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ENDA KENNY HAS turned down the opportunity to avail of extra security in the wake of the recent anti-water charges protests against ministers and the President.
In a rare appearance before an Oireachtas committee, the Taoiseach said he did not feel that extra personal security is necessary.
There have been concerns expressed about the security of senior political figures in the wake of the infamous protests in Jobstown last November where the Tánaiste was held in her car for over two hours and verbally abused.
In recent months there have also been protests outside some ministers’ homes and the President was recently subjected to abuse when leaving an event in north Dublin.
Kenny said that he was concerned at the “disgraceful behaviour” of some protesters who disrupted Michael D Higgins’s visit to Colaiste Eoin in Finglas last month.
“I consider that to be disgraceful behaviour and I admire the President for the courage and method in which he dealt with that,” he said.
Kenny said that security was a matter for the President’s office to discuss with An Garda Síochána but said that he would assume that it would be provided if requested.
In relation to his own situation, Kenny told the Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming that he did not feel that extra security was necessary in his case, despite gardaí being “more than anxious” to provide it.
“I’m the kind of person who’s out and about a lot and similar facilities that have been provided over the years have not been provided in this case,” he said.
“I didn’t feel they were necessary and I don’t think they’re necessary now either.”
He said that extra security was available for him if required.
Kenny was appearing before the Oireachtas select-sub committee on the Department of the Taoiseach to discuss his department’s budget for 2015.
He said that the Department of the Taoiseach would be deploying increased resources to deal with the implications of the potential exit of Britain from the EU, but did not disclose specifics.
Ahead of the 1916 Rising commemorations, Kenny said the main centenary commemoration next year which will take place at the GPO on Easter Sunday, 27 March.
In addition, Kenny said his department held 58 Government meetings and 76 Cabinet Committee meetings in 2014.
It also produced 952 Government Memorandums, 20,000 pieces of correspondence, answered 805 parliamentary questions, and responded to 173 Freedom of Information requests.
Just got the highest electricity bill since the start of the inflation, though usage lower than year before.
@GoodBrother: Haven’t used any Gas since February yet the standing charge may aswell say i was …disgraceful
@Trent: Roughly a euro per day. No usage and still the bill is €60+. Before C-19 my gas bill used to be about €45 – 50 all in.
@GoodBrother: Really. Inflation has been creeping up for well over a year now, nearly 2. Unless you used zero electricity until this bill, or were locked into a really low tariff for almost 2 years, then I do not believe this is your highest bill since inflation started to rise.
@GoodBrother: I got probably one of my lowest one,since the smart meter went in my bills are going down,I can see what is driving my bill.
We are now the most expensive country in Europe to live in. I never imagined we’d be more pricey than Switzerland or Norway. Thank you, FFG. Also on track to become the most obese.14 million each day for our national debt of $250 billion. Third-world heat care systems. the capital’s inner city is rife with violence and drugs. As a country, we are regressing.
Worked hard all my life as a chef to save enough for my own buisness watching it all dwindled away look after there own big hotels cashing in a fortune on migrants while the small tourists buisness get a slap on the face .
There is no end to being RIP of Ireland
@Paul Maguire: unless you are a dole merchant, then you get everything paid for ,
@James Moylan: Said the Kerry man to the bull.
Stop voting FF/FG ye thick muppets, let SF in, we need a change..but in all fairness this open door my documents, come in my friends has to stop. I was walking around Ennis, Co Clare the other, For a bit I thought I was in the suburbs of Mogadishu, only the rip off cost of a pint and newspaper brought me back to drizzleville.
@will o bdee: The shiners will be the same, they will be forced to stay in line, easy to promise the Earth in opposition, but it will either be business as usual or populist policies will lead to medium to long term problems. either way, I cannot see it SF doing any better than the current shower of tool bags.
Mortgage through the roof. Extra 600 a month meant pulling kids outa 3rd level education…
@Monty Carlow: Go on the dole and get mortgage paid by state, medical card, plus many more perks including grants for third level etc. etc.
@paulinlavally@gmail.com: It was the Bankers and Developers that collapsed the Irish economy.
Greed rife at the moment. Could list crisis after crisis but I can’t be bothered
But yeah it was the guy on the dole.
Look up lad.
@Monty Carlow: get them to learn Ukrainian or Arabic ,free everything from then on
@Monty Carlow: do a deal with the bank and keep your kids in 3rd level. Education is the key to a decent job
@Monty Carlow: Must be a big mortgage,mine is going up €38 a month in September,hope you’re kids are working to help with college.
@Monty Carlow: go to the docks near customs during the night,row out some,rip up you’re passport row in early morning,say you’ve amnesia or lost you’re passport rowing,they’re lost on flights available when they’re boarding, lost when landing it’s amazing in a completely sealed aircraft how it can happen shouldn’t be hard to understand in a boat I’d imagine…
In who’s opinion? absolute rubbish,it’s through the roof and slowly but surely rising in different segments be it food, electricity and fuel which will again increase in october,perfect timing when kids go back to school and cold weather kicks in and people need heating oil which they’ve been putting off keeping they’re heads above water at present and we might get help with more money from government, what money? it’s all going up again they’ve said it already the payment won’t outway the cost to the average person we lose again.
Tighten your belts. Store tins of beans. This is the peak.
That’s complete media tripe. Are you trying to feed people carrots on sticks
Buy less
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