Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ENDA KENNY GAVE a rare one-on-one interview to Pat Kenny on Newstalk this morning and it’s fair to say they covered a lot of ground.
The Taoiseach was in the Newstalk studios to talk about matters of the day as well as questions about the future ahead of the expected general election in just over a year.
We counted at least 12 topics that were covered. Here’s some of what Enda had to say…
On Michelle Mulherin…
Kenny shares a constituency with Mulherin, whose office was the subject of a suspected arson attack last night. Kenny said he was “appalled” by what had happened and added that there was no case for “firebombing the constituency office of any deputy”.
On Michael D Higgins…
Kenny said that the abuse of the President as he left an event in Finglas last week was disgraceful.
“I can’t lay blame on any party here but this kind of carry-on has to deplored,” he said.
He also had a sly dig at Socialist TD Paul Murphy’s comments about the incident, saying there were “not in keeping with democracy”.
On Aer Lingus
Kenny said he couldn’t comment, but added:
On the new mortgage rules
Despite the Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan broadly appearing to get his way on new lending rules, Kenny said that they “strike the right balance”.
“I never again want to see a situation where young couples are led down the road of walking into the trap of negative equity,” he said.
On insolvency practitioners…
Kenny claimed that banks are in some cases not engaging with insolvency practitioners, some of whom he plans to meet today.
He said that people needed to engage with banks otherwise issues would “not be sorted out”.
On getting back the money we ploughed into the banks…
The Taoiseach stuck to the usual line here about hoping to get back the money from the likes of AIB, while not definitely ruling out retroactive recapitalisation from Europe – although not exactly talking it up either. He did note that the money that went into Anglo Irish is “dead money”.
On Greece
Kenny thinks that a debt write down or write-off would be “very difficult” for Greece to achieve but said the best approach was for the new government to engage with the European Council.
He said that “the theory” was that the €350m that Ireland lent to Greece as part of its bailout programme would be paid back by the country.
On USC and tax cuts
Kenny wants to have 500,000 people taken out of Universal Social Charge in the next Budget. A few times he referred to speaking to people who’d lauded the tax changes in the last budget.
“Somebody said to me this morning they get back €35 ever fortnight, which is a great boost to them,” he told Kenny.
On Michael Noonan
He’s “a realist”, according to Kenny. Good to know.
On the IMF
The Taoiseach agreed “absolutely” with Kenny’s assertion that the International Monetary Fund, which published its latest assessment yesterday, should “butt out”.
On same-sex marriage referendum
Kenny said he intends to campaign strongly for the passage of May’s referendum and said all the issues related to children would be resolved in the forthcoming Children and Family Relationships Bill.
He said: “If two people love each other, that’s the issue, it’s about equality, dignity and respect.”
On Leo Varadkar coming out
Kenny said he “had a sense” that Varadkar was gay and said that it was “great” that he and party colleague Jerry Buttimer could be open and public about their sexuality.
“They’re free and easy to do so,” he added.
On jobs
Kenny said that the creation of more of them is “the way to excitement”. Exciting.
On Fianna Fáil
The Taoiseach firmly ruled out coalition with the main opposition party, for now anyway. He said he saw “no circumstances” in which it “should be returned to government” before launching into his usual critique of them for having “wrecked the country”.
On the government’s popularity
Kenny was fairly confident that as the year progresses that people would focus on “what is happening here”.
“I think the government will pick up support as it goes through year because the people will see the benefits of sacrifices made.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Who the hell gets € 35 extra every 2 weeks must be on great wages. I’m on the average so called wage and I’m up about €3 per week
Which they’re demanding back via charging you twice for your water.
i heard they were charging for it nine times…. :D
You would need to be on over €100k to get €35 every 2 weeks, there the only people he speaks to
Exactly, Anthony. Im on the average industrial wage, im €33 a month better off. Just compared pay slips there. to be getting €70 a month more would mean the person is much better paid.
Friend of mine who’s a secondary school teacher told me he’s up €40
A friend of mine said to me only this morning that our Taoiseach is a gobdaw who doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.
@ Darren. Is that per week? Whats his annual salary?
A month Darren I’d say as public servants only get paid by the month!! Great can’t wait to see my pay now
Pat Kenny is not on the side of any working class people, he may as well have been questioning his twin, Enda Kenny says someone told him , who the fcuk is he kidding.
@ Anthony Whelan.. I’m up €3 too… we must be the poorest paid
Here’s a brainworm for ye …..Blame Enda he put it in my head with that ridiculous sthreeas
To the tune of the Killers
“Smile like an eejit ”
Thanks for the laugh Enda !
Civil and public servants are paid forthnightly. All of them, right to the top! They don’t wait a momth…oh, and the older ones get bank time to cash their cheques!
Red thumb if ye think Mario’s smile is more false than Enda ‘s …..
Green Thumb for Enda ..
Apologies but due to the restrictions of only green and red thumbs I cannot afford you an opinion if you disagree with my contention …..
This is “controlling the narrative” explained to you – The cornerstone of divide and conquer !
Pat Kennys father was a much more genuine man!! Old Jom was the elephant keeper ay yhe zoo. A real honest gent!!
what is a man what has he got ? if not his script then he is not
Is that 40 a year?
Yep just got this month’s payslip 3.63 a week better off. No idea who end as talking to.
#CMac59 most public servants inc Doctors Nurses and admin staff get paid monthly!!
Many of he bottom grades in the public service are paid weekly. Also, bank time was done away with years ago for ALL public servants.
Yip. Pat Kenny…friend of the people snd (attempted) landgrabber. One overpaid out of touch presenter talking to an overpaid out of touch taoiseach..
.
Now, who’s a majority shareholder in Communicorp – who just happens to own Newstalk? Would it be Denis O’Brien by any chance?
Now, why would Enda give one of his only interviews to a media outlet owned by Denis O’Brien? It’s hardly going to be a searching interview now is it?
DOBBY is looking after his Precious and we all think we have some clue as to what’s really going on in this Country? Da inside track boy! Keep em close!!
Pre scripted wishy washy BS!
would people prefer watching jorry adams failing miserably at basic addition?
Realgael (not brave enough to give real name) needs to learn to spell!
Missed Enda Kenny finally coming out don’t see anything on water did he miss the point ?
Water charges were covered in the interview.
‘Interview’?? Don’t make me laugh.
Infomercial for FGs reelection campaign being given airtime on a FG donors radio station, nothing more.
covering 12 topic in one interview is testament to the amount of work enda gets through :)
meanwhile baron adams is still frantically looking for his mysterious 8 cents :D
More tripe from Hugh
I’d rather he cover one topic and be asked the tough questions on it than rattle through a blatantly pre prepared q+a session.
you are merely looking for entertainment. the rest of society wants information and enda gave us plenty on lots of important matters. you shinnerbots couldn’t care less about the country you seem to think that an interview is supposed to be some sort of test or examination when it is anything but. enda was fantastic as always and you shinnerbots are just going to have to deal with it :D
Realgael wipe that brown smear from round your mouth
Does anyone know who owns and runs Newstalk…I wonder. Pat Kenny sure he is not bias at all. They say children have great senses and they don’t like him. Enda your New PR is not what people want its simple just listen and obay.
Kenny doing a interview is as rare as a Minister coming out
There must be an election planned
This was a propaganda exercise, would be more to the point to appear on VBs programme
Why doesn’t Hugh just admit he’s a member of Fine Gael then we might take his articles more seriously.
Were jammin, you clearly have been upset by this interview. I suppose it goes in the face of your contention that Enda doesn’t do interviews.
Although I do agree that a one topic interview with tough questions is a good idea. I would like to see Mr Adams do such an interview on the Mairia Cahill topic.
He’s very astute!! He knew Leo was gay. Jeez. He’s wasted as leader of this country,he should be doing a show on clairvoyance
I’m personally not interested in that topic,Paul . What’s your interest in it ?
Thanks for taking down my comment hugh.Truth hurts I know.Pathetic.
@ Paul.. Why doesn’t Edna let VB interview him? He’s a coward that wouldn’t be let get away with soft questions like this morning that’s for sure!
Real Gael, he covered a lot but with little content.
Paul. That wasn’t an interview. It was a rehearse radio broadcast. I’m surprised he even bothers turning up , he could have just recorded his answer at home and posted them in, I’m not sure if he even actually answered any questions.
is it a coincidence that Marconi house(today fm and newstalk) and the building where the journo and adverts.ie are located, are right beside each other, I wonder does denis have a lift to himself like he does in grand canal? or does he just let his favourites (yes hugh) use it when he away tax evading
Had to turn it off mid way..the amount of lick arsen goin on was making my stomach turn..
Less of an interview, more of a tightly managed PR exercise, prearranged questions no probing or follow ups.
Kenny`s handlers wouldn`t agree to let him loose without strict conditions imposed on `friendly` media outlets , like the coalition supporting Denis O`Brien radio stations and newspapers.
^ I tried hard to listen but “there now follows a party political broadcast on behalf of the fg party” is all I could hear
Asked about Mulherin, doesn’t say anything about the actual issue. Asked about MDH, doesn’t say anything about the reasoning behind the verbal attack. I stop reading this nonsense after that….
do you think many read your nonsense?
Realgael, you obviously read it to respond to it.
One ass did and even replied to it….
Can’t stand either of these A$$ HOLES!
“People needed to engage with the banks” Enough said.
It was interesting to hear from the leader of the Nasty Party after such a long time since facing his public.
It was clear from the manner of the interview that certain preconditions had been agreed before hand. Sounds like the election campaigning is well and truely underway.
Jesus, kenny talking about a TD ‘not keeping with democracy’ is like Quazimodo talking about you not standing up straight.
Love how, all of a sudden, the prom notes are ‘dead money’….since he converted them into Sovereign debt of course, and the gamechanging seismic shift is now merely ‘not definitely being ruled out’ (even though FG issued a bulletin over the christmas stating they were no longer pursuing it.
he did speak very well didn’t he :)
Well for a FG leader, appearing on a station owned by a FG man, being interviewed by FGs kinda guy, I will say that it was the best scripted performance by two wooden puppets I’ve seen since the punch and judy show in my local community centre.
thats a lot of coulda woulda shoulda even for a shinnerbot, I’m impressed :D
your logic is on par with baron adams addition :D
covering 12 topics in one interview, poor baron adams can’t even count to 12 :D
You’d swear they threw that petrol bomb themselves last night to take up 10 mins of the interview and get the sympathy vote, but sure that would never happen….
Lol Were Jamming
So that’s what Enda Kenny looks like , havnt seen him do debates before … I must be dreaming
The Bland interviewing the political bankrupt
Liam dont insult bland people! ;)
He forgot to ask him about how it feels to be the biggest RAT FACED TW*T in Ireland
How did it go in Davis? Any good tip offs from the rich on how to keep on robbing the poor?
your good for a laugh if nothing else :D
Davis? Was he playing a bit of snooker?
Asked bout FF, but WHAT IF the people’s vote shows they want them. What then Mr Kenny? Funny he will go on a private station owned by FG biggest backers but not on national station?
I might be a little pessimistic here but I don’t think the national broadcaster would do a great deal differently. Besides, you in all likelihood would get an answer like “The economic circumstances at present are highly irregular……….”.
Success in politics 101: If in doubt, talk waffle until the original question is forgotten.
Wayne be absolutely assured of one thing..if it’s in Edna’s to be in government with the choirboy from Ballinlough then he will. FG/FF are political wh@res and will jump into bed with anyone as long as it puts them in power.
Spineless Coward and traitor thats all little Enda is
Of course he went on Pat Kenny!! Doesn’t Denis the menace own the station as well as Enda?
Sound Bites! He more than likely, was given a list beforehand, ( ie yesterday, or last week), on what Pat would quiz him on.He has definitely had some communication training, over the last while, so why not, a live debate!
Did not hear it ….. he must have had time on the plane back from Davos to memorise his script!
Hey Kenny, have a look at this and then come back to me about being a leader…
http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_why_good_leaders_make_you_feel_safe?language=en
Im sure he will be right back to you :D
Realgael. You really are the definitive troll are’nt ye? You’ve had an answer to nearly everyone’s post here dissing your beloved leader. Trying to dominate this forum. How many hours are ye going to keep this up?
You don’t want to make him angry realgael. You won’t like him when he’s angry.
I’m not holding my breath realgael but I’m sure some of the clowns from his circus will be around to me sometime in the next year or so.
Just out of interest – do you actually get paid for this constant commenting stupidity or are you just bored with nothing else to do with your time???
I wonder would inda do an interview with the likes of John Snow from C4, Or the lad from the BBC who interviewed calamity coughlan.
No pre scripted questions or handlers allowed near by,Ah sure if inda was stuck on a answer today he could have popped down to Anton for help.
Nothing about Sinn Fein. Is Enda Kenny finally coming to terms that he is in trouble with them? Nothing about the water or homeless.
polls suggest otherwise :D
Kenny says the creation to more jobs is excitement??? Am I missing something? This is what a 4 year old might say!! Grow up Kenny, my god, have we no leadership or statesman or woman that can replace this idiot as a matter of urgency. Imagine being at home, having lost your job, listening to this idiot, you’d soon realise there is no hope of jobs with him leading the sinking ship.
The creation of more jobs is the way to excitement?? Sorry for posting again, Im sick with embarrassment that this is the leader of our country talking. Enough is enough!
When Kenny gives a no holds barred interview to an unbiased interviewer we’ll see what he’s really made of.
Don’t hold your breath though, he’ll spend his remaining time in office ducking and diving just as he has up to now. The man’s an embarrassment.
Enda Kenny on same-sex marriage referendum “This is a straight question.”
I LOL’d at this
Enda could fix USC shortfall and balance property rights in one go.
Put heavier tax burdens on multiple property tax owners. Irish landlords and banks evicted and emigrated more than the English ever did.
As it is young Irish couples will never own a property in Dublin. Finally stop allowing a commercial company like Daft.ie be the spokesperson for property prices. Their only interest is increased commission on increased sales value so they constantly use scare tactics.
“That’s a straight question”…the irony!
He spoke very well. the begrudgers aint gonna like this :D
Of course he did. Knobenda will not commit to any interview without approving the questions first! (State TV and all that).
he was fantastic alright :)
Sure ’tis easy for anyone, even me, to speak well when it’s been through about a dozen script writers
LOL, “He spoke very well”…
Anyone can “speak well” when the interviewer is reading questions from a list compiled and handed to him beforehand, with the answers already scripted by overpaid “advisors”, he fudged a number of answers/completely ingnored them, or just skirted around the edges without giving concrete answers. – ESPECIALLY the one on chasing the monies from the ECB, you know, the one he PROMISED he would .
I nearly puked listening to his nasally voice, and constant inhalation through a nostril that is still obviously blocked with brown stuff from Merkels A-hole.
Have a nice day in your FG office no realgael .
i heard it was 4 million script writers…. see i can make up numbers too :)
Realfael, hou KNOW your rotten spinless corrupt party of thieves is finished for generations after the next election, feels great just thinking of it.
Gus, I think RealGael is a Fine Gael supporter not a Sinn Fein supporter.
He has never spoken well in his life useless spineless stuttering muppet
The traitorous buffoon doesn’t have the balls or the brains to be interviewed by an unbiased reporter…. he’s a useless bag of sh!!!!t
Easy to see we are on election footing when Enda is actually doing live interviews
I really fear for democracy in this country. The left-wing parties have no respect for due process or democratic mandate. Attempting to impede the free passage of and roaring abuse at the democratically elected Head of State of this country and fire-bombing the offices of democratically elected public representatives. If you disagree with these people, don’t vote for them at the next election. We live in a democracy, let’s try to maintain it.
That’s a fairly broad brush your swinging there.
The problem is Gavin that we no longer live in a Democracy. I dont like violence but I can definitely understand why people are frustrated and angry.
Gavin, you are 100% correct! The difficulty for many people however is that whist they aspire towards the ideal of democracy, the problem with this country’s political choice is that it is like walking into a dirty restaurant that serves very bad food and regardless of what you order from the menue, you know it will make you ill.
Triggers brush
there was no mention of Irish water that i can see during this interview? did either kenny even mention this hot potato????? its one of the most important issues this country faces at the moment as well as the health service which i also didnt see mentioned. PR Garbage. face a real interviewer like vinnie b u coward ..
Blind leading the blind, all the FG party should me be tried as nazi sympathisers
They are, as they support the Ukraine government?
Yep definitly, a well scripted interview there
Ah bless!! Having a nice chat with Pat!! Edna is afraid, very afraid of Vincent Browne though!! Real questions being asked on behalf of real people wanting real answers not Edna’s usual old guff and plamas!!
and we are classed the same as romania enda
A set piece. Let Kenny go before Vincent Browne! But no, he gets an easy gig with a bought and paid for broadcaster.
I met a man who told me Denis o Brien wants all his media outlets to be kind to FG. What a boring soft interview, not one challenging question about the garda commissioner and Mr Shatter – we are living in a pravda controlled media state.
Pat Kenny is at newstalk now?!
Good interview. Honest and direct answers. Refreshing!
Mr rehab,answer no questions flannery was behind him whispering what to say,that’s how he got through it
Pat Kenny is a blue shirt hardly an exercise in objectivity
Someone should have stuck the microphone up his… as he talks through it a lot of the time?
I left Ireland 4 years ago. There were no jobs and a huge debt that FF saddled the country with. Now people saying that this govt are screwing everybody etc. No they are make corrections to mistakes that shouldn’t have been made in the first place. Look how much social welfare was. Look at all the ‘benefits’ people claimed. These were election tools used in the boom times by a wasteful FF which led to crippling overspending coupled with a lack of simple foresight to see there won’t always be a boom. Not to mention the corruption and sheer disregard for the people who voted them in. Anyone remember the Anglo tapes? The blanket bank guarantee that crippled us? Corruption and all the houses being thrown up with little or no regulation? Now many things have not been handled well by this govt but nobody with an ounce of sense can say that they haven’t stabilized the country.
have your say