Results 2,281-2,300 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Inter-faith Dialogue. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——would be adhered to. There is a separate question about children. Deputy Sargent's first question concerned the Church of Ireland ethos as enshrined in the agreement on the Adelaide Hospital and that this would not be lost when changes are made in any area and that the State would respect the charter. I accept that.

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 9, inclusive, together. The Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 empowers the interception of postal packages and telecommunications messages for the purpose of criminal investigation or in the interests of the security of the State. The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 provides for the...

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: My role is limited but I will try to be helpful. Only the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may authorise interceptions. The oversight powers of the designated judge and access of the complains referee are part of the systems of checks, balances and safeguards laid out in the Act. In his most recent report to me, the designated judge stated that he is satisfied the provisions...

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte asked if I think the numbers sound high and I do, but I am assured in the report that the proper procedures and requirements are scrupulously observed. It is not a loose arrangement; a case must be put forward by the gardaí and sanctioned by the Minister. I do not have the figures for the number of requests made by the Army but I assume those numbers were higher in the past...

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I understand there must be a review in respect of both and I will raise the point.

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: This question is about proper procedures within the Garda Síochána and the Army to seek information. I cannot answer as regards everything else. That information is stored. I cannot answer who has access to it or who can get it because I do not have information on these procedures. The range of information stored has been highlighted before. As regards the ways people can access such...

Telecommunications Data. (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Gardaí have to follow a procedure that is set down if they wish to get interception. That has to be approved by the Minister and in the case of a complaint the role of the complaints referee is also laid down in legislation. I have outlined already what has to happen. If the Complaints Commissioner upholds a complaint, he can inform the complainant of this in writing. He reports his...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Irish drinking water standards are very good. They now stand at 97.6% compliance with EU requirements, according to the latest report, and almost 99% of public supplies, countrywide, have been assessed by the EPA as complying with all the key microbiological standards.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Government's investment over the period of the national development plan has delivered additional drinking water for a population equivalent to 1 million people. The priority under the new national development plan is to finish that job.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We have provided almost €5 billion to build 900 new schemes for both drinking water and waste water.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: These schemes will address any remaining inadequacies in the current infrastructure.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The European Commission has identified Ireland and the United Kingdom as the two member states in which improvements in drinking water quality are significant and obvious. That is the overall position.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not understand Deputy Kenny's complaint regarding what was said by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. A range of approximately six measures were agreed at the meetings. First, it was agreed that efforts by the engineers in the area to identify the source or sources of the outbreak will continue.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Second, the water supply from Tuam will be increased to augment the city supply and the additional supply from this source will come on stream incrementally during the next two months. It was agreed that the old water treatment plant in Galway will be phased out — we hope by the middle of June — as additional supplies are delivered from the Tuam system, and that the installation of a...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is also a longer term commitment to fast-track the advancement of the new treatment plant in Galway at a cost of more than €21 million and to provide €27.4 million for increased storage of water and conservation measures in Tuam, which will allow for additional water to be made available to the city. A range of other issues is being considered but those are the main points.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will try to reply to Deputy Kenny's questions. Since 2000, we have invested €1.75 billion in more than 100 waste water treatment schemes, including major new treatment plants in Dublin, Wexford, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Drogheda, Dundalk and Westport.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The water services investment programme for the period 2005-07 contained 899 projects at various stages of development, the full cost of which was €5 billion. I do not believe there was a lack of investment. The answer to Deputy Kenny on the decline in the figures is that Ringsend, the most significant single water scheme carried out in Europe, was included in the base figures. When that...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I want to give a factual answer to Deputy McCormack's party leader. A sum of €21 million was given to Galway City Council to deal with the scheme and it could not agree on it.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Department cannot be blamed because the money was allocated but was not spent. I am more interested in helping people in Galway than in talking. I do not want to get into that.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have outlined that the water supply from Tuam will be increased to augment the city supply, and that can be done fairly quickly. The old water treatment plant will be phased out fairly quickly. I hope the Tuam system will deliver more supply from the summer.