Results 3,661-3,680 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister and I comprehensively answered nearly all of these questions yesterday. I will briefly restate a few points, in case there is any doubt about what I said yesterday. There was no question of there being any campaign by the Government against the Centre for Public Inquiry, which happens to employ the individual concerned. This matter centres on the fraudulent use of Irish passports...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not wish to end the last Leaders' Question time in the acrimonious way that the Deputy and I began the year on the subject of the Northern Bank raid. I will confine myself to saying that Deputy Ó Caoláin does not believe there was a bogus passport application form.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy believes it did not exist or that Colombia, and all the difficulties arising out of that incident, never happened. I played my role in trying to assist in the release of Irish people held in Colombia. I did more than my fair share when I spoke to the Colombian President and senior officials. I did not make up the passport application form. Neither I nor the Minister for Justice,...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Somebody had a bogus document. If somebody feels aggrieved at, and maligned by, anything said inside or outside the House there is a way to vindicate himself or herself through the courts——

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——if a person feels this is an issue. Let us not con ourselves into believing this was not a serious issue.

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The total allocation for my Department for 2006 is €37.498 million. This is a decrease of 4% —€1.467 million — on the 2005 Revised Estimates allocation. Details of the Estimates are set out in the Abridged Estimates for the public service, which were presented to the Dáil on 17 November 2005. I look forward to addressing...

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Consultancy fees are reduced because the e-Cabinet project has effectively been completed. The consultancies were related to work on that project. There are several applications under the e-inclusion scheme which is for elderly and disabled people, and organisations to get grants to help them use information technology. The Minister of State in my Department, Deputy Kitt, administers that...

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That was a once-off grant to support the Science Olympiad project held in Trinity College Dublin in 2005. It was an international conference that brought together an enormous number of scientists. As there was no suitable subhead, it was to assist in giving the project a grant. It will not occur again. On the commemorative initiatives, these are the usual annual commemoration grants given for...

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The commission of investigation subhead——

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: He would be investigating something useful.

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will have to get back to the Deputies on this subhead as I do not have the material at hand.

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: What is the actual subhead letter?

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The independent commission of inquiry was the MacEntee commission. However, I cannot recall the full details. I will have to come back to the Deputy on it.

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The task force is only beginning its work. In the social capital area, the community aspect of the arts grant has seen an 18% increase to reflect much of the good work being done in different areas. The active citizenship task force will make its recommendations and supports. I believe it will support community initiatives and activities through local community work. While most of these...

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The provision of €1.49 million is included to fund the continuation of the forum as an arena for bringing matters on European debates to the public's attention. One way or the other, whether a referendum is held, that provision is available for the work of the forum for the year. The funding for the e-Cabinet project reflects the funding estimated in respect of the completion of its work....

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The allocation for the Forum on Peace and Reconciliation is purely in case a need arises and the money has been carried forward. We do not envisage such a need arising and the small amount of money is regarded as a provision should it become necessary. It is being held over until, I hope, we get the institutions up and functioning in 2006, when we would definitely see an end to the forum.

Departmental Estimates. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I would certainly like to see us move towards a proper civic forum, as put forward in the Good Friday Agreement, as soon as possible. On the National Economic and Social Development Office, NESDO, the published Estimates for 2006 show an estimated allocation of €1.96 million, which represents a significant increase of 88% on the previous allocation. The Estimate is intended to reflect the...

Public-Private Partnerships. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. The discussion at the November meeting of the cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and public-private partnerships focused on Transport 21, the national spatial strategy gateways study and climate change strategy. The team's discussion on Transport 21 focused mainly on implementation, including the arrangements for...

Public-Private Partnerships. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: To return to an earlier question, the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, checked a detail for me and it appears subhead Q refers to the MacEntee commission. For some reason, this small provision must have been called "commission of investigation" before the other subhead was inserted. It is, however, the same subhead. On the M50, the committee has been discussing the detail of the enhancement...

Public-Private Partnerships. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I can comment generally on some of the issues raised, although I do not have some of the details involved. The building control Bill is to strengthen the enforcement powers of local building authorities, as well as providing statutory protection to implement the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings. That energy element is in the Bill. As Deputy Quinn has spent most of this...