Results 8,021-8,040 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The position is that discussions are ongoing with the Minister, a group of officials and the Mahon tribunal on a number of issues. Until those discussions are concluded, the fees stay in place. It is not a question that we have changed it. That is the position and I do not believe it has changed. I had gone to lunch with the President of Slovakia so I was not actually there. I did not...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: My Department's switch operates from Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 7.00 pm. There is no main automated telephone message for the Department, as calls are taken by switchboard staff who provide a high standard of service in Irish and English. Indeed, in the Department's Official Languages Scheme, we state that we will request Eircom, who provide the switchboard staff, to ensure that such...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) was established on a statutory basis on 1 January, 2007. Nominations have been sought from the Social Partners and appointments to the constituent bodies [National Economic and Social Council (NESC), National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP)] will be made once that...

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The code of conduct for office holders was drawn up by the Government pursuant to section 10(2) of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, following consultation with the Standards in Public Office Commission, and published in July 2003. On two occasions since the code was launched, I have provided office holders with additional...

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Public servants generally, particularly those in the departmental system, never involve themselves in political material or political drafting. Therefore, the answer to the Deputy's first question is "No". That has always been the position, even outside election periods. On the Deputy's second question, those reports arise from an omnibus parliamentary question put down to all Ministers on...

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That legislation started in the Seanad and there is no reason it should not get through.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As I understand it, if constituency facilities are involved or facilities related to one's capacity as a TD, they are apportioned so everyone would pay. If it is related to one's public office role or departmental role, it does not apply. That is how I understand it.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As I understand, all these matters are being worked out by the commission and we are all bound by the same rules.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As I said in my original reply, I see no reason to review the code because there have been only two determinations in the six years since we started the process and declarations are made on an annual basis to the Standards in Public Office Commission. Every Member and office holders, in particular, have to make a detailed declaration every year.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The issue we debated on that and other occasions was that after an election it was the practice of all Governments, whether they changed, to fill positions on State boards. There may be some urgent ones but I do not think that generally such boards should be packed in that interregnum period. On filling positions on boards as they arise, on a daily or weekly basis, they have to be filled...

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: My view is that people should use common sense in these matters. There is nothing to stop the positions from being filled in the interregnum period but I do not think it requires a code. If we start putting everything into codes——

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Well, we are moving in that direction.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Government Chief Whip tells me that if the Bill is not in the Seanad it is going to the Seanad and it will be dealt with there.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill has passed——

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I think Deputy Rabbitte should withdraw his comment that I come in here every day telling blatant fibs.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy is not going to withdraw it, that is all right.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy does not want to withdraw it, that is fine, a Cheann Comhairle. One would not believe anything he says either.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: A Cheann Comhairle——

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Government Chief Whip informs me that the Bill has been approved by the Government and is due to start in the Seanad, although I do not know on what day. I will check and let Deputy Rabbitte's office know the date. I am not responsible for the business of the Seanad, and I think the Deputy knows that.

Code of Conduct for Office Holders. (3 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: My answer is that the Bill left the Government to go to the Seanad.