Results 2,101-2,120 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- Seanad: Electoral Register: Motion. (10 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: The proposers of the motion are well aware that the measures they are proposing are unrealistic in the short term. The Minister, Deputy Roche, has set out a programme of action which matches the timescale between now and November next when the new draft register is due to be published. The Minister's statement makes it clear that the Government is acting in this regard. I will deal briefly...
- Seanad: Electoral Register: Motion. (10 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: This is what we need to address between now and next November.
- Seanad: Electoral Register: Motion. (10 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: What the Deputy's party is putting forward would not solve anything by next June. The priority should be to concentrate on what can be achieved in the short term. After that we can discuss longer-term issues. If politicians are experts at anything, they are experts on the electoral system. We might have more in common with each other here than we have differences. We should deal with the...
- Seanad: Electoral Register: Motion. (10 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: It is not practical in the short term. It is a fine theoretical proposal, but that is not sufficient. We are trying to get the register up-to-date for next year. At one time, we did this ourselves.
- Seanad: Electoral Register: Motion. (10 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: The task of compiling the register has become more difficult as a result of the rapid population growth, increased personal mobility, growing numbers of gated apartment complexes and increased rates of new household formation and so on. These are all challenges and many of the difficulties were made known to people during the recent census. Problems with voting registers are not new. They...
- Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (11 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: The following tabular statement gives details of the combined capital allocation for disabled persons and essential repairs grants notified to each local authority, and the combined expenditure on the schemes in 2005 by each local authority. Of the total expenditure of â¬64,643,589, â¬60,208,147 was in respect of disabled persons and essential repairs grants for private dwellings and...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: Ten regional drugs task forces have been established in areas not covered by local drugs task forces. Thus, all parts of the country are now serviced by a drugs task force. The overall role of the regional drugs task forces is to prepare and implement regional action plans that identify existing and emerging gaps in services relating to education and prevention, curbing supply, treatment and...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: No, the purpose of task forces, both regional and local, is to analyse the situation. They are not starting from square one, and are rather investigating gaps in services. Other agencies, including the HSE, for example, have always provided services. The purpose of regional drugs task forces is to analyse problems and investigate if gaps exist. They put plans forward, and these plans amounted...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: I apologise if I have come across as too calm.
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: Our job was to set the task forces up, which we did. They all consist of a group representing the various interests. We had to get the plans in and assessed, and then provide funding. That is all done.
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: It was slow initially. I am not behind the issue now, and it is for the task forces themselves to act. They have submitted the plans and we have provided funding. The driving force should now be at the regional drugs task force level. Of the â¬5 million provided, about â¬1.3 has been pulled down as of the middle of May. The process is happening, but some task forces are better than others....
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: In principle I welcome the use of moneys seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau for drug prevention and drug treatment programmes. This idea has been explored by my officials. However, the critical issue is the level of overall funding made available for the implementation of the national drugs strategy and in that regard, I am fully satisfied with the amount of â¬43 million made available...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: While I note the Deputy's comments, money collected by the Criminal Assets Bureau is not available to anybody.
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: Yes, after seven years. The Criminal Assets Bureau was only established about eight years ago.
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: As these moneys are ring-fenced for seven years, only a small amount has become available to the Exchequer in the past 12 months or thereabouts. While it would be fine if more CAB money were to come our way, I am more concerned about the overall amount of money available for drug treatment, rather than its origins. The Deputy referred to a figure of â¬43 million available for community...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: Of approximately 8,000 people on methadone, about 450 are located outside Dublin. A country in which half of heroin users are on methadone is doing damn well by international standards. As I indicated, however, funding in this area is a matter for the Health Service Executive. Waiting lists are increasing in towns outside Dublin, particularly in Leinster, because services are being provided...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: I presume the Aisling group submitted an application for funding, features in the regional plan and is drawing down the money allocated to it.
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: Has the group drawn down the funding? Is it seeking further funding?
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: As I indicated, the regional drug task forces were established and later submitted plans which were approved. The Deputy should not blame me if the task forces did not seek adequate funding. They cannot put their plans into place on one day. It takes time and some of them are moving quicker than others. Overall, approximately â¬70 million per annum is being spent on programmes which started...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 May 2006)
Noel Ahern: While I am not aware of the comments outlined concerning a spread of the drugs trade to provincial towns and such views were not included in his formal speech, it may well be that the Garda Commissioner made such comments in the course of the AGSI conference. While the drugs trade may be more pronounced in cities, I accept it is unrealistic to think it would be confined to the largest centres...