Results 5,761-5,780 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have already given the House a commitment that the system will not be used in the next election. The commission has stated that these machines have a life span of 40 years, that the hardware is fine but that in its view the software has a minor defect which can easily be put right. Deputy Kenny may wish to make a political comment about the system; I am stating the views of the commission...

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said to Deputy Kenny, the Government will consider the report in detail. The report has just been made available. We will report to the Government on the full implications of the commission's recommendations and we will consider the composition of a peer review group drawn from international electoral reform bodies and the IT industry to supervise any design. The decision remains to be...

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I wish to answer Deputy Rabbitte.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On Deputy Rabbitte's first point, I was quoting the commission's report. It states that the main hardware components of the system, including the voting machine, are of good quality and design, robust against failure and well suited to their purpose. That is an overall validation of the €46 million investment in voting machines and the associated hardware. Deputy Rabbitte asked me where I...

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I made the point on two occasions that the election management software only cost €500,000 in the first place.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That was the cost.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The report states that the election management system only cost €500,000. The commission has indicated that it is unable to recommend the election management software as it is.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I listened to the Deputy and I should be allowed to answer. The commission then stated that the alternative election management software compatible with existing voting machines and other hardware and software components of the system could be developed at a reasonable relative cost.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The overall cost is €500,000, and we should not mix up the software figure with the hardware figure.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I realise this does not suit the Opposition's argument.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The hardware comes from a company that exports billions of euro worth of such equipment. The report states that it cost only €500,000, and to amend it is a relative cost. According to the report, the chosen system can potentially enhance and deliver real efficiencies in the administration of elections in Ireland.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy English's leader has finished his question. The Deputy should be quiet.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Since the Deputy keeps interrupting, he reminds me that in the last election in which he was elected, he and his colleagues put out a leaflet highly recommending the system in Meath.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The party stated——

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy English put out literature that helped him to get into this House endorsing the equipment, and he stated that it was as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am sorry to frustrate the Ceann Comhairle. I would not have mentioned anything about Deputy English if he had not kept interrupting me. It was reported in the national newspapers that the Fine Gael candidates, including former Deputy John Bruton, endorsed the machines and stated they were as simple as 1, 2, 3.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I was trying to answer the point raised by Deputy Rabbitte that this was a system which everybody was against from day one. This was satisfactorily used in elections.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: People were very happy with the system.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Government will make its decisions in due course, based on the report when it is examined. The Nedap electronic voting system was used satisfactorily on the Continent, for example, in the recent elections in the Netherlands and in Germany.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Angela Merkel told Deputy Kenny she thinks it is an excellent system.