Results 141-160 of 2,770 for speaker:Bernard Allen

Decentralisation Programme. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: I spent an hour and a half trying to get through to the Department of Education and Science in Athlone recently.

Decentralisation Programme. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: They are still using Tipp-Ex.

Decentralisation Programme. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Does the Taoiseach agree that, if one does not have the right people with the right skills in the right places, one gets an inferior service? How is the Taoiseach coping with the fact that the records show that specialist staff, such as architects, engineers and probation officers, are unwilling to move? How will he deal with that problem?

Appointments to State Boards. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: The Taoiseach will have a bit of time.

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Will the building societies (amendment) Bill be published this session? Will the Taoiseach also indicate when the legislation to bring the recommendations of the boundaries commission into effect will be published?

Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: The Minister would know all about that.

Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: I agree with the Minister that the Bill is a comprehensive package of reforms dealing with water services. It modernises a significant amount of legislation dating back through the centuries, some of which bears little relevance to the present. The key objective in any water services Bill is that the highest possible standards are achieved to ensure compliance with European Union guidelines...

Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: I wish the Minister well with his appointment but he should take a lesson from his predecessor that all knowledge and wisdom is not on one side.

Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Those on the Opposition side have some wisdom also, as well as experience in the House and on local authorities. The Minister should listen and not quickly dismiss opinions and suggestions from this side of the House. If he does, it will be his downfall as it was for his predecessor who did not listen to the suggestions from this side regarding electronic voting and other issues. The Minister...

Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Without being nasty, assurances from a Minister in a Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government are worthless because of the deceit and broken promises given before the 2002 general election. Even promises made during the local election campaign this year have in a short time also been broken — I will deal with one of those broken promises in the Adjournment debate. The Minister protests...

Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: The Bill deals with many issues, one being the metering of premises. The charges for non-domestic water consumers at present are hefty and those users bear the brunt of increases on an annual basis at local level. There is no respite for them in the Bill. From time to time people are critical of EU directives but directives on the environment, particularly with regard to the quality of...

Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: George Bush said, "Read my lips". In future debates, I hope the pressing issues and challenges in complying with all EU directives on water quality can be addressed. I hope this Bill will be dealt with constructively on Committee Stage. However, on principle I cannot accept it because I fear the worst. The only way to stop the creeping privatisation of our water services and the introduction...

Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: And now Wicklow.

Schools of Music. (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: I am glad of the opportunity to raise this matter. At the outset, I declare an interest in that my three daughters attended the Cork School of Music, and one still attends as a student. I suppose, therefore, I have a personal interest in the matter. I welcome the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. I hope it is the start of good habits whereby Ministers answer matters raised....

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Question 156: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the submission from Dublin Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign on the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy that local community projects have experienced cutbacks in their budgets for delivering services to drug users, despite commitments to ringfence drug strategy moneys. [22747/04]

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Question 216: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to expand the RAPID programme to additional areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22740/04]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Question 275: To ask the Minister for Finance if he would allow exemption from stamp duty in a case where a family are purchasing a home in order to accommodate a disabled person. [23572/04]

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Question 347: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the adult educational guidance project in Cork City is facing closure and that the project personnel are experiencing difficulty in securing a meeting with the adult education section of her Department since the project received the letter of termination dated 27 August 2004 and if she...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (5 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Question 438: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the registration application made by Cork City Council for a property (details supplied), and which was lodged on 29 April 2003, will be finalised. [23567/04]

Order of Business. (12 Oct 2004)

Bernard Allen: Given that the Government referred so often to the circumstances in the US during the debate on electronic voting and that Arnold "Rambo" Schwarzenegger has brought in a Bill in California prohibiting the use of electronic voting systems without verifiable audit trails——