Results 5,641-5,660 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I understand that there are considerable legal issues attached to this report so it has not yet been passed over to the relevant people.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are no new developments and the legislation is not proceeding at this stage.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Foyle and Carlingford fisheries Bill is a joint project with the authorities in Northern Ireland. The work is completed and we are awaiting the text from the authorities in Northern Ireland so it is not possible to indicate a date for the legislation.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is listed for this session. It was published two weeks ago. It is a matter for the Whips to agree whether it will be taken this session. I understand that they have not yet made a decision.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is awaiting Committee Stage.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The answer is "Yes".

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill will be published very shortly.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is a separate issue.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is considerable demand that all Stages be taken, but the Whips must agree.

Written Answers — Legal Proceedings: Legal Proceedings (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Following is the information requested by the Deputy. 1. The Number of Extant Cases There are in the order of 664 cases extant where challenges have been made to the constitutionality of acts of the Oireachtas or to Statutory Instruments. This figure includes 85 cases pending where the Road Traffic Act legislation, providing for the use of intoxiliser equipment, is being challenged as being...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is given in the following schedule: Title of Report Year Report was commissioned Internal Reports Reports carried out by Consultants Cost of Report Consultation document 'Towards Better Regulation' 2002 Yes — with some input from Consultant €31,665 of which €6,692 was in respect of consultant's input ...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Disability Act 2005 gives legal status to a previous positive action measure which set a 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the public service. Whereas the Act sets the 3% target as a minimum employment percentage, it does not restrict Departments or public bodies from surpassing that target. The percentage of persons with disabilities currently employed in my...

Leaders' Questions. (28 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The use of force must be proportionate and that is the issue. Obviously a person has the right to defend himself, his property and family, but it must be proportionate.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That right is in the law. The objection of the Government and others to the Fine Gael Bill as drafted is that it goes too far. A gate-crasher into a party——

Leaders' Questions. (28 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I must tell the Fine Gael backbenchers that everyone who has read their Bill considers it to be over the top legally.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is not a suitable Bill to put on the Statute Book. While the issue of somebody defending his property must be proportionate, the Fine Gael Bill is not.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has asked me three questions. He asked me whether people have the right to be safe in their homes. The answer to that question is "Yes". He asked me whether people can use force to protect themselves. That is defined as reasonable force and is currently in the law. People who are attacked in their houses by intruders or others are entitled to use reasonable force.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is the law. The Deputy also asked whether it is right that a person who defends himself or herself has to make his or her own case. He should know that the presumption of the criminal code is that the accused is innocent. The law is based on that presumption.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No. The Deputies opposite should not try to change legal principles which have been in place for hundreds of years. The presumption of the criminal code is that the accused is innocent. We can refer to all the circumstances we like, but we know we must have the law of the land. We cannot allow people to feel threatened or intimidated in their homes.