Results 10,481-10,500 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Citizenship Applications. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A review of the current framework for the acquisition of Irish citizenship is under way in my Department. Statutory provisions for the acquisition of Irish citizenship are contained in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. While the provisions of that Act have been amended on a number of occasions, in 1986, 1994, 2001 and 2004, to take account of significant policy...

Citizenship Applications. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The timeline for the publication of the review is 2010 and it will be subject to consultation thereafter. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act dates from 1956 but it was amended in 1986, 1994, 2001 and 2004. We are considering the possibility of amending it further based on recent trends. I accept that anyone who wants to become an Irish citizen must have a period of residency. The...

Citizenship Applications. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: One of the benefits of the decentralisation of the citizenship application process to Tipperary is that there has been a reduction in the overall time by approximately six months-----

Citizenship Applications. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It is the case that there is a long timelag but in many cases the reason for delay is that the file is intense. Information must be obtained from abroad and checks must be awaited on social welfare, Garda clearance and other issues.

Citizenship Applications. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: All of this takes some time. This year and probably next year there will be a considerable spike in the number of applications for citizenship because people will qualify under the residency conditions. We will deal with that and we have a new computerised system in Tipperary which turns around cases much quicker than heretofore. However, there will be a delay. This is not something that...

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, I have initiated a wide-ranging review of gambling, the objective of which is to provide Government with options for a new and comprehensive legal and organisational framework governing the gambling architecture in the State. The casino gaming control section of my Department will be responsible for bringing forward proposals, including a draft Bill for a revised...

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I do not accept that Fianna Fáil has shirked its responsibility. Previously in the House I stated that all political parties, whenever they were in Government, veered away from this area because of the difficulties from a legislative point of view. People in this country are operating under very old legislation, which is out of date. It behoves us to move forward. The Deputy may be aware...

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Yes, because the Deputy's party leader would not participate and neither would the Labour Party in what was originally an understanding under my predecessor. I have asked my officials to proceed and the public has shown a significant level of interest in the consultation process which we advertised. I have asked my officials to bring forward policy options by the end of the year and I hope...

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: For the second time today, Deputy Rabbitte has done a disservice to the two people he mentioned, namely, Deputy Brian Lenihan and the Taoiseach. To the best of my knowledge at no stage were they interested in any shape or form in FOBTs and any reasonable person would be against FOBTs, as I stated clearly when I eventually understood what they were about.

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: What I had a difficulty with was the way in which the Deputy laid down preconditions in regard to the all-party examination of this issue. Given that this was considered in the casino report, it was important that entire report, warts and all - there were warts in it - would be looked at by the all-party committee but be that as it may, we have now moved on. I assure the Deputy that nobody...

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In fact, I would hazard a guess that these particular gentlemen are against these.

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: However, it is the case that we will have to legislate in this area to regulate what is, in effect, an unregulated one. We have a duty-----

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As I said, when I came into this job, I was confronted by what I understood to be an understanding between the Deputy's party, my party and the other main Opposition parties that there would be an effort to look at this area on an all-party basis. That was not possible because the Labour Party-----

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Labour Party decided it wanted a precondition that there would be no consideration of FOBTs. I agree with Deputy Rabbitte on the principle of FOBTs in that I disagree with their implementation in this country. However, the Deputy's party got cold feet.

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: One or two of its Deputies were very annoyed-----

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----at the attitude of the Deputy's party leader who obviously saw political opportunity. As I said, I have asked my officials-----

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have asked my officials-----

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A Deputy from the Deputy's party was nominated as an ad hoc chairman of the group-----

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----and exhorted me to proceed with the all-party committee-----

Gambling Legislation. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----and leave the Labour Party out if it wanted to stay out.