Results 4,181-4,200 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is no legislation but the Minister stated that he would have a full conversation on this issue with all the interested stakeholders.

Order of Business. (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is no such legislation. The Garda Commissioner has given his views on the Garda reserve to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Minister has stated he will discuss the issue with the Commissioner but also with the representative groups. Those discussions will need to be completed before the issue of regulations arise.

Order of Business. (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In the meantime, the framework has been passed by this House and the Minister will be engaged in the consultations.

Order of Business. (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: He has committed himself.

Order of Business. (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It will be introduced later this year.

Written Answers — Public Procurement Policy: Public Procurement Policy (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Existing procurement policies provide for procurement of the goods and services required by the Department in a manner which seeks to optimise the value for money of the purchases concerned and which is in accordance with public procurement guidelines as set out by the Department of Finance. There is a requirement to produce an annual corporate procurement plan as part of the national public...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Recent Department of Finance guidelines on public procurement and capital appraisal require formalised contract review of projects more than €30 million. My Department does not have any contracts which fall within the ambit of this requirement.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The family of Mr. Pat Finucane have our full and continuing support in their tireless efforts over many years to achieve the full truth in this disturbing case. The Government continues to support a full independent public inquiry into the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane. We have made clear that we want to see the standard agreed at Weston Park and set by Judge Cory adhered to. We continue to...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Government remains fully committed to the peace process and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I met the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, in Farmleigh on 26 January. The close and concerted co-operation between the two Governments remains vital as we seek to bring finality to outstanding issues and achieve the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. In our...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are no proposals to decentralise any part of my Department or any of the bodies under its aegis.

Written Answers — Social Partnership: Social Partnership (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The process of negotiations on a successor agreement to Sustaining Progress was formally launched with a plenary meeting of all of the social partners in Dublin Castle on Thursday, 2 February. This was followed by a round of bilateral meetings with each of the four pillars, trade union, business-employer, farming and community and voluntary, at which the pillars set out in greater detail...

Leaders' Questions. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I wish to express my sympathy to the staff of NEC in Ballivor, who have been good and committed workers for three decades and have been working to the best of their ability. This announcement has been a real shock to them. The manufacturing sector represents 23% of total employment while the services sector accounts for 62%, including 31% of exports and more than 50% of our total GDP. Last...

Leaders' Questions. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I know the workers at NEC were shocked at the news of the plant's closure and that they have provided a loyal and quality service to the company over the years. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, the agencies operating under his remit and Meath County Council will take every step to secure alternative employment for the workers and to replace investment in the...

Leaders' Questions. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: From an enormously high level, the figures stabilised in recent months and have taken off again in the last quarter. For a country with a population of 4 million and a workforce of 2 million, it is an enormous achievement to have exports of €85 billion. Of the new jobs announced recently, such as the 600 in Google, the 1,100 in Amgen, those in Wyeth, Centocor and Intel, and others in...

Leaders' Questions. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am glad Allied Irish Banks is profitable. It is so because growth in the economy is so strong——

Leaders' Questions. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——and our businesses are so strong.

Leaders' Questions. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Investment is very strong——

Leaders' Questions. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——such that our financial services are doing well.

Leaders' Questions. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That was in the mid-1980s when the Deputy's party was in power.

Leaders' Questions. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It almost went down and I remember having to be convinced by the then leader of our party that it was a wise thing to do——