Results 8,541-8,560 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Appointments to State Boards. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I know of the situation in my Department; that is the subject of these questions.

Appointments to State Boards. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The board of the NESF needs to be reappointed.

Appointments to State Boards. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister concerned.

Appointments to State Boards. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: They are not advertised.

Appointments to State Boards. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Is that with regard to my Department?

Appointments to State Boards. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I cannot recall such a situation.

Appointments to State Boards. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I suggest the Deputy puts down a question.

Appointments to State Boards. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No. Issues of governance and the responsibilities and obligations of directors are the same in the private as in the public sector, as the Deputy will be aware. That means that because of the time commitment, people are not prepared to be members of boards unless they can give the time to do the work to the best of their ability and to participate in committees such as audit committees....

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, 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. Deputies will be aware that changes are to be made to the ethics framework upon the enactment...

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If a copy of the code of conduct is not in the Oireachtas Library, it is not a secret document. The code applies to office holders, namely the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Ministers and Ministers of State, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Dáil and the Seanad. It is a public document and I think there is a copy in the Oireachtas Library. With regard to the other question which I have been...

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It was not something that could in any way be considered dodgy.

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: This is public evidence so I have no difficulty answering the question. I was clearly told that what Mr. O'Connor gave to another friend of mine was for me. Twelve years later, however, he has said it was not. I believe I know why that has happened, given the way it was paid. However, the only thing ever said to me was that it was given for me.

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have answered that question many times. The code of conduct does not stand in isolation. It is part of the wider ethics framework established by the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. Section 10(7) of the Standards in Public Office Act binds office holders to have regard to and be guided by the code. The code is linked directly to the powers of...

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will not give my views on individual cases. If one does that with one and not with others, it is unfair. The review will be carried out by the Cabinet secretariat. Obviously, I will have a say in that and I will raise the issue I raised today. The Cabinet secretariat will do the review in consultation with the Standards in Public Office Commission. I feel strongly about this matter...

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is a point to be considered in the review. It is not there at present. In my experience, I have not seen any former civil servants being advised that they should not take up positions. Members will note they all move on very quickly and the best of luck to them. The answer to the question whether the former Minister of State Mr. Parlon asked me or the Government is "no". He had no...

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: He would follow the ethics issue of the day. I note that many office holders have functions and golf outings at which they do precisely that and declare them. As Deputy Shatter knows, nowhere better than the legal profession——

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: A Minister today must abide by the code and legislation and obviously one cannot do that.

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I stated that with regard to friends. Deputy Shatter put it in a different context.

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, Deputy O'Rourke and anyone else would now follow the code of conduct and the legislation. That is what I would do also.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 11, inclusive, together. I received the final report by the Commission of Investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974 from the sole member, Mr. Patrick MacEntee, SC QC, on 12 March last. Under the Commissions of Investigation Act, I was obliged to consider certain legal issues prior to publication. As such, I sought advice from the...