Results 6,541-6,560 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Although the date for the draft legislation is Thursday or Friday, discussions on that and several other issues are ongoing. If the legislation comes out in its current form, that will happen.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That legislation will arise this session.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation will come forward next year.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Bill were published in the spring. There were a large number of submissions, which have been dealt with by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The consultation process is finished and the Bill has been drafted. It is hoped that the legislation will be taken at the commencement of the next session.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is no need for legislation.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Although I have already answered this, I will answer it again. It has been with the Judiciary for consultation since last March. The Tánaiste has had discussions with the Judiciary. We hope to get its views before we can move forward, but we are ready to do so.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I thank Deputy Stagg for his remarks on the communications Bill and will bring his remarks on the other Bill to the attention of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The electronic communications Bill will be published this session. Subject to consultation, the defence (amendment) Bill will also be this session.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Perhaps the Deputy will table a question to the Minister. I do not have that information.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is awaiting Committee Stage. On the drugs issue, I understand the conclusions of the deliberations of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety on this are being awaited.

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The exact information as requested by the Deputy is not available. Statistics on employment and unemployment are compiled, at a regional level, from the Quarterly National Household Survey. There are eight regions in the State; Border, Midland, West, Dublin, Mid-East, Mid-West, South-East and South-West. Sub-regional statistics, of the kind requested by the Deputy, are not available from...

Written Answers — National Statistics: National Statistics (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is given in the following tables. The deaths have been classified by the External causes of Injury and Poisoning. Deaths are coded according to the Ninth Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death (I.C.D.9). External Causes of Injury and Poisoning Age Sex Transport Accidents Accidental Falls...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Department of the Taoiseach has no Directives awaiting transposition. My Department does however have a role in monitoring the transposition of EU Directives. Minister of State, Deputy Noel Treacy chairs an Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee on European Union Affairs. The Committee keeps under review, and works to ensure coherence on, the full range of issues on the EU's agenda....

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities: Equal Opportunities (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Finance has responsibility in Government for policy in relation to the employment of people with disabilities in the civil service. My Department and the Bodies under its aegis are committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. In addition to complying with the provisions of the Disability Act 2005, we follow the guidelines set out in...

Written Answers — Training Programmes: Training Programmes (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together. I refer to the Deputy to my reply to Written Question No. 221 from Deputy Gormley on 27 September. I then stated that "there is a formal training programme for new drafters with heavy emphasis on practical experience". The Plan was drawn up in 2002 and continues to be implemented since then to ensure that new drafters entering the Office...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I repeat what I said yesterday about the Leas Cross report, when I promised there would be a detailed account of the case that came up over a year ago. Professor Desmond O'Neill has identified many deficiencies in the standard of care for older people in Leas Cross and the actions required to uphold those standards. Those deficiencies in care are deeply upsetting to the families of those in...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It has been stated here on a number of occasions that is the position. I reject that accusation. Like every other politician I visit nursing homes and I do not see that, I see hard working people, working for the State or private organisations, doing their best day in and day out to look after old patients. I understand most elderly patients and their relatives are extremely happy with the...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: This is an attempt to shout down the facts in defence of those who work in nursing homes. The easiest thing to do is to come in here and apportion blame to everyone, to say nothing is right without ever standing up for those working every day to look after the elderly. That is an easy thing to do, the Opposition gets great marks for that.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Health and Children has published the draft heads of the Bill for public consultation and we have had many submissions, none of which came from politicians. The existing nursing home regulations, under which the HSE carries out inspections of private nursing homes, were introduced in 1993 and they were amended. There are regulations, which will now be replaced by newer...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The HSE established the working group on nursing home inspections and registrations in July 2005, shortly after the organisation was set up. It completed the report in early summer. The existence of the HSE working group report has been a matter of public record for some time. Deputy Kenny is asking me to ask it to engage in a matter that it has finished. This has been referred to...