Results 6,661-6,680 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with Deputy Kenny that it is a nightmare thought for parents that any of their children would be interfered with, harassed, assaulted or abused in any way. Obviously, it is an issue to which the authorities and the Government give the highest priority. Deputy Kenny stated that a number of issues have been highlighted in a newspaper today. There is no evidence that sex offenders from...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——to the court for a sex offenders order against any registered offender if there is a belief that his or her behaviour in the community gives reasonable cause for concern or is a danger to the public. In reply to Deputy Kenny's fair question, I want to stress that this provision of the Sex Offenders Act, which is now five years old, applies to offenders coming here from abroad and the...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I accept what Deputy Kenny has said. I accept also that this is an area which cannot be over regulated, if it stops paedophilia or any kind of abuse. To reply specifically to some of the questions raised, the issue of soft information which has come to the fore a number of times is being examined. The Tánaiste has already said at the committee that that requires a constitutional amendment...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy should ask the Garda.

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Garda is very conscious of this issue. The case in Swords is another example of a case that received much publicity. Unfortunately, there are many cases that get no publicity. It is an issue on which we have to be vigilant and nobody wants to tolerate these issues. The memorandum of understanding on the sharing of arrangements will be launched by the Tánaiste and the Home Office...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are all very familiar with the Stardust events and I certainly am because at the time I lived beside the Stardust site in the Pinebrook estate in Artane. As I was the administrator on call in the Mater Hospital that night, I remember it very well. It was for that reason that I decided after 25 years it was time for somebody to do it. Deputy Rabbitte is right in stating that no...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that.

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will not be partisan about it either. I do not believe that Deputy Rabbitte can fairly make a political point that if I got information in September and dealt with it immediately, that was delaying it. They did not present this information. They did present other information over the years, which successive Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Justice,...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——but the relatives put forward their own claims in their submission. I cannot supply an exact date in respect of this matter. My officials have been trying to press the people who have the relevant technical competence to deal with this matter.

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have accepted that the information has been provided in good faith. However, I cannot make an assessment because I am not a forensic scientist, an architect or an engineer. I have given careful consideration to the matter, taken on board the submissions and listened to the relatives, their advisers and Mr. Greg O'Neill. I spoke to the relatives and understand the hurt they have suffered...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: When Deputy Joe Higgins and other Members of the House raised this matter a few years ago, I supported the carrying out of a further examination of the safety and security issues and the procurement of outside and independent international advice in this regard. The Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, spent a year carrying out such an examination. I am aware that the site development work...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have no reason to argue with the Deputy about this. He knows the legislative, governance and safety processes have been gone through extensively. The Government was anxious that safety issues would be re-examined and international experts were independently hired following a procurement process——

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——to undertake a detailed analysis of the entire case and that has happened.

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They examined the issues in minute detail. Deputy Joe Higgins is aware this has happened. I have made it clear that work should continue on the Corrib gas field, which is a major national infrastructural project.

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The project also has the potential to play a significant role in the economic and social regeneration of Mayo and the north-west region.

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The project will facilitate the improvement of the region's infrastructure and increase local employment in both the short term and the long term.

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The development will also increase security of energy supply by providing a reliable and secure indigenous source of gas. Deputy Joe Higgins correctly said I hope some day to look after my baskets and flower pots but I hope the horticultural industry will have the benefit of gas from Bellanaboy and the Corrib field rather than Russia by then because that would be much better.

Cabinet Meetings. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. It is not possible to distinguish the cost of Government meetings generally from the overall costs associated with the operation of the Government secretariat. Where Cabinet meetings are held outside Government Buildings, additional costs may arise. The cost for my Department to date in respect of the meeting which was held in...

Cabinet Meetings. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On average, only one meeting a year is held outside Dublin and the cost is low. The meeting in Wicklow was held during the Wicklow 400 celebrations and we met those involved in organising them as well as local community representatives. We have met in Cork and Waterford cities. My ministerial colleagues regularly hold meetings in commuter towns. They commute themselves and it is an issue...

Cabinet Meetings. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, commutes seven or eight hours to his home a few times a week.