Results 6,621-6,640 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

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

Bertie Ahern: As I have stated there has been a large increase in staff because there has been a large increase in the amount of work. The negotiations at the Chief State Solicitor's office are, hopefully, drawing to a conclusion but they have not been finalised. Representatives of the State solicitors service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions have met with the State solicitors...

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

Bertie Ahern: The resources are large. It would be necessary to look at what was in the base figure for last year compared with this year. The figure for this year is the full cost figure of the office for this year based on the complement of 175. It does not include the additional staff the director is seeking at present. The Department of Finance examination of that is not yet complete. The Office...

Constitutional Amendments. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 16, inclusive, together. The Oireachtas All-Party Committee on the Constitution published its report relating to the family on 24 January 2006. The relevant Departments are considering its recommendations. The Government has acted on most of the key recommendations which have emanated from earlier reports of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution....

Constitutional Amendments. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In respect of the St. Andrews Agreement, one party insisted that an election should take place and that it should take the form of a full election in respect of the Northern Ireland Assembly. All the other parties were satisfied that the main matters with which the new agreement deals — consent, equality, etc. — are covered in the Good Friday Agreement and that an election would not be...

Constitutional Amendments. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It would be far better to engage in meaningful consultations rather than trying to fix wordings and dates and I thought the Deputy would have welcomed that move.

Constitutional Amendments. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I reiterate my comments about the St. Andrews Agreement. Subject to the legislation being passed and the Attorney General being happy that nothing will happen over the next week or so, there should no reason to hold a referendum here. On passage of the legislation, as I understand it, the Assembly will cease in its transitional form at the end of January and an election will be held on 7...

Constitutional Amendments. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have said on two occasions that it is unlikely a referendum will be required on the St. Andrews Agreement but until the legislation is passed in Westminster — because in its draft form it can be amended, as can any legislation — the Attorney General cannot be asked for a definitive answer. If it passes in its present form it is unlikely to require a referendum.

Constitutional Amendments. (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The need for a referendum can arise at any time, such as following a court judgment. There will not be a referendum until the Cabinet decides there is to be one, which was my answer in June. The Government's aim is to obtain agreement on an all-party basis as early as possible, which is always our aim with such an important issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, has made a...

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I join Deputy Kenny in condemning the murder of the Latvian woman. It was an appalling murder at the weekend. Whether someone is executed by a hit squad or criminal gang or some associated individual does not matter. The way this woman was executed requires us to do everything we can to find the culprits and those who had anything to do with the organisation of the killing. I can give the...

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is difficult for the gardaí to be at every house and every street corner. They cannot be there.

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They will do all they can to bring the culprits in the Swords murder, the attack on the young girls in Swords and the other incidents to justice. The Government has discussed this matter. The Garda has stated that it has the resources not only in numbers, but in effectively unlimited overtime in the special units dealing with these issues.

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: This applies particularly to the groups on operations to try to stop this type of crime in certain areas. We discussed that in recent weeks. We continue to put more gardaí into the force. We know the number of those coming through the colleges and Templemore. The Commissioner has been reporting to the Minister who has been reporting to the Government. We will just have to continue to do...

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste has committed to seriously considering the defence and protection of the family home, with a view to its importance to the public as a whole. He has been examining the legal issues involved and these will be taken into account in a consultation paper which will be subject to his approval. The paper sets out the issues surrounding the various points in this matter; it is a long...

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are too many hardened criminals at large, regardless of the number of cases. We have told the Garda time and again that we are prepared to provide the resources in the special units, through additional gardaí and overtime, to break these gangs.

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Garda have been successful in some of these cases. I agree these people need to be locked up with lengthy sentences. Although I have seen some briefings on some of these cases, I am not sure whether those involved are criminal gangs or individuals. That, however, should not stop us. We must make an example of some of these hardened gangs or individuals who act for their own reasons...

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte met the workers yesterday and a number of my colleagues met them in the past week. They have been engaged in briefing sessions. They were with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on Sunday morning. A number of Deputies from my party have raised the issue with me also. I wish to make three points I have previously made on this issue. Greencore did extremely well from the...

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The company is doing well at home and abroad. It has been well dealt with under EU rules and by the Government. I accept some legal issues are outstanding with which I am not familiar. As I understand, the Minister for Agriculture and Food has asked the Attorney General, or at least her own legal experts, to examine these matters. However, this does not take away from the fact the workers...

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: What the workers asked everybody else was whether we would look at the legal issues in regard to some of the money that has not yet been paid. I mentioned the Minister is doing this, but I do not know the legal certainties of doing that as it is EU money. It is a private company but it has been through the Labour Court. Because the factories are closed it wants to develop the sites and it...

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Garda, through the report we received today from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is doing everything it can in that area to track down the murderer and also the individual involved in the abuse of children. In a few other cases in the region last week the Garda investigation is continuing. I am not sure if the Deputy is aware that a substantial number of gardaí not...

Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. We have made it clear to him on a number of occasions, including last year, that any resources required would be provided. We fast-tracked a number of gardaí through Templemore, including special units, and €1.3 billion has been spent on overtime. We will continue to do this.