and through Brexit. The accident that has happened here has implications nationally, internationally and globally and we must deal with it. The agenda for the European Union is for the future beyond Brexit. While I respect the democratic decision of the United Kingdom, I genuinely regret that so much of the time of the leaders of 500 million people is being taken up in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: The EU 27 will negotiate as a bloc with the United Kingdom. Many theories are being put forward by academics and those who have worked in various sectors, but it is clear that the closest possible relationship we can have is the relationship we now have. How will we be able to get back to it if the United Kingdom leaves the Single Market and has a different position where trading, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: Exactly. It is about having the opportunity to do so. As this argument continues, every country in Europe is quite well aware that Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark would be most adversely affected by what is termed a "hard Brexit". When I discussed this issue in The Hague with Prime Minister Rutte and Prime Minister Rasmussen, we made it very clear that we understood the impact...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: The priorities have been agreed to by the EU 27 and in the letter sent from Prime Minister May to the President of the Council. Yes, we can have a debate here, as we will have on numerous occasions about elements of Brexit. On Saturday, the 27 were anxious not to have a long and acrimonious internal discussion which would send out a signal that Europe itself did not have the capacity to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: Chancellor Merkel raised a number of questions specifically about the Border situation, given that we do not yet know the trading relationships that will apply between the UK and the EU and between ourselves and the UK. In so far as clarity was possible, we were very clear that the political principle here is not to return to the Border of the past. The priorities for Ireland were...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: I am not going to comment on leaks in newspapers or on what has been written about this. The situation in so far as the 27 members of the European Council is concerned is that there is a very clear position of not in any way wishing to punish the United Kingdom for a democratic decision that was made by its people and on which the British Government wishes to follow through. There is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: I have made it clear that Ireland always wishes to comply with EU law. That has been our position for quite a long time.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: On the common travel area, we are very clear that the acquired rights of Irish and British people in Ireland and the UK have applied since 1922 and are very much-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: We expect to be able to preserve the common travel area. I have made that point very clearly, as has the British Prime Minister.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: The common travel area was in place long before the formation of the European Economic Community, EEC and the EU and long before Brexit. We intend to be able to hold on to the common travel area between Ireland and Britain. On what it means in practice, I welcome the helpful statement from the former First Minister, Arlene Foster. We would like to be able to preserve the tariff-free...

Order of Business (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: A new unit was not built to remain empty and unused.

Order of Business (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: It was built for a purpose. That purpose should be followed through on. Some of these matters are relevant to the Topical Issue debate. I do not have the details of them here. I will respond to the Deputies who raised questions about Dungarvan, Clonmel and Cashel and have the Deputies supplied with that information.

Order of Business (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: I will have the Minister respond to this. The capital review takes into account major infrastructure such as roads, dual carriageways and motorways. We cannot plan ahead for the country unless we look 15 or 20 years out. That is what the Government has started now with consultations in every part of the country. We will have an extra 1 million people and will require half a million houses...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. My visit to Germany from 5 to 7 April included a bilateral meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as extensive engagement with key trade, tourism and investment partners. The visit began in Frankfurt on the morning of Thursday, 6 April where I had a series of meetings with Irish State agency client companies based in...

Order of Business (2 May 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Minister for Health has gone to exceptional lengths to improve the position. Young trained nurses coming out of Irish hospitals are given full-time contracts.