Results 2,061-2,080 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The 2004 annual report for my Department is being finalised and will be published shortly. The cost of the report is not yet available but the cost of the 2003 annual report was €26,981.97. One of the commitments in the Government White Paper on Better Regulation, published in 2004, was to produce guidelines on consultation for the public sector. Work on these guidelines, Reaching out —...

Freedom of Information. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. Two freedom of information requests were received in my Department during April 2005. During April 2004 four requests were received and ten requests were received during April 2003. During May 2005 two requests were received. During May 2004 one request was received and 11 requests were received in May 2003. All freedom of...

Freedom of Information. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This question arose last year and the Information Commissioner highlighted it previously in a special report on the operation of the Act, which she published. I understand the Information Commissioner is more concerned about the cost of the appeal to her office than the original fee. That is the point Deputy Kenny is making. None of the changes made affected this. The cost of an appeal is...

Freedom of Information. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Normally if there is no information, it means there is no file in the Department, not that anything is lost. If that happened, I would specifically say so, but as far as I can recall, that has not happened since the Act was introduced. On amendment of the legislation, each year the Department of Finance looks at the reports of the Information Commissioner and the interdepartmental group, and...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 25, inclusive, together. Discussions in recent weeks have focused on overall political developments in the aftermath of the British elections, with an emphasis on the centrality of the Good Friday Agreement, a complete ending of IRA paramilitary and criminal activity and capability and the continued partnership between both Governments. The Good Friday...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As far as the vacuum is concerned, in the period up to the election it was not possible to make progress and everyone reluctantly accepted that. In the past few weeks, we have been trying to regain momentum on the basis of progress. As I noted in my reply, that is based on a decision to embrace the issues which we did not succeed in completing on 8 December last year. These are the ending of...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not consider that I had any secret meetings. I am not responsible for headline writers. The content of that article was absolutely correct where I said I had a number of meetings. However, I had no secret meetings. As far as I am concerned, the meetings I have had are all on the record and are formal meetings. The fact press conferences are not held does not mean they are not formal...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will take the Deputy's questions in reverse order. On the last point, that particular meeting, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting due to be held, the meetings that have taken place on east-west arrangements, including the one that took place two weeks ago and the one held in the Isle of Man, as well as the one to take place Monday week show the number of issues and...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will try to answer all those questions. The investigations into money laundering are ongoing. The Garda Síochána is pursuing a number of lines of investigation but obviously it is not appropriate for me to give further details and quite a number of people are involved in that operation. I have had no secret meetings with Gerry Adams. I have said in the House many times that despite all...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If I ever have the power to influence them I would be very glad to avail of Deputy Rabbitte's assistance in trying to alter them.

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The issues we discussed were very straightforward and have been well rehearsed in the public domain. Deputy Rabbitte is correct that at all times I try to give an absolutely clear position as to what the Irish Government requires before we believe we can get the institutions up and running again, even though there will be many difficulties with Unionism in doing that. The issues for moving...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will start at the end. Obviously I have been endeavouring to convince Dr. Paisley that there is only one way forward. The only plan is the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the institutions created by it. That has been our consistent agenda. Deputy Ferris knows that successive Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform have been involved in all peace talks since 1991. The...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Government takes a serious view of the second report of the Morris tribunal, as it did with the first one. It is a serious concern for everyone that the Garda is properly administered and accountable. We look forward to the debate on the Morris report in the House on Friday. We accept the findings of the report and we will act upon them. Last year, following the publication of the first...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Enormous effort has gone into the Garda Síochána Bill which is on its final Stages. Those key issues all Members want addressed are provided for in the Bill. The ombudsman commission will independently investigate complaints against members of the force. This was a major issue of the second report of the Morris tribunal. Many people will argue that this provision should be in place even if...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Since the first report was published last year, the Minister and his Department have been working on the Bill and on the amendments to the Bill. The Garda Síochána Bill has been passing through the House, and Mr. Justice Morris's statements have not been ignored. If Deputy Rabbitte had been listening to me, I stated that the Minister is now bringing forward an amendment to the Bill to...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte cannot state at one point that the Government is not doing what Mr. Justice Morris recommended and then state that gardaí are retiring with their full pensions. Mr. Justice Morris himself stated in the first report, of which Deputy Rabbitte asks us to take account, that implicated gardaí should not lose their pension entitlements. In Mr. Justice Morris's opinion, that would...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The second report will be debated in the House on Friday. However, Mr. Justice Morris made it absolutely clear in the first report that he believes — I am sure the same will apply to the second report and perhaps also the third report — that to take away pension rights from people who are implicated——

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: No, I am answering the Deputy's question.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy raised the pension issue and will not——

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will return to the Deputy's other question in a minute. On the issue of pensions, Mr. Justice Morris stated that people should hold on to their pensions as to do otherwise would have serious implications for the future investigation of disciplinary matters in the force. Since the first report was published last year, the Minister has reviewed the Bill. His amendments now take into account...