Results 4,421-4,440 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——but the figure should be the 10,000 houses that were subject to Part V. The figures from the report to which the Deputy is refers do not stack up.

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin questioned the figures so I wish to provide the final figures. Some €2 billion will be spent this year, the needs of 14,000 households will be met from funding for social and affordable measures this year and further households will benefit from the accommodation scheme, which compares with 8,500 before the Act was passed. At the end of 2005 almost 100,000 had benefited...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In terms of output, social and affordable housing, the voluntary sector and the resources provided, the analysis provided by Deputy Ó Caoláin is incorrect. We can try to achieve the flexibility in the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002. We can also try to get local authorities to use the principle of Part V instead of making arrangements...

Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 8, Finance Bill 2006 — financial resolutions; No. 9, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a proposal that section 17A of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 shall continue in force for the period ending on 8 March 2007, back from committee; No. 10, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to...

Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Finance has already pointed out that these matters will become clear when the appropriations account is published at the end of this month.

Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Whatever Deputies think about the process, we have always had a budget debate, a Second Stage debate on the Finance Bill and a three-day Committee Stage debate and it has always been the practice that Opposition spokespersons can discuss whichever sections they wish to concentrate on, and that is usually agreed without difficulty. The same applies for this Bill. The House is sitting late...

Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The criminal justice Bill has a priority and is due this year. How much more quickly it can be introduced is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The heads of the third-level student support Bill are at an advanced stage and are expected shortly. What was the third Bill the Deputy asked about?

Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is not listed.

Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill to which the Deputy refers should be published shortly.

Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The criminal justice trafficking in persons and sexual exploitation of children Bill is to give effect to a number of international instruments as regards trafficking in persons and the sexual exploitation of children. I do not have a date for the Bill.

Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The judge has agreed to advise the Government on the issue of the appropriate redress scheme. She will do that. She has the confidence of all concerned, and this matter was agreed today at Cabinet. Her work has been universally acknowledged. She is in the best position to bring forward proposals and she is going to do that.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Seven persons employed in my Department have voluntarily, self disclosed that they have disabilities. This represents 3.72% of total staff. The principle of equality underpins my Department's human resource policy in accordance with equality legislation and the Government's policies on diversity, dignity at work and gender equality. My Department is an equal opportunities employer. Staff are...

Public Inquiries. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. The Government continues to support a full independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat 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 share the concern of the Finucane family, and indeed of Judge Cory, that the new Inquiries Act, under...

Public Inquiries. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy speaks as though he is not aware of what has been going on over the past long period. What Prime Minister Blair and the Secretary of State stated was that they do not intend changing the Inquiries Act. Our position at every level, such as through the motion passed in this House, our position at meetings over the past year or year and a half with the British Government and in the...

Public Inquiries. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with most of what Deputy Gregory said. It is clearly not what was envisaged as a full independent public judicial inquiry in the Weston Park proposals. This is new legislation introduced by the British Government and the restrictive clause in that legislation, which would effectively restrict the judge's handling of the information, renders it useless. It would not restrict the judge...

Public Inquiries. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not disagree with anything Deputy Kenny said but it is worth going back over some recent history. The Bloody Sunday inquiry took place in part during the life of the government of which Deputy Kenny was part, but the British Government did not want such an inquiry. It took a great deal of persuasion and in the end it was the Prime Minister who ruled, against much opposition, to operate a...

Public Inquiries. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The point to where it has brought us is unsatisfactory. The Secretary of State, Peter Hain, told me on Thursday that he was going ahead with his inquiry and that they are seeking a venue. I am told they have a venue for the autumn. They are also seeking a judge. I understand from international connections that they are having great difficulty getting a judge. The legal world has been quite...

Public Inquiries. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will not answer on individual cases because I do not have the facts on them. It is clear that there are many cases related to allegations of collusion in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The hundreds of cases involving thousands of deaths and serious injury that occurred between the late 1960s and the mid-1990s — in many cases later than that but thankfully not in the same number —...

Public Inquiries. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: When responding to the first question, I did not wish to convey the impression that all the names had been put into a hat and a few main cases pulled out. Deputy Sargent will recall that we took some from the Nationalist side and some from the Unionist or loyalist side. In all we took a balanced selection of six cases, although we could have taken any number. The case about which Deputy...

Public Inquiries. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: All were significant. However, they will not all receive full sworn inquiries as that would be impossible. It is good that there is a historical office to examine cases because some people hold the view very strongly that many of those cases got very little investigation at the time. Whether that is understandable, it is a source of great anxiety and long-term hurt to the families. It is...