Results 5,081-5,100 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——but I am sorry if I upset Deputy Rabbitte's weekend and that he thought I would get it finished by Christmas when I replied to him last week. That was not my intention when I replied to him. The original timescale set for the programme when it was announced was very ambitious. It was to be done within three years, requiring the full and active co-operation of all the parties involved....

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are not going to move civil servants down to offices that do not exist.

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Civil servants are well-informed through staff negotiations. I appreciate the work that has gone on for the last two and a half years on these issues. The Civil Service unions have been deeply involved in the discussions. Agreement has been reached on a large number of issues, including human resources. It has enabled progress to be made on a range of issues, including mobility, promotions...

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Those civil servants who wish to transfer have made their applications on the central applications facility. Some difficulties have arisen about professional grades, as there were during the last decentralisation round. We will not duplicate the positions but we must negotiate a way through this. It was done before and will have to be done again. It is not a charge to get civil servants out...

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are no difficulties with this issue. Thankfully, Ireland is one of the world's largest exporters of information and communications technology. To believe that in a small island we cannot communicate on policy issues is nonsense.

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On Sunday last, 14 May, some 34 Afghan nationals entered St. Patrick's Cathedral and commenced a hunger strike which they stated would not end until they were granted asylum in Ireland or leave to remain. At present, approximately 40 Afghans remain in the cathedral. The exact number is still imprecise as some additional people were admitted to the cathedral on Monday morning and some have...

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will not argue with any of Deputy Joe Higgins's observations regarding Afghanistan or its difficulties. However, people of more than 100 nationalities have lodged applications in our present system.

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are discussing Ireland. We have a very fair process. It is recognised as such within the European Union, in the United Nations——

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——and by the UNHCR. While 1% of the population was non-Irish a decade ago, that figure reached 9% before the recent census was taken. We have been very fair and tolerant. None of the individuals concerned has completed the process or been served with a deportation order. Neither St. Patrick's Cathedral nor any church is an office in which to deal with our legislation. We will be unable to...

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 17, the Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006 — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 2, Institutes of Technology Bill 2006 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Private Members' business shall be No. 51, motion re primary education: school places and class sizes.

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the pharmacy (No. 1) Bill, which provides for fitness to practice regulations for pharmacists, were approved two weeks ago. The Bill has gone for drafting and should be available later this year.

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I stated last week, the sections of the report which were relevant to individuals named in it were given to those individuals on the basis of legal advice to ensure that fairness and due process were adhered to. They were given a period of 15 days in which they had to respond. These issues would have to be taken into account through an amendment or annexe to a report. One would need to...

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Which Bills?

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Work is under way on the draft heads of the public transport commission Bill but it is unlikely that legislation will be ready this year. The heads of the health Bill have been approved. The consultation process is under way. Once this is finished, the revised proposals will be submitted to the Government. The process, however, will take longer than initially anticipated and the Bill is...

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is no change in the position on the alcohol products Bill. A period will be allowed to pass before there is any change. The British-Irish Agreement (amendment) Bill will be published this year.

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is the intention. It got priority approval for drafting. We do not have a date but we hope to have the Bill as soon as possible and take all stages. I am aware that we must try to get the legislation out in time.

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are a number of health Bills. Today, the Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006 is before the House. There is a nursing home Bill and, of course, the health Bill. In my previous reply to the Deputy, I should have talked about the health Bill because it was that Bill that was published. I was incorrect if I said the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill, which will...

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill will be introduced this session.

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will check the provision and see where we are in respect of it. I agree fully with what the Deputy said. These people were going through the process but did not reach its end. In the interests of their health, they would do best to follow the process.

Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is listed for this session but I do not know the exact date. The Deputy knows that this session goes up to the date of the start of the next session. I do not know when the Bill will be ready.