Results 9,421-9,440 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Written Answers — National Honours System: National Honours System (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, I responded to Dáil questions on the subject of a proposed honours system in the House on 20 November. I have expressed the view that a national honours system should have all party consensus. I indicated in my reply to the House that I had recently written to opposition party leaders to enquire if their Parties would now be prepared to enter into discussions...

Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 9, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council decision concerning co-operation between asset recovery offices of the member states (back from committee); No. 8, Supplementary Estimates for Public Services — Votes 20 and 21(back from committee); and No. a11, financial motions by the Minister for Finance, 2007 — motion 5, (resumed). It is...

Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That is how I understand it.

Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: They are not taxation measures and are not required to be included in the budget statement. They are in the principal features of the budget. There are a number of issues in the principal features. The Minister for Health and Children outlined last night why these issues come up at budget time. They come up regularly at budget time and are included in a departmental estimate for next year.

Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The eligibility for health and personal social services Bill is expected in 2008 but the review is not predicated on that legislation.

Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The first matter raised by the Deputy will be dealt with in this session. I do not know what the other issue is about.

Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There was a large increase in his Estimate yesterday. The national monuments Bill will be taken next year.

Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is on Committee Stage. All I can do is bring Deputy Costello's views to the Minister.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The confidence of the Irish people in the capacity of the Government to manage our way through difficult conditions has been fully vindicated by the terms of the budget introduced by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen. The role of the budget in a modern economy is only in part about the specific measures announced on budget day. Its more important role is to signal...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy will have to wait a long time for that.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I hope the Deputy is still there when I leave.

Constitutional Amendments. (11 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Twenty-Eighth Amendment to the Constitution Bill 2007 was published in February 2007. The June 2007 programme for Government included a commitment to establish an all-party committee to examine the proposed constitutional amendment with a view to further deepening consensus on this matter. In October, the Minister of State...

Constitutional Amendments. (11 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the first question, my preference, although it is not a strong one, is to hold the two referendums on the one day. The reason for this is that we all gave a commitment. At the beginning of the year the party leaders gave a commitment to the NGOs and those associated with the children's issue that we would hold the referendum within one year, if it was possible to do so, but it may not...

Constitutional Amendments. (11 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: A constitutional referendum would definitely be needed to reform the Seanad in such a broad manner. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, said recently that certain reforms could be made on foot of the referendum that took place some years ago. A referendum would not be needed to allow the large proportion of people under the age of 35 who are graduates to vote in Seanad elections. Many of the...

Constitutional Amendments. (11 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is no doubt about that.

Constitutional Amendments. (11 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is no doubt about it. I have not got the formal advice. We could not refer the treaty to the Attorney General until we got the final text. Having examined the preliminary draft, the Attorney General advised me that a number of aspects of it clearly necessitate a referendum. There is no doubt about it — we will require a referendum.

Constitutional Amendments. (11 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny asked three questions. The Twenty-Eighth Amendment to the Constitution Bill 2007, which deals with the constitutional amendment on children, was published last February. It was backed by a substantial amount of work done by the then Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, with the officials and various sections of the Departments across a whole range of areas. The issue...

Constitutional Amendments. (11 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I acknowledge and accept the bona fides and goodwill of members of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children towards achieving an agreed wording that can be put to the people in a constitutional referendum. I accept it may take some time. It wants to allow people extend their views more widely than the NGO groups did in 2006. It is a good thing but there is the time...

Constitutional Amendments. (11 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I appreciate the help of Deputy Hayes. It is even longer than I thought; it is nearly 30 years ago. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, was referring to that referendum in the context of Seanad reform which can be introduced. Other reforms came from the report of the committee on Seanad reform, which Deputy Brian Hayes will recall, which we can...

Constitutional Amendments. (11 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The decision is clear. It must be held in 2008 because it must be ratified by 1 January 2009. I have not given up on holding the two referendums on the one day, if possible. We must be fair to the considerable group behind the children's referendum, which is far larger than most groups that seek our assistance. It represents organisations across communities in every part of the country,...