Results 4,221-4,240 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

National Archives. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In answer to the first question, with reference to my Department, a total of 727 files or part files were transferred in January 2006. Five files were retained, two of which were retained under section 8(4)(a) of the Act and three were retained under subsections 8(4)(b) and 8(4)(c).

National Archives. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Most of these files related to Northern Ireland. A total of 49 files were released without abstractions and partial abstractions were made on five documents, all related to Northern Ireland. The abstractions related to information given in confidence, including security information and information about individuals likely to lead to defamation claims. There were abstractions in other...

National Archives. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Kenny's question about the departmental group, its remit is to examine the historical value of the archive records held by the Department which are 30 years old. Its members include a number of prominent academics including Professor Mary Daly, principal of the college of arts and Celtic studies, UCD; Professor Ronan Fanning, professor of modern history; Professor Dermot...

National Archives. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They do monitor but what I am not sure.

National Archives. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The decision on how files are given out is a statutory function of nominated senior officials in the Department. I have no input whatsoever, nor have I ever been consulted on any file. It is a statutory position of senior civil servants and I think it is the same in every Department. As far as I know, such decisions must be undertaken at principal officer level or higher, as in my Department....

National Archives. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy is correct that the volume of files and other retrieval material being made available is increasing. The extension of the Act over the years has led to increased pressure on space. The National Archives have been involved with the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon's, Department with a view to getting additional space. I do not know if they have located a new premises but discussions...

National Archives. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have no difficulty with the Deputy's suggestion which is a good one. The sensitivities of the past are over. As other Members have said, some records are held in the military archives. They are not complete because many people at the time for one reason or another declined to take medals or pensions. They did that out of their sense of honour.

National Archives. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Yes. There may be other files in the archives or in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I will raise the issue, particularly as we have just finished work on the pre Act of Union laws and will rescind about 2,000 such laws under the new Bill. It has been an interesting project, relating to laws before 1800. Deputy Michael Higgins is asking for a more current appraisal. I will...

Chief State Solicitor's Office. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. The recommendations of the Nally report in relation to the re-organisation of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor have been largely implemented. Agreement with the unions involved was achieved during 2001. The criminal prosecutions functions undertaken by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor were transferred to the Office of...

Chief State Solicitor's Office. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Most of the issues have been dealt with, including the common promotion pool within the two offices between the CSSO and the solicitors' division of the DPP's office for professional solicitor and technical promotion posts. The only remaining element is that of the State solicitors. The report has been completed and the Chief State Solicitor and the DPP are examining it, that is in terms of...

Chief State Solicitor's Office. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: While decentralisation issues are large in terms of finance deals, they do not take any longer to deal with than very small cases. However, the work of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, in immigration and all kinds of areas, has increased and continues to do so. A staff complement of 230 has now been approved and the Office of the DPP is recruiting the additional staff sanctioned. That...

Chief State Solicitor's Office. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To the best of my knowledge the NDFA uses outside legal advice. I do not know to what extent it uses the Office of the Chief State Solicitor but I know the NDFA uses outside legal advice because I get a monthly schedule of the projects in which it is involved. The legal work of Departments is traditionally done through the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. There is no ideological reason...

Regulatory Reform. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 14, inclusive, together. Significant progress has been made since the publication of the OECD report on regulatory reform in Ireland. Many of the OECD recommendations related to specific sectoral issues and the appropriate Ministers with responsibility for those sectoral areas are reporting directly to the House on progressing the OECD recommendations....

Regulatory Reform. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The issues being examined are where there are significant negative impacts on national competitiveness, significant negative impacts on the socially excluded or vulnerable groups, significant environmental damage or where the proposals involve a significant policy change in an economic market, have a significant impact on competition or customers, will disproportionately impinge on the rights...

Regulatory Reform. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Yes. Before legislation can get through, it must undergo that process. It cannot happen unless it makes sense. On the business group, this is so that not just people in the system, as good as they are, are involved. People from outside business have a say and can put forward their case, not just on new but also on existing regulations, so we can try to get away from slavishly following...

Regulatory Reform. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are two issues. I said to the Deputy the way a Bill is drafted is that the heads are normally taken separately and work is finished on them in the parliamentary draftsman's office. Normally — in most cases — there is consultation on them with the various stakeholders and interested people. I have told Ministers there is an advantage in publishing heads at that stage. Often,...

Regulatory Reform. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is in some areas. I accept there is a traditional reluctance in the system even though I have stated I cannot see the difficulty. There is often a year between making legislation and the heads being agreed. It is useful to put it forward but I will continue my efforts to get people to publish the heads of the Bill because I agree with it.

Regulatory Reform. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will.

Regulatory Reform. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The benefit of the introduction of regulatory impact analysis is an improvement in the way new regulations are made. Departments and offices will assess the likely impact of new regulations across all legislation in a more structured and consistent way. Wider and more consistent consultation is required before making regulations. Regulations used to be made on the basis of people's beliefs...

Regulatory Reform. (22 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am not sure if the decision was taken for commercial considerations.