Tag Archives: Enda Kenny

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Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dáil yesterday

Further to yesterday’s post on Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s misleading comments about the 8th amendment in the Dáil, and the subsequent call from the group TFMR Ireland (Termination for Medical Reasons) for him to correct the Dáil record…

Ellen Coyne, in The Times Ireland edition today, reports:

Ruth Coppinger, the socialist TD for Dublin West, had tried to correct Mr Kenny after he made his comments in the Dail.

“Nobody in 33 years has ever had a vote on the Eighth Amendment, and the taoiseach either doesn’t know that or deliberately gave the impression that they had,” Ms Coppinger said.

“When people were given the opportunity in 1992 and 2002 to vote to make abortion even more restrictive, they rejected it. The taoiseach is completely incorrect, people do not want to keep the Eighth Amendment.”

...The Department of the Taoiseach did not respond to requests for a comment.

Activists tell Kenny to correct abortion claim (Ellen Coyne, The Times)

Previously: ‘The People Decided To Keep That Reference In The Constitution’

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Yesterday.

In the Dáil.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was asked by Anti-Austerity Alliance – People Before Profit TDs Ruth Coppinger and Brid Smith about the Goverment’s plans to hold a citizen’s assembly on the 8th amendment.

This happened:

Enda Kenny: “The fact of the matter is that in 1983, the 8th amendment was introduced into the Bunreacht na hEireann, the Irish constitution, by the Irish people. And that was guarantee to the right to life of the unborn. There were three referenda after that. And, in each case, in each of those referenda, by the people, not just by any parties, the people decided to keep that reference in the constitution.”

Ruth Coppinger: “Sorry, Ceann Comhairle, that’s completely. The people did not vote on the eighth amendment subsequently. They voted on side issues including information..”

Ceann Comhairle: “Will you let the Taoiseach answer, please.”

Further to this, the group Terminations For Medical Reasons (TFMR) has written an open letter to the Taoiseach, stating:

We in TFMR Ireland found it absolutely appalling that you deliberately mislead the Dail, the Oireachtas and the people of Ireland yesterday when in Dáil Éireann you made the following statement in relation to the 8th Amendment to the Constitution: –

“The fact of the matter is… there were three referenda after that and in each case, in each of those referenda by the people, not just by any parties, the people decided to keep that reference in the Constitution.”

This was a false statement and one which we believe was intended to deceive the Dáil, the Oireachtas, the people of Ireland and the watching world into believing that the Irish people have had three opportunities to determine whether or not to retain the 8th Amendment.

We would like to point out to you, Taoiseach, that the fact of the matter is that on no occasion since 1983 has any such choice been put to us.

…The people of Ireland have never had an opportunity to Repeal the 8th and could not therefore have, on three occasions “decided to keep that reference in the Constitution.”

You, Taoiseach, were a fervent advocate for the insertion of the 8th back in 1983 and have been complicit in the abuse of thousands of women in Ireland in the intervening period by continuing to deny them their Human Rights, as have been established by numerous International Human Rights bodies.

We are calling upon you to immediately correct the false statement you made in our Dail yesterday…

Open letter from TFMR to Taoiseach to correct false statement or resign (TFMR, Facebook)

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Yesterday.

During Leaders’ Questions, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams raised Project Eagle and the Government’s refusal to launch a Commission of Investigation into the sale of Nama’s northern Ireland loan book, known as Project Eagle.

Mr Adams came after the British National Crime Agency arrested two men as part of its investigation into the sale.

The two men were arrested in Co Down on suspicion of fraud offences and have since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

From yesterday’s debate…

Gerry Adams: “I understand the British National Crime Agency has arrested two people today as part of its investigation into NAMA’s Northern loan book, known as Project Eagle. For years now Sinn Féin and others have raised concerns about the sale of NAMA’s loan books, including the sale and purchase process for its Northern loan book. The Taoiseach and the former Tánaiste, Deputy Joan Burton, have accused the Opposition of conflating the matter. Deputy Joan Burton described it as just a “Northern tale”. I put it to the Taoiseach that it is actually a national scandal and a disgrace.”

“The sale and purchase process for NAMA’s Northern loan book has been the subject of serious allegations. It has been alleged that, as part of a cosy cartel that was in operation, insider trading took place, that payments were made to a golden circle and that illegal fixer fees were paid. This was brought to the attention of NAMA by a potential US bidder, Pimco. NAMA previously claimed that its Northern advisory committee was not privy to confidential information on the sale, but it has since been disclosed that the committee discussed potential purchasers on at least two occasions before the loan book was sold at a huge loss to Irish taxpayers.”

“There are investigations in the North by the National Crime Agency, NCA, the law society and revenue. There was an Assembly inquiry which found the Government’s approach very unhelpful. There are also investigations in the USA by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the FBI and other authorities. However, there is no investigation here. In this State, the Minister for Finance, the Government and NAMA have closed ranks.”

“The chairman of NAMA, Mr. Frank Daly, said he briefed the Minister in full, including on the scandal of a fixer fee of £15 million sterling, which is totally irregular and illegal. Despite this, the Minister failed to suspend the Project Eagle sale process or to inform the office of the First Minister or Deputy First Minister. The Assembly inquiry noted this failure with regret. This is a public interest matter, which must be fully investigated.”

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: “Get to the question please, Deputy.”

Adams: “Tá mé beagnach críochnaithe anois, a Cheann Comhairle. It must be fully investigated to get to the bottom of allegations of wrongdoing and cosy cartels which have cost the citizens of this State millions of euro. Does the Taoiseach not believe it is time for the Minister for Finance to make a full statement on all of these matters to the Dáil?”

Enda Kenny: “The Minister has made a full statement already and there has been quite a deal of discussion at the various Oireachtas committees on the question on NAMA. NAMA personnel at the highest level have responded and given much time on different occasions to discuss these matters.”

“If two people have been arrested, they have been arrested on suspicion of particular charges and I expect that the court system in the jurisdiction in which they were arrested will follow through on arresting them in the first instance. Obviously, it is not for me to comment on the court system of a different jurisdiction. If they have been arrested, I assume that it is for good reason in respect of activities that would be outside the law. I trust that this will see itself through that process and be judged before the courts.”

Peadar Tóibín: “Assumptions.”

Adams: “The Minister for Finance has not made a full statement to the Dáil. It is not just Sinn Féin which has these issues. Others have raised these issues consistently and in a very detailed way. It is impossible to get information from any of the Ministers on issues as serious as this one. The Taoiseach refused to establish a commission of investigation. NAMA is an arm of the State. It is dealing with the people’s money. NAMA is not accountable but it should be. It should command public trust and confidence in the business of securing the best possible value for Irish taxpayers and I, for one, have no confidence that it has done this.”

“I have seen this happen to the Taoiseach in that every so often an issue comes up but for all of his cleverness and skills as a politician, he is like a rabbit caught in headlights. This is a huge issue. There needs to be transparency, confidence and accountability. Why not depoliticise it? Why not simply open it up to those of us in the Oireachtas?”

“The people have suffered grievously because of the kinds of activities involved in selling off what were the people’s assets. Given the mounting public concern across the island, will the Taoiseach now commit to establishing a commission of investigation into the sale of Project Eagle?”

Kenny: “No, I will not. There has not been any allegation of wrongdoing against NAMA.”

Tóibín: “Incompetence.”

Kenny: “The Deputy informs me that two people have been arrested. I assume they have been arrested for good reason. Representatives of NAMA have appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts and have given very lengthy statements. They have been crystal clear and that from their perspective, there is no allegation of wrongdoing against NAMA. NAMA has done nothing wrong. It has been completely in compliance with the law and the conditions it was set up under. Coming in and asking for another commission of investigation about this is not the way forward. There is no allegation of wrongdoing against NAMA and at the highest level—–”

Tóibín: “There is an allegation of incompetence.”

Adams: “There was a fixer fee of £15 million.”

Simon Harris: “Not by NAMA.”

Kenny: “Representatives of NAMA have appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts and have given their statements and answered questions at length on all of these issues, and more than once.”

Transcript via Kildarestreet.com

Meanwhile…

Hmmm.

Previously: Spotlight Falls On Noonan

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In the Dáil this afternoon.

enda

Taoiseach Enda Kenny plays tragic air guitar during Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s concert in Croke Park.

Puuuuuce.

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https://vimeo.com/165599754

A short documentary, by Irish activist Caoimhe Butterly, filmed at the makeshift refugee camp in Idomeni last month – the camp which the Greek authorities began to evacuate yesterday.

The Border — الحدود is one of three short films directed and created by Ms Butterly.

Two more films, about the Piraeus port and Eko camp will be released soon.

Meanwhile, earlier today Taoiseach Enda Kenny fielded questions in the Dáil about his most recent European Council meetings.

The EU-Turkey deal and the humanitarian crisis regarding refugees were raised.

Readers may wish to note that a) there is video footage which seemingly shows the Turkish coastguard attempting to sink boats crossing the Aegean Sea; b) it’s generally understood that smugglers are not present on the vast majority of boats that arrive in Greece but would rather be found on the shores of Turkey; and c) concerns have been raised about the camps to which people who have been subsisting in Idomeni are being moved.

Mr Kenny said:

The real argument at the European Council was because of the endless flood of people coming from Turkey, in particular, due to its proximity to Greece. Be they from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria or elsewhere, these people have paid large amounts of money to get on inflatable rafts.

It is fine until one hears the Prime Minister saying that they are loaded onto these boats and as soon as they are out on the sea and the first ship appears, in many cases the inflatables are knifed and sunk so they end up in the water and have to be rescued. That is why there is a NATO operation under way off Turkey. It has been successful to an extent but not in the way it should be.

The reason for the European deal with Turkey in the first place was because they wanted to focus on dealing with people smugglers. One can deal with them in an effective way by patrolling offshore while being able to return people entering Europe illegally to where they came from, whereas others who have arrived in Turkey and are based in camps but who wish to be relocated to a European country have whatever the categorisation might be to say they want to be legitimately recognised as refugees or asylum seekers and they want to live and go to Europe.

Those who have paid money to people smugglers and are sent across the short distance to the Greek islands do not have the same intent, whether they are in a camp in Turkey or wherever.

In addition, Fine Gael TD David Stanton also spoke about the humanitarian crisis – after he was asked about the evacuation of the camp at Idomeni by Independents 4 Change TD Mick Wallace.

He said:

The Deputy [Mick Wallace] also referred to the closing of the refugee camp in Greece. It is my understanding that no official camp exists in Idomeni. Exploitative people smugglers have encouraged desperate asylum seekers to congregate on the Greek border with Macedonia by spreading misinformation to suggest the border crossing will soon re-open and allow them continue their journey to destination countries, including Germany and Sweden.

The Deputy pointed out that the conditions where many vulnerable women and children have gathered are unsanitary and unsafe. I understand from Greek authorities that their intention is to move asylum seekers to reception centres, where their needs, including food and medical care, may be adequately met.

Right so.

Yesterday: Meanwhile In Idomeni

Cannon Fodder

The Border – Idomeni (ROAR magazine)

Transcripts via Oireachtas.ie and Kildarestreet.com

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From top: Taoiseach Enda Kenny with US Vice President Joe Biden and actress Fiona Shaw and at the Kennedy Centre for the ‘Ireland 100’.

Last night.

The Kennedy Centre, Washington DC

The sense of event was heightened by the presence of Vice President Biden and the taoiseach of Ireland, Enda Kenny, which meant the accompanying presence of airport-style security gates that kept the glittering audience waiting in line for minutes after the scheduled 8 o’clock start. We all wish that our government leaders would come to more arts events, but when they do it is certainly a hassle for everybody.

Fiona Shaw, the actress, was a buoyant master of ceremonies who was as natural and unaffected as it may be possible to be in an evening skirt, trying to keep a touch of class in this high-end variety show and then marshaling her own talents for a recitation of Yeats’s famous “Easter, 1916” (“A terrible beauty is born”) that was unquestionably the artistic highlight of the evening….

Kennedy Center opens Irish festival with array of appetizers (Ann Midgette, Washington Post)

RollingnewsBid

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Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Castlebar earlier today to lay the foundation stone for a new swimming pool

Again.

Independent.ie reports:

Mr Kenny was speaking in Castlebar where he insisted he would only step down as Taoiseach prior to the next election.

“I’ve always said that my intention would be to serve the full term but not to lead the party into the next general election.

The Taoiseach said he was recently stopped on the street by a man who thanked him “for volunteering to run our country.”

Mr Kenny said the man had expressed his astonishment that so many people who put their names forward to be elected to Dáil Eireann do not want to have anything to do with Government and do not want to have anything to do with making decisions.

“So that’s why the responsibility is on me as leader of the largest party to put together a Government that is now in situ with the assistance and agreement of other parties in Opposition and at Government level will try to implement in the very best way we can the Programme for Government that we have set out,” he added.

Right so.

Enda Kenny dashes party rivals’ leadership hopes: I won’t step down as Taoiseach until the next election (Irish Independent)

Previously: The Man With One Point

Pic (and video): Mayo Advertiser (Facebook)