Results 6,581-6,600 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To keep the Deputy informed, the full report is not to be published until January.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is correct.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The carbon Bill is being prepared and we will, based on what happens in Nairobi and on discussions at EU level, return to this issue.

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5 together. The Government appointed Deputy Kitt as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department and the Department of Defence. Deputy Treacy is also a Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European affairs. As Chief Whip, Deputy Kitt is primarily responsible for the...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As chairman of the legislative committee, to the best of his ability the Minister of State keeps a close handle on legislation in the Parliamentary Counsel's office going through the various processes between Departments and deals with points raised in the House to the best of his ability. We do not discuss this on a weekly basis. At the start of each session we decide what the legislation...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are times, at the weekends, I would like to give them more work to give myself a break. However, they work hard.

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the constitution question, obviously matters have not proceeded at the speed we would all have wished so the workload at that end has not materialised as it should have. The Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, usefully co-ordinates closely with the ten new member states. They are at an early stage of membership and there is a great deal of engagement with them at different levels. He...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte will not be surprised to learn that is not the way any member of the Government sees it. Yes, the Opposition has put forward all types of bright and wonderful suggestions, as has the Government, but there has to be compromise on issues. I do not know why we cannot get agreement on some of the simple matters. However, there has to be give and take. It is not just a question...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister of State has dealt with that elsewhere.

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I did not discuss it with him. The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power, deals with old people. It is his brief but perhaps there is an argument to extend his role to other Departments. Climate change will become a bigger issue. It has taken up more Government time and committee time over the past number of years. Perhaps there could be someone...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: He is both.

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Ministers of State are appointed by the Government to assist Ministers in running Departments. In many instances this relates to policy issues. Formal delegations or statutory powers are not necessary. Only a small number of Departments have functional blocks where the full function must be designated. A Minister of State may be required to exercise a power set in statute. That is the...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: He did not get a brief from me to do it. Some people get partisan now and then. It is my practice not to get too excited by these matters. Deputy Kenny should not get too upset. I will tell the Minister of State not to do it.

Government-Church Dialogue. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 10, inclusive, together. I proposed that the Government should engage directly with faith based communities and bodies on the development of an institutionalised dialogue. This initiative reflects the significant role of the churches and an increasingly diverse range of faith communities, the Government's commitment to wide-ranging consultation on...

Government-Church Dialogue. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first question, this process came from the European constitution. When the European constitution did not go ahead, we decided to proceed anyway. It was not as though nothing happened through 2005, as a process had to be structured. This was a serious effort. We wrote to all the churches and other religious bodies, as well as the humanists. There was a long period of engagement as...

Government-Church Dialogue. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Constitution gave some of the churches a structured position with the State. However, most of them do not have such a position. The two officials who have worked hard on this matter have informed me they believe they can get it going next year. I had a number of meetings with the Most Reverend John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin, as well as correspondence with various people from the...

Government-Church Dialogue. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The article in today's edition of The Irish Times merely stated that officials were continuing their contacts with the churches. This is well known because quite a number of articles in this regard appeared in the religious magazines. The remainder of the article was taken up with the journalist's conversations with representatives of churches. Consequently, my reply did not appear in the...

Government-Church Dialogue. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is incorrect to say that nothing has happened. There have been extensive negotiations with the churches over the past two years. They have been attempting to produce a model into which everyone fits. One cannot have dialogue based on the contents of the draft constitution unless everyone is involved. Education issues are everyday issues concerning the churches' schools and communities...

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 18, Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 — Report and Final Stages, resumed; No. 19, Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 17, Citizens Information Bill 2006 — Second Stage, resumed; and No. 4, Industrial Development Bill 2006 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Private Members' business shall be No....

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The issue of DPP appeals against unduly lenient sentencing in serious cases before the court is to provide for a commitment. I do not have a date for that, but the matter has been referred by the Attorney General to the Law Reform Commission for consideration as a matter of urgent public interest. It has issued a consultation paper on the subject and a final report is awaited. On the...