Results 5,441-5,460 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Seanad reform group has presented its report. A group, chaired by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, is examining that report. Any questions on the matter should be put to the Minister, Deputy Roche. Any changes would not be of the nature suggested by Deputy Ferris. I did say as part of the proposals that an extension of how we appoint Senators,...

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I raised the issue of the legislation yesterday. I do not think any constitutional referendum is being looked at in this area but the Bill will be published shortly.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998; No. 1, Employment Permits Bill 2005 — amendments from the Seanad; No. 23, National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 21, Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage, resumed; No. 22, Criminal...

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Voluntary Health Insurance board corporate status Bill have been approved. The Bill is being drafted and should be ready for the autumn session. The heads of the third level student support Bill are at an advanced stage and are expected to be before the Government shortly, but the Bill will not be ready before the next student grant period. The judicial counsel Bill will be...

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: What I said was that I have asked the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to see what it can do to resolve this issue. I told the Department that if it could not be done by instructions to local authorities, it should be done legislatively. I will have to check the state of progress since it is some months since the Department reported back to me on the matter.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No. One can never have retrospective legislation. I will let Deputy Rabbitte know the conclusions reached.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The relevant Minister will deal with the issues. The Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Children are in discussions on the register of those considered unsafe to work with children.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is no legislation change promised in this area.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not know about the Deloitte & Touche report. The Deputy needs to put down a question for the relevant Minister. The single electricity market Bill is listed for this session. The heads of the broadcasting Bill will go before the relevant committee shortly for consultation.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will forward Deputy McManus's views to the Tánaiste.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Cabinet is due to finalise this on Tuesday. In the normal course of events we would have perhaps been able to do it earlier but we will not now be able to do so until Tuesday.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If it is agreed. However, I appreciate that creates difficulties.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The consumer protection Bill will be introduced next year.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have no knowledge of such legislation.

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. I met the Finucane family on many occasions. Most recently, I met Geraldine Finucane and other family members during my visit to the United States in March. I had a more detailed meeting with the family on 27 February in Dublin, prior to the debate in March in this House. I am aware that Ken Barrett, who had been jailed in 2004 for...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said in my reply, I meet regularly with the Finucane family, and Geraldine Finucane and other family members contact the small group of officials who work with me on Northern Ireland issues a few times each month. We continue to show our support through a number of steps. The family is continuing its efforts here and in the UK, Europe and the United States to find the full truth in the...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Needless to say, I appreciate that support throughout. The situation is unsatisfactory. I will not put any gloss on it. We are at a stalemate on the issue. I feel bad about it for a number of reasons, mainly for the Finucane family. What I probably feel most upset about is we followed an honourable path and went into a fair process of picking a number of cases, of getting an eminent judge,...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have anything further to say. We have raised the issue of collusion with the British, especially in respect of a number of incidences and at every opportunity in respect of the Finucane case, of which we are speaking. We will do so again next week when the Minister for Foreign Affairs meets Peter Hain. We will use the opportunity to raise these issues again.

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The point of having a separate summit does not really arise because we raise the issue at every summit. In so far as the question of what the British Prime Minister says is concerned, the British at every level — from the Prime Minister down — have the same answer, that their Inquiries Act is adequate to deal with this situation. We do not accept that position. I already replied on the...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I stated in reply to Deputy Kenny, I have made them aware of all the motions. They are well aware of all the motions. We must see if pressure will increase. Last year I got the American President to raise this issue directly with Prime Minister Blair. We must continue to press this issue but while I understand what the British are at in this case, I do not for a second accept it. I...