Results 3,041-3,060 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I join Deputy Rabbitte in condemning the actions of an employer of some sort, who abandoned a group of Latvians on an island off Skerries at the weekend. The status of the employer in question is not quite clear from the reports I have been given, although I have received a name. The people in question were abandoned off Shenick's Island, which is half a mile from the coast of County Dublin....

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If legislation is not in place to prevent or dissuade people from engaging in any kind of abuse in any area, we should strengthen the existing provisions. Most trade unions and employers have said that the current legislation is adequate in most areas.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On summary conviction, people engaging in such abuse can face a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both. In a case of conviction on indictment, people engaging in such abuse can face a fine not exceeding €100,000 or imprisonment of up to two years.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A host of tough provisions can be used if a person is proved to have been in breach of the law in the Skerries case. The penalties in place in other areas are also quite strong. If the law needs to be strengthened, I will not have any difficulty with doing so.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that point.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I accept the Deputy's point about people working in the home. It is not covered by legislation, to the best of my knowledge.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: However, strong powers and laws exist both in regard to companies that are unionised and those which are not. Deputy Rabbitte is correct. There are not 31 inspectors in place but 31 have been approved.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I understand the reason they are not all in place is due to the difficulty in getting people to take up this kind of work. People have been interviewed for the jobs. Dealing with this end of the labour market is not seen as a very attractive profession even though the remuneration is quite good. We must deal with this issue. It is believed that we can tackle it when we have 31 inspectors. We...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If there is evidence of that, it should be reported.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is a well known fact that it is nearly impossible to get an Irish person to work in the meat industry. Let us not start confusing the issue. If people are abusing the system or there are sectors we have not covered, I am in favour of doing whatever is necessary in that regard, but a host of legislative measures already exist. When I inquired today about the legislative measures in place to...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The report stated that those people who are not close to hospital services, especially those in rural communities, must travel greater distances. That is stating the obvious. I will not go into the situation at Monaghan General Hospital again. There are hospitals in the area and an examination is being carried out into the best clinical and medical ways of dealing with the health needs in the...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: To specifically answer the Deputy — I may have been too general — all the hospitals, Letterkenny, Sligo, Omagh, Daisy Hill in Newry, Cavan, Drogheda, Dundalk and Monaghan, are trying to work in co-operation. That is why I mentioned the efforts with Altnagelvin and Daisy Hill. We are very anxious to work with them. The Tánaiste is due to have meetings next week or the week after with the...

Order of Business. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 9, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the revised agreement on social security between the Government of Ireland and the Government of Australia; No. 14, Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005 — Report and Final Stages; and No. 15, Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004 [Seanad] — Report Stage...

Order of Business. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The charities regulation Bill is substantial legislation, which will involve statute law revision and restatement in addition to legislative reform provisions. It is being dealt with as speedily as possible. The legislation will regulate charities and it will be brought to the House as quickly as possible. I do not have a date but it has priority in the Department. I have answered questions...

Order of Business. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That legislation was postponed, not withdrawn. It will be taken in the House next week. The coastal zone management Bill is gone off my list.

Order of Business. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There has been a period of consultation on the legislation but it is being drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel. The legislation is due next year.

Order of Business. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have not received the Bill but I have asked for it to be expedited as soon as possible. I hope to report favourable news to the Deputy shortly but it may take another few weeks.

Order of Business. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I must await the report back from the committee. However, if the House wishes to have a debate at that stage, it can be considered then.

Order of Business. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, it is scheduled to take place before the next WTO meeting in Hong Kong in mid-December. It would be better to wait until the various rounds of discussions have been completed. However, it will take place before the Hong Kong debate.

Order of Business. (8 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is being prepared but talks on a number of issues, including the matter raised by the Deputy, are ongoing. It would not be practicable to bring forward that section because it is subject to the full discussion of the Bill.