Results 741-760 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Freedom of Information. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: To the best of my knowledge, this might happen if an individual case had an enormous impact on time. Perhaps not last year but in the previous year we had a few such requests, but people are charged the same fee. I do not think they are charged a higher fee. I am not positive about that, but that applies in my Department. Some Departments may need to do considerable searching and gathering of...

Freedom of Information. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Under Civil Service code such a matter would be subject to disciplinary action. Apart from FOI, regarding anything——

Freedom of Information. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Certainly not under FOI. Over the years there have been cases of files having been mislaid in Departments, about which quite serious action was taken. I remember one Department in which I was a Minister where such problems existed.

Ministerial Transport. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 15, inclusive, together. The procedures I have outlined to the House previously, most recently on 25 November 2003, are unchanged. Use of the ministerial air transport service requires my approval. Procedurally, requests for use of the service are made by Ministers' private secretaries to my office and are dealt with by the staff of my office. Requests...

Ministerial Transport. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Travelling in the smallest jet. So small that we are always last in the queue to take off. The Beechcraft has been replaced by the Learjet to provide the ministerial air service. It is now mainly used by the Air Corps and would only be used for ministerial travel if nothing else was available and normally for local flights within the State. Some of my colleagues must use it to travel to...

Ministerial Transport. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It takes a while to get there, it is quite a hardship. The Learjet carried out 78 missions, mainly to various European locations during the Presidency. The Gulfstream IV is still in operation.

Ministerial Transport. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am not directly involved but I am sure the Minister for Defence and the Air Corps follow the highest environmental standards. The jet is rarely used within the State. The Beechcraft is usually used on short flights. The Gulfstream is used for long flights and, increasingly, we use the Learjet on the Brussels route. It is effective for short haul flights.

Ministerial Transport. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have the figures, the Department of Defence has them, but the service offers value for money and is efficient. Where easy alternatives are available, it is not used. Each case is screened to ensure it makes sense. Effort is always made to get Ministers to travel together to make it more cost effective. It is also useful to the Air Corps when it is not being used by the Government.

Ministerial Transport. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The service has been looked at a number of times and it has been found to provide an efficient and cost effective service.

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest sympathy to Deputy Rabbitte and the Labour Party on the death of Eileen Desmond on 7 January. Eileen was one of the earliest women to be elected to this House as a Labour Deputy. As Deputy Rabbitte said, she was one of the first women since Countess Markievicz to be a member of the Government. The circumstances of...

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 17, statements on the tsunami disaster in South-East Asia; and No. 18, Disability Bill 2004 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders that (1) No. 12 shall be decided without debate; (2) the following arrangements shall apply with regard to No. 17: the...

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is still a runner. I understand there is agreement.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is my intention to publish the Quigley report tomorrow. The employment permits Bill will be published this session.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the sea fisheries Bill to strengthen the sea fisheries law and to secure compliance with EU law have been passed and it is hoped to publish the Bill this session.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In the case of a few of the Bills listed in the area of communications, marine and natural resources, the legislation is being reviewed in the Department in the context of its new statement of strategy. That covers three or four of the Bills that were on the list.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The advice is that legislation is required and it is being prepared as a matter of urgency.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the first matter, the legislation is being dealt with as a matter of urgency. It is hoped that the medical cards will be issued in April and that there will not be a delay. The heads of the nurses Bill are due this session. The heads of the medical practitioners Bill have been approved by the Government and the Bill will be due later this year. We will publish the heads of that Bill. Was...

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Medicines Board Bill will be ready this session. Work is under way on drafting the heads of the pharmacy Bill and it will be ready later this year.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That Bill will be ready later this year.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It will be ready later this year.