Taoiseach denies napping on the job
Mr Kenny appeared to have nodded off during an hour-and-a-half-long event marking the creation of 100 jobs at the Amgen Ireland plant in Dún Laoghaire at lunchtime yesterday.
But when challenged on whether he had been dozing in front of a room full of executives, enterprise chiefs, politicians, and staff from the US company, the Taoiseach dismissed the suggestion.
“I am reflecting deeply on the thoughts being put out,” he said.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, who joined the Taoiseach to support the announcement, also leapt to his defence.
“I have never caught him asleep anyway,” said Mr Gilmore.
The Taoiseach had been keeping a packed diary throughout the day beginning with a meeting with Oireachtas members at 6.50am
He followed that with a two-hour engagement at the Oireachtas sub-committee on the referendum on the fiscal stability treaty, where he was grilled from 9.30am to 11.30am over the Government’s stance on the European deal.
Mr Kenny travelled straight to the midday jobs announcement in Dún Laoghaire, and immediately afterwards set off to inspect Fine Gael’s posters promoting a yes vote in the EU treaty referendum as they rolled off the presses at The Printed Image in Fonthill, west Dublin.
And the busy day of engagements continued as he braved the elements and met winners at the Punchestown national hunt festival in Kildare.
The 61-year-old Taoiseach has always led a busy and active life.
He is the Father of the Dáil — the longest-serving member of the Dáil — having entered the House when he was 24.
Mr Kenny has climbed Croagh Patrick more than 100 times as well as Mount Kilimanjaro for charity. He also likes to cycle.
There are plans for the Taoiseach to join Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni on the Reek in Mayo for a hike ahead of Euro 2012.
The US company announced a $200m (€151m) investment at its Dún Laoghaire facility, supported by the Government through IDA Ireland.
Mr Kenny said the expansion, which will include a 11,700sq m extension and major refurbishment, could create anadditional 350 jobs in construction.
The pharma giant, which bought out the former Pfizer plant last year, already employs 280.
