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Enda Kenny giving an address to the nation in December 2011 Screengrab via RTÉ
Bailout exit
Taoiseach could do 'State of the Nation' as ministers to mark bailout exit on Friday
Enda Kenny’s involvement in events marking Ireland’s bailout exit this weekend has not been finalised leading to suggestions he could do a ‘State of the Nation’ address.
TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY could give an address to the nation this weekend as the government plans to mark the formal exit from the EU/IMF bailout programme with a number of events on Friday.
A programme of events released to the media yesterday evening does not carry any details of arrangements for the Taoiseach.
A spokesperson said plans for Kenny have not yet been finalised and did not specifically rule out the possibility of a ‘State of the Nation’ speech to mark the bailout exit, something which had been thought unlikely just over a week ago.
Such an address would come just over two years after Kenny gave his first and only address to the nation on the eve of the coalition government’s first Budget.
Separately a range of events are planned for Friday to mark the bailout exit with significant media interest from abroad.
Among the events are briefings and interviews with Ministers and representatives from State agencies such as IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin are due to give a press conference at 10.30am.
There will also be a panel discussion with officials from both finance departments, the ESRI and the NTMA at lunchtime.
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