Results 1,481-1,500 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It will be published in this session.

Order of Business. (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Work is in progress on the heads of the Dublin metro Bill, which was originally titled the infrastructural Bill. It will be published next year.

Order of Business. (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A Bill is being prepared to update the 1932 Act.

Order of Business. (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It will be as soon as possible.

Order of Business. (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill will be published next year.

Written Answers — Official Mourning: Official Mourning (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There is no formal definition of a national day of mourning and therefore no standard criteria by which to determine the form of official mourning, which has been observed in different ways, depending on the nature of the event. A decision to direct that the national flag be flown at half mast is a form of official mourning, as reflected in international practice. Occasions on which this has...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. The names, functions, salaries and travel and maintenance expenses of all political appointees in my office and the offices of the Ministers of State at my Department and the Government press secretariat are detailed in the following tabular statement. These staff are all employed on a full-time basis and those who are civil servants are...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are two programme managers based in my Department. My programme manager, Mr. Gerry Hickey, is employed on a contract basis in line with the Civil Service Regulation Acts for the duration of the current Government. Ms. Katherine Bulbulia, programme manager to the Tánaiste, is employed on the same basis and is also based in my Department. The role of the programme managers is to assist...

Recycling Policy. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. My Department follows best practice in recycling and our policy is expressed in our 2003 Annual Report in which it is stated that "The Department continues to seek out and avail of opportunities to recycle waste and, wherever possible, to use recycled paper". All paper and cardboard waste from my Department is recycled. Paper waste...

Recycling Policy. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: All the measures being taken in the different areas in regard to waste paper and cardboard, amounting to 104,000 kg, have been in place for a long time. I referred to glass and cans, which are already being dealt with. Efforts are being made to try to reduce and recycle waste as much as possible, which has been the policy of the Department for several years. We must ensure that waste disposal...

Recycling Policy. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy raised a number of points. Most of the reports issued by the Department, including the social partnership reports, the annual reports and SMI reports, are published on the website straight away. However, I take the Deputy's point that this should be the case for all reports. On the issue of printing, there is a long tradition whereby hard copies are created of all the reports,...

Recycling Policy. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: For several years a contractor, whose name I cannot mention for security reasons but which is well known, has disposed of waste from my Department. The Department has considered other companies but stays with this one because it provides a secure facility for sorting paper and non-paper waste which the Department requires. I asked about this some time ago and was told no other company...

International Agreements. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. The Ireland Newfoundland partnership, previously named the Newfoundland and Labrador business partnership, was established on foot of a memorandum of understanding signed by the Government of Ireland and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The original agreement was signed by former Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, in 1996, with the then...

International Agreements. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The location is just a matter of convenience for co-ordination and co-operation. Its location does not really matter because it is chaired by a Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the subhead could be in any Department. It straddles a number of Departments. Two officials are involved in the partnership on a full-time basis and we are trying to keep...

International Agreements. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In terms of what we are spending it is probably well worth the money. In fairness when the then Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, set it up, it was not just a money matter and was based on the cultural ties. Two marine technology agreements have been set up, there is film co-production between Ireland and Newfoundland and there have been technology transfers. We have saved the money we have spent...

International Agreements. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am sure there is a connection in the areas of fishing and the marine as a result of trade missions dealing with companies. Our co-operative sector has developed to a further stage as I am confident will be the case in Newfoundland and Labrador. Co-operatives have changed their status and become private companies. Most companies in the Irish food sector originated as co-operatives. In many...

Regulatory Reform. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together. Considerable progress has been achieved since the publication in 2001 of the OECD report on regulatory reform in Ireland. Many of the OECD recommendations related to specific sectoral issues and appropriate Ministers with responsibility for those sectors report progress to the House. A key recommendation of the OECD report was the...

Regulatory Reform. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The regulatory impact analysis and the whole question of regulations are not the most interesting of topics, but they are hugely important. Deputy Kenny is correct about Europe, in that the system of bureaucracy and legislation in Europe is very different from that in the United States, where it is very simple. In OECD terms, we are considered not to be a very highly regulated country, and we...

Regulatory Reform. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I was asked about the pharmacy area, which was mentioned by Deputy Rabbitte along with other areas. I have a brief note which I can give the House. A number of these are implemented or in the process of implementation. The Competition Authority has made considerable progress in the non-life insurance market, the banking sector and architectural and engineering professions. The document on the...

Regulatory Reform. (26 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We are all right. We will get there yet. The Tánaiste has carefully considered the complex issues raised by the pharmacy review group. The memorandum outlines her plans to consolidate and update the existing legislation to provide for the safe and effective delivery of pharmaceutical services to all citizens in a comprehensive manageable and robust legislative framework. In particular it...