Results 7,421-7,440 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: They are doing their best.

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have been fair, frank and open about this. I would be very glad to hear the Deputy's conclusions. He stated last week that if we published the legislation, he would examine it with legal and other advisers and give his view on it. The outline of the legislative proposals lists four areas of legislation which can be addressed under the particular amendment, with legislation relating to...

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have listened to the arguments and I will not get into an argument on this because I want to try to get agreement on it. It did not start last summer. Some of the other issues were raised in the Judge Catherine McGuinness report of 1993, moved onto the constitutional review of 1996 and into the debate on the Children Acts between 1996 and 2001. Other issues formed part of the adoption...

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The answer to the Deputy's question is that, yes, several years ago, we increased both the staffing and fee levels of the tribunals. In 2004 we introduced new legislation to increase the number of judges and to attempt to speed up the modules. We did this when the tribunal indicated it would not finish its work until 2016. At that stage we introduced a new regime which ends at the end of...

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Government is dealing with a number of the tribunals as regards costs. We must reach a conclusion because the dates are up shortly for some of these. The date for the planning tribunal is 31 March, and it is clear for a variety of reasons that its work will not be finished on that date or for a long time afterwards. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,...

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 16, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Regulations 2007; No. 17, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council Framework Decision on the fight against organised crime; No. 18, motion re referral to Select Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) — deferred...

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As I said yesterday and as the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said, the age of consent has nothing to do with the referendum. We have deliberately formulated the proposal to ensure the age of consent does not enter into the debate in any way; this is about the age of protection, about establishing protection for children in the criminal courts and about creating a strict zone of...

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I refer Deputy Kenny to the very long reply given. I believe four legislative issues arise out of this which will be dealt with over a long period — there is no possibility that it will be dealt with now. It might take a few years for some of it to be dealt with. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, gave a detailed reply on that matter yesterday. I refer Deputy Kenny to that reply.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There are plenty of precedents of Ministers coming into this House and voting against Bills proposed by their own parties. I can remember a number of them.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Bill were completed last summer and it went for drafting. The legislation was due to be ready early in the summer, but I do not know if we can meet that timeframe. It is a Bill we would like to get through.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the Deputy's first question, the answer is "No, it is not". On her second question, the Bill should be ready this session.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That depends on the House.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Yes.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: This legislation is to address the issue arising from the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning assenting to the nomination of the non-party candidates to Dáil elections. As I understand it, it is necessary for it to be passed and it is due this session.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date for its publication, but I do not think there will be much debate in assenting to the nomination of non-party candidates at Dáil elections. We could clear it in half an hour.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not know. We will ask the Minister to hurry it up for the Deputy.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: An implementation group has been established to advise on the administrative structures in respect of the legal costs Bill to regulate and assess legal costs. The Bill will be published later this year, but I doubt if it will be published before the summer. The pharmacy (No. 1) Bill has been cleared by the Government and should be published any of these days. It is not possible to indicate...

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is a problem with graffiti. I am not aware if legislation is required, but I will check.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will ask the Minister to get back to the Deputy on the matter.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: At one stage there was a recommendation for an ESOP in the postal and telecommunications area, but that concept was dropped. That is why the Bill ceased.