httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ0ESSfO-FE
Oh, until Monday at least.
For the full Davos panel discussion thing (it’s looong) click here. Worth it to see the taoiseach appear strikingly pompous. It’s the Swiss air, they say.
Earlier: Dumb And Dumber
Badum…
THE TAOISEACH has said the problem with Ireland’s economy was that “people went mad borrowing” in a system that spawned greed, went out of control and crashed.
Speaking during a discussion on rebuilding Europe at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Enda Kenny said: “The extent of personal credit, personal wealth created on credit, was done between people and banks – a system that spawned greed to a point where it just went out of control completely with a spectacular crash.”
Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins said there was a “stark contrast” between the Taoiseach’s comments yesterday and those in his address to the nation last month, “when he told the public that ‘it’s not your fault’ for the crisis”.
…and tish!
When asked about Mr Kenny’s comments last night, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said: “I didn’t hear his comment. I’m not going to comment on something I didn’t hear.” After a recording of some of Mr Kenny’s comments was played for him, he said: “I’m not going to comment. Ministers don’t go around the place commenting on the Taoiseach’s remarks.”
Taoiseach Blames Crisis On ‘Mad Borrowing’ And Greed (Irish Times)
Enda: “You Are Not Responsible.” (Broadsheet, December 4, 2011)
Opposition slam Kenny over Davos comments (RTE)
Yesterday: Enda At Davos: The Digital Hub Taoiseach
“The government are in discussions with the troika in respect of what [state] assets might be made available for disposal. But these would not be strategic. There would not be firewall sales.”
No ‘firewall’ sales?
Prompting this response from Bloomberg:
Watch here.
Enda Kenny with former rugby international Mick Galwey (top) and his trademark ‘clenched fist’ launching the third annual Cycle4Haiti charity cycle literally an hour ago, which aims to raise a record €400,000 for The Soul of Haiti Foundation.
The cycle “will take place over the May bank holiday weekend and this year starts on Saturday 4th May from three locations in Dublin, Sligo and Tipperary and converging in Athlone for an overnight rest. The following day, Sunday 5th May, the peloton will spin a further 85kms to the finish line in Eyre Square, Galway.”
Yay, etc.
Two county councillors became embroiled in a vicious row when a debate about a damaged bridge in Turlough, Castlebar came up for discussion at a Castlebar Electoral Area meeting last Thursday.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny was brought into the row by firebrand Independent councillor Frank Durcan who reacted angrily to a comment from the Taoiseach’s brother, Cllr Henry Kenny.
After a general comment from Cllr Durcan criticising government, Cllr Kenny said that he, Cllr Durcan, had been a member of the Fine Gael party not that long ago himself. Cllr Durcan left the party almost thirty years ago and relations between him and Enda Kenny have been strained ever since.
Raising his voice on several occasions to try to reply, Cllr Durcan eventually stood up, screaming, the anger in his voice clear to see.
“I have the right to reply. He [Cllr Kenny] brought up this thing of me leaving the Fine Gael party. I want to answer him. I never left the Fine Gael party. I left the Kenny party.”
Sparks Fly In Durcan And Kenny Row (Edwin McGreal, Mayo News)
TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has rejected charges that Ireland will need a second European Union/International Monetary Fund bailout because of fears that falling growth rates will threaten Ireland’s recovery.
During a day in London, Mr Kenny relentlessly drove home a positive message about Ireland’s future, but specifically moved to dismiss Citigroup’s chief economist Willem Buiter’s warning that Ireland should have a bailout “on stand-by”.
“We are in a programme, the programme lasts for the next two years. We are meeting all of the targets and all of our commitments,” Mr Kenny said, adding immediately afterwards, “I do not share the view at all in regard to a second bailout.”
Well, that’s OK then, isn’t it?
Kenny says Ireland will not need new bailout (Irish Times)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKvGRI3fzfA
“By nature I’m an optimist. I refuse to get drawn into the trenches of disillusionment and despair that I see flying around the world. I believe in our people. I believe in their pragmatism. I believe in their capacity to deal with challenge as is part of our tradition over the years.”
A hopeful if knackered-looking Enda Kenny in London this morning.
Earlier: Kenny Live In The UK
Enda is addressing a Thomson Reuters Newsmaker event in London right now (10.10am) moderated by Reuters TV anchor Axel Threlfall and chief correspondent for Ireland Carmel Crimmins..
Watch here
Enda ‘Nokia 6310’ Kenny and Simon ‘Android’ Coveney arrive for the Dail’s first session of the new year literally moments ago.
