Results 6,601-6,620 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is already legislation in place for tolling and I do not believe any other legislation is required. There is nothing new on the matter of a referendum on the rights of the child. As I said last week, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, will consult the parties and the various organisations, several of which has requested to talk to him on this issue.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is already a toll on the M50. Regarding a change from the current barrier toll to a non-barrier toll requiring legislation, it does not seem to me it would require it, but I will ask the Minister to check the position.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The carbon fund Bill is due early next year. The heads were completed in July and it has passed to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. It is awaited from that office and hopefully it will be ready early next year. The other issue is not listed but if there is work taking place in the Department, perhaps the Deputy should table a question on the matter to the Minister responsible.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The HIQA Bill will be published this session. The heads of the medical practitioners Bill were approved previously and further heads of it are expected to be included in the Bill. It is still hoped it will be available this session. Its introduction has been delayed because of the inclusion of the additional heads of the Bill.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is due to be introduced in 2007.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date for it.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: One of the drafters is working more or less exclusively on this Bill. It is hoped it will be ready at the beginning of the New Year.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Unfortunately, I do not have news for Deputy Sherlock. The Bill is not proceeding. The Supreme Court decision has implications for it.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: This point was already raised and I understand the Minister stated primary legislation is required to make an amendment. The Minister was asked to consider primary legislation. It cannot be amended in the format suggested. It is a matter for the Minister whether he considers the argument put forward by Members of the House.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill will be published in 2007.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I understand we already have quite strong legislation on child pornography which is only seven or eight years old. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will bring forward other legislation. A number of other Bills affect this matter. I presume the Deputy asked whether these points will be considered in the new legislation. I am sure they will.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform deals with that matter.

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. The authorised staffing complement of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions stands at 174. Three vacancies in the office are in the process of being filled. I propose to circulate in the Official Report the information requested by the Deputies on the number of staff, classified by grade, employed in the Office of the...

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The matter is receiving attention in my Department. My officials are broadly supportive of this. As it is a resource issue, my officials are dealing with it with the Department of Finance and the DPP. There are no staff dealing with legal policy in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. This has proved to be an enormous drawback, as the director pointed out. The Department of...

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The DPP has stated that he might be asked for his views on legislation dealing with prosecution. He has set out his view on that issue in several speeches. The present DPP has been forthcoming on these issues. It is clear from his scripts that he views the amount of angst caused to families, other relatives and friends when detail is not supplied as a worrying trend. He argues equally that...

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will not get into a discussion on policy areas and why or how the DPP makes decisions. He is an independent office holder under the 1974 Act and it would be entirely wrong to discuss issues relating to his administration or staffing. He put forward a case where his present staff complement should be increased, especially in the policy unit. Where a trial has taken place, it is not the...

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I accept Deputy Ó Caoláin's point. While I acknowledge the long established principle of not giving reasons in public, I am aware the Director of Public Prosecutions is currently examining where there may be scope for giving further information to victims of crime with regard to prosecutorial decisions. He has stated that himself. Until he does that, I do not have any further information.

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have replied to the question about policy. The Director of Public Prosecutions has put forward a case on why he believes a policy unit would be desirable and beneficial to him. My Department generally supports that and is engaged with the Department of Finance and the DPP's office in making the case for the relevant staff to deal with this area. There are other issues too. There has...