Results 6,461-6,480 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: When I met them about four weeks ago they presented me with a report, which they had prepared over the course of the year and in which they asked for a range of activities to address it. It is a difficult area. They pointed out to me the surrounding countryside where there are approximately 100 acres of land on which there is only one industry employing 40 or 50 local people.

Leaders' Questions. (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: A short distance away land costs several million euro an acre. What they have been asking for is a development plan, which would look at issues like access to the estates, zoning of the land for business purposes and high protection, and they have been given that. There is nowhere else in the country where I have seen, both personally and in records, such a level of gardaí engaged in...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It does not really matter where a child or anybody else is injured — we all condemn that kind of action. We have seen a complete disregard for human life by a small minority of people in our cities and we should not try to make anything out of that. I remember well when Veronica Guerin was shot and, thankfully, this party had at that time drafted legislation that was able to be...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The crime figures of the CSO show that the level of crime is down per 1,000 of population.

Leaders' Questions. (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That does not take away from the problem that we are dealing with, and the gardaí and the special detective unit increasingly are landing large hits against the criminal gangs in terms of detections, arrests and confiscation of drugs and arms. We can see there is a minority of hardened criminals who believe this is a fast way of making themselves rich and who disregard the law and...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I welcome the report, which was conducted as part of a survey involving 12 EU member states to assess the prevalence of racism and discrimination, as experienced by people themselves. The main benefit of the report is that one is getting a view from the street. While there were many positive aspects to the report, I will ignore them and examine the two difficulties. A total of 35% of...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Education and Science informs me that the 800 teachers are involved solely in language training and have no other duties. In schools of under 14 pupils, a grant will be given towards obtaining the relevant services. I will raise the issue of FÁS with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, but I understand from the FÁS director general that there...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: From briefings with senior gardaí, I know that they have been working very closely with a number of different groups to try to deal with some of the criminal matters that are creeping into society via immigrants. There are difficulties in this regard, but the Garda is trying to resource the issue, which has become a feature during the past year or so.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The report of the independent international panel on alleged collusion in sectarian killings in Northern Ireland was launched in Belfast and Dublin yesterday. The panel met with officials after the launch to brief them on the contents of the report and the panel's findings and recommendations. We are up to date with the issue and are pursuing it. The Department of Foreign Affairs has been...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have painstakingly followed all these issues for the past number of years. We now have four comprehensive reports, including mainly new information that was not in the public domain when we started this work at the end of 1999. All those reports contain recommendations and work on them is being done, as it will continue to be. We have pressed the recommendations of Mr. Justice Cory and...

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 9, motion re Standing Orders Nos. 125 and 170; No. 10, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 15, Citizens Information Bill 2006 — Second Stage, resumed; and No. 1, Europol (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 9 and 10 shall be decided without debate. Private...

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the carbon fund Bill were approved in July and the Bill is on target for early 2007. There are 70 heads in the immigration and residence Bill and these have just been approved. The Bill is due in 2007 but I do not have a definite date on it. The Bill will update the law on immigration, residence and other matters relating to non-nationals. I understand the Minister will...

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If I state that we must have it by a particular time, taking into account the consultation process, people will say that I am being prescriptive in trying to decide it. It is an open question. The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is available and ready to enter into dialogue with the political parties and the many NGO organisations with an...

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I cannot answer the second question. The Minister has asked that the relevant Oireachtas committee meet so that he can make a presentation on the matter. There is a good and positive story to tell. There is also the requirement where the House can help to ensure the register is completed. Given that the Minister has asked I suggest the committee do that.

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date as to when the employment rights compliance Bill will be published. The heads of the Bill have not been brought forward so I do not have a date.

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I was asked about the carbon fund Bill. The issue of the Stern report is being examined across a number of Departments with a view to taking whatever action is necessary.

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I was looking at the correspondence. It was good of Deputy Bruton to word the question in a way that makes everybody look at the answer. It was interesting to find out, when one examines it, that only 20% of people pay the higher rate of tax.

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I did not have the time to do it. It was very kind of the Deputy to frame his question in a way that actually made people look at the answer. Now we know that only 20% of the people pay tax at the higher rate.

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To be honest, I do not know.

Order of Business (7 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will try to find out the information for the Deputy.