Kenny to make state-of-the-nation speech

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is expected to make a broadcast speech on Sunday evening to mark Ireland’s exit from the bailout.

Mr Kenny is understood to be preparing the state-of-the-nation style address to mark the day the State officially exits the EU-IMF assistance programme.

Sunday’s address will be the second time Mr Kenny has made a televised broadcast, following a similar broadcast during his first year in office.

Meanwhile, the vexed issue of health spending featured at the meeting of the Cabinet yesterday.

The gross overspend in the Government’s health budget for this year was over €351 million but this figure has been reduced to less than €200 million by additional cuts.

Ministers yesterday approved the supplementary budget for the Department of Health this year which will see an additional €199 million being made available by the Department of Public Expenditure. Savings of €50 million in the capital budget as well as €82 million were found in the budget to bring that total down to €219 million.

A further €20 million was found in the Department’s own budget from administration, agency payments and from timing issues around compensation payment.