Results 9,941-9,960 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Commissions of Investigation. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On Deputy Kenny's last question, I stated last week in a reply to Deputy Gilmore that the Smithwick tribunal will go to the High Court and the State will not resist that. That is the process which must be undergone. The papers from 1989 will be made available but the tribunal must go to the High Court to obtain them. The meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council was successful. We did...

Commissions of Investigation. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am glad to give my verdict on that, although everybody might not agree with it. I believe a file exists on the Finucane murder.

Departmental Staff. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, together. In employing special advisers, my Department complies with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, which lay down the terms and conditions of employment of special advisers. Under these Acts and on foot of Government orders, advisers are...

Departmental Staff. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Paragraph A13 of the Vote for my Department covers the estimated total cost of special advisers' annual salaries, including the salary of my programme manager, which has been reduced from well over €1 million to €640,000 per annum because I have fewer advisers now. I thought Deputy Gilmore would have noted this for me, to show how much I have reduced it.

Departmental Staff. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The reason is that as I no longer deal with the day to day issues on Northern Ireland, I do not need as many people. I have a programme manager and three special advisers who are covered across the Department. All the staff in my constituency office, except for one junior position, are civil servants. I have given the information on press officers. On Deputy Kenny's question, all Ministers...

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Government for the past ten years, as Deputy Kenny has said, has continued both to put in more buses — we have 1,100 more buses on the road — and we have continued on certain routes to allow additional licences for private operators. We are committed to seeing the further expansion and enhancement of public bus services. We want to see a top class service delivered to all citizens....

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We will amend the Transport Act 1932 in line with the Dublin transport authority Bill. The Deputy is obviously very happy with what is there at the moment but we are not so happy with it.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We will do that with the Opposition's wholehearted support. Therefore the Dublin transport authority Bill will be coming before the House, while the proposed amendment of the 1932 legislation is also under discussion.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Three points have been raised and I will try not to confuse what is a simple issue. The Dublin transport authority Bill will be before the House shortly. The Bill is almost ready and will deal with a number of important things including responsibility for the allocation of Exchequer funds, which will give the DTA power to ensure the delivery of priority transport projects. It will have...

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: In regard to the figures published yesterday, many of the tests referred to were carried out on prisoners who had just been committed and relate to drug use prior to imprisonment. That should be highlighted.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will explain. It is only since last October that prison staff have the power to carry out random mandatory drug tests on prisoners. This was not previously available and drug testing was, therefore, primarily targeted at those prisoners suspected of taking drugs or who had a known history of drug misuse. The figures should not be taken as an indicator of drug misuse across the wider...

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The figures are not representative of all prisoners. Some 500 prisoners are on supervised methadone maintenance programmes at any one time. These prisoners are initially tested at least twice weekly and tend to be tested in any case, even if they have been in prison for some time, at least once a week. This amounts to some 30,000 tests. Thus, the figures include the tests that take place...

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On the last point, I understand there were industrial relations difficulties which have since been ironed out. Prison officers are now co-operating with the new security arrangements. I assume I am referring to the same issue as that raised by the Deputy. If not, I will check that for him.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am not sure of the legal consequences of that. There was a difficulty with prisons officers operating the new security arrangements. I understand that was an industrial relations issue which has since been resolved.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: What is the Deputy talking about? Nobody is blaming anyone.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I mentioned an industrial relations issue that has been ironed out. I gave the list of the preventative issues that are taking place. In fairness, 500 of this country's 3,000 prisoners are on methadone treatment. They are being tested. One cannot move to any of the open-end prisons without having been tested and found to be drug free. Substantial moves are being made in that area. We...

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 7, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a Council Framework Decision on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to judgments in criminal matters imposing custodial sentences (back from committee); No. 8, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a proposal that section 17A of the Diseases of Animals...

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Legislation is long passed and its full implementation is due by October 2010. The appeals mechanism is in place.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The appeals board is in place.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The civil partnership Bill will provide for a system of registration of same sex partnerships and certain legal protections for them and cohabitants. The draft heads are under preparation and have not been completed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform but the legislation is due this year.