Results 4,841-4,860 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill has been switched to the Office of the Minister for Children where it can be co-ordinated properly across agencies and Departments. That is why it was switched. It makes more sense and is more appropriate that it be dealt with by that Minister and that it be co-ordinated across the agencies for which he is responsible.

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It should. On Deputy Sargent's other question, 16 Bills are listed for this session. Some 24 other Bills were before the Oireachtas. This Oireachtas has a good record. The programme goes up to the summer recess. This Government has enacted 147 Bills. An enormous legislative programme is before the House but we cannot take all the Bills.

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I remember what I said to Deputy Stagg. I understood there was a commitment to bring the heads of the Bill before one of the committees but I will follow up on that. I will ask that it is done.

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty Bill is listed for this session. The heads of the national monuments Bill were approved some time ago but revisions and a new round of consultations were required in light of the reorganisation and enactment of the National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004 and the reorganisation of the heritage responsibilities. In regard to the other Bills, including...

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Those Bills are in section A and the heads should be finished. They are well advanced in drafting and should be ready before the next session.

Written Answers — Social Partnership: Social Partnership (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Negotiations on a successor agreement to Sustaining Progress are being conducted on a strand-based approach and the first strand has been focusing on the issue of employment standards. It is accepted that it is the congress position that significant progress will be made in this first strand before any substantial engagement takes place around core pay issues. Several meetings have been held...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: At present, some 5% of my Department's staff are available to provide services in Irish. The greatest demand for service in Irish comes in the form of written correspondence or telephone queries from the public. These queries are dealt with by referring them to staff who have an appropriate level of proficiency in Irish. To support such staff members, and to encourage others to develop their...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I travelled to the United States on 13 March for St. Patrick's Day, returning on 18 March. My programme included official engagements in San Jose and Washington. I was accompanied by the second secretary general of my Department, the Government press secretary, a special adviser, a private secretary, a personal assistant and security officer. The director and another official of the Northern...

Written Answers — Dublin-Monaghan Bombings: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In line with the recommendations in the final report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights on Judge Barron's report into the Dublin-Monaghan Bombings of 1974, the MacEntee Commission of Investigation was established to examine certain aspects of the investigation in this jurisdiction of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974, arising from findings made by...

Written Answers — Centenarian Bounty: Centenarian Bounty (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On 28 March, the Government approved in principle the extension of the scheme for the payment of the centenarian bounty. Under the new arrangements, it is intended that the bounty, which currently amounts to €2,500, will be payable to any Irish citizen who was born on the island of Ireland, regardless of where he or she may currently reside. Up to now, the bounty was payable only to...

Written Answers — Departmental Legal Advice: Departmental Legal Advice (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 106 and 108 together. My Department does not have a legal adviser. Any legal advice required by my Department or bodies under its aegis is sought from the Office of the Attorney General.

Written Answers — Departmental Legal Advice: Departmental Legal Advice (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 107 together. My Department does not have a legal adviser. Any legal advice required is sought from the Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General is legal adviser to the Government and attends Government meetings in that capacity. There have been a number of developments since the 1997 Report of the Review Group on the Law Offices, which was...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I join Deputy Kenny in observing the 20th anniversary of Chernobyl. Our thoughts are with the families who died or suffered and who continue to suffer, as we have seen in the programmes broadcast in the past week. Thousands of families in Ireland have become personally involved with children and families from the region through the efforts of Adi Roche and many others who worked on this issue...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Our national plan has been audited, tested and validated internationally in line with best practice. That is a continual process. On Deputy Kenny's point about co-ordination of the various organisations such as the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, the Garda and the Defence Forces, the plan sets out how these should...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will deal with the two points on which Deputy Rabbitte questioned me yesterday. I was fully briefed on the first point. The second question he asked was when the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform knew about this matter. I stated yesterday that I did not know and that it was a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. A spokesperson for the Minister for...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: A decision in regard to proceeding with a trial or a retrial is exclusively a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Legislation has been passed by this House to make that the case. The DPP is an independent officer who makes his own independent and objective assessment of the circumstances applying in each case. It is not the function of this House or any entity to seek to influence the decision of the DPP. I am not going to get into that. I never have and will not do so.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: What implications, if any, arise from Dr. Harbison's condition are a matter for assessment by the DPP on a case by case basis. For me to suggest that the DPP could be definite that he would not be prepared for some case that might arise in one or two year's time in the Court of Appeal is not possible — I could not do that. I will not make such a stupid guess on a matter like that. Whether...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On a point of order, no spokesperson on my behalf made any statement last night. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform made the statement.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte raises two issues. First, he asks whether we can give an assurance on the integrity of the criminal justice system. Of course we can — it is an independent system. The issue of prosecution of offences, which the Deputy tried to gloss over, is a matter solely for the DPP.