Results 8,181-8,200 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——but we moved from completing approximately 30 projects a year to a position where in the 2000 to 2005 period we spent €2 billion——

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——on 6,500 school buildings, which is historically high compared to anything that was ever achieved previously.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Nothing is ever enough but I am just giving the factual position that spending was increased by 400%. Under the 2006 budget we have provided just short of €4 billion to be invested in capital projects over the next five years.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: This Government has achieved a major success and nobody can argue with that.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On Deputy Joe Higgins's second point, I have given the schools and I have said the——

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am trying to answer Deputy Joe Higgins's question. If Deputy Burton wanted to ask this question she should have asked her leader to ask it instead of the one he asked about voting machines. Unfortunately, her party is opposed to technology. As it did in 2006, the Department conducted a survey of——

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——all the primary schools in Dublin 15 to determine the number of junior infants who had enrolled from September 2007. This survey indicates a considerable number of children enrolled in more than one school. While I understand this from the parents' point of view, it also resulted in inflating the number of children seeking school places. Notwithstanding this, the Department of...

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The Government invited the consultation partners who had been engaged in developing the arrangements for the process of structured dialogue between Government and the churches, philosophical bodies and non-confessional organisations of Ireland to Dublin Castle on 26 February 2007 for an inaugural event and a reception. The occasion...

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: A number of points have been raised. Deputy Kenny is totally correct. Bunreacht na hÉireann guarantees freedom of conscience and free profession and practice of religion. Obviously, if somebody wishes to have nothing to do with any church or association, he or she is entitled to do so. This dialogue first emerged from the draft constitution on Europe. A number of countries, France in...

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: People who tend to make contributions that denigrate the role of churches in modern-day society.

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the issue of education, Members will appreciate that most of the meetings have been attended by officials. We have tried to model them on structured dialogue that took place in other countries. The French model is particularly successful and its constitutional position of not affording any church priority over another religion or faith community is respected throughout the world....

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I did not think of that matter and will certainly consider it. The Deputy's question is really whether the representatives of the churches have access to the civic forum. Although I have not thought about it, I do not see why they could not have access, given the agreement of the civic groups of the forum.

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It did not arise under structured dialogue with the Church of Ireland but I have had separate meetings with the representatives of the church on this matter on a number of occasions. The National Children's Hospital comprises only one aspect of the matter, which has featured for a number of years, as the Deputy knows. The Government's position is that the Church of Ireland and its ethos...

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: In this case I was referring to the Church of Ireland. I did not have discussions with any other denomination about the issue. No denomination, other than that of the Archbishop of Dublin and Archbishop Eames, raised the issue with me. Dialogue with the Department of Health and Children and the HSE is continuing, not just on the children's hospital but on the broad agreement of that charter.

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Let us be clear. The issue is that the charter of the Adelaide Hospital, negotiated by the Church of Ireland——

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——would be adhered to. There is a separate question about children. Deputy Sargent's first question concerned the Church of Ireland ethos as enshrined in the agreement on the Adelaide Hospital and that this would not be lost when changes are made in any area and that the State would respect the charter. I accept that.

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 9, inclusive, together. The Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 empowers the interception of postal packages and telecommunications messages for the purpose of criminal investigation or in the interests of the security of the State. The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 provides for the...

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: My role is limited but I will try to be helpful. Only the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may authorise interceptions. The oversight powers of the designated judge and access of the complains referee are part of the systems of checks, balances and safeguards laid out in the Act. In his most recent report to me, the designated judge stated that he is satisfied the provisions...

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte asked if I think the numbers sound high and I do, but I am assured in the report that the proper procedures and requirements are scrupulously observed. It is not a loose arrangement; a case must be put forward by the gardaí and sanctioned by the Minister. I do not have the figures for the number of requests made by the Army but I assume those numbers were higher in the past...

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I understand there must be a review in respect of both and I will raise the point.