Results 2,781-2,800 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have not been involved with the Bill in detail so the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will deal with the Deputy's last point during the course of the debate. I assume the matter has been well covered but I will raise it with the Minister with a view to clearing it up before the Bill is taken. I received the Deputy's letter concerning the referendum today and his...

Leaders' Questions (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is being taken in the House in one and a half hours' time. The contents of the Bill before the House, including the precise legal points to which the Deputy refers, can be discussed during the debate. Deputy Rabbitte asked for clarification on section 3(5) in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 before the debate and I will ask the Tánaiste to clarify that to the Labour...

Leaders' Questions (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I sympathise with the parents and family of the late Derek O'Toole on his untimely and tragic death. I completely agree with Deputy Higgins's point that it is regrettable that initial reports from an unnamed source attempted to put Derek's character at issue. A full Garda investigation, headed by a superintendent, is under way. When it is completed, a file will be forwarded to the Director...

Leaders' Questions (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I inquired as to whether the leak came from officers on duty in the Garda press office on duty at the time of the tragedy or from any of the officers who attended at the scene and I received assurances that it did not. It came from what were referred to as "anonymous sources". If Deputy Higgins is asking me to condemn such sources, I would be obliged to do so every minute of my life. In...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the internal agreement concerning the tenth European Development Fund; No. 13, Finance Bill 2007 — Financial Resolutions; No. 18, Finance Bill 2007 — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; and No. a4, Criminal Law (Sexual Offences)(Amendment) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage and Second and...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The criminal justice (trafficking in persons and sexual offences) Bill, which is a wider Bill covering several of these issues, is being prepared. The problem is it will not be ready for some weeks, and that would mean that the loophole would not have been closed and perhaps some of the other issues would not have been dealt with either. The request for more time came from the Labour Party...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Aviation Regulation Bill is to provide for the separation of the safety regulation role from the Irish Aviation Authority and the establishment of a new aviation commission. The legislation is due this year.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There will still be private Members' business.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The proposals on that are being developed. Recently the Cabinet received a report from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche. To the best of my knowledge, the legislation is in preparation. I do not know when it will be available, but they certainly are working on it. In the autumn we gave it priority.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is already published.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Hopefully, shortly. It is ready.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation is due this year. It will be sometime during 2007.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: A number of commemorations have been planned both in Europe and here. The formal date is 25 March, on which a special Council meeting will be held.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It will be published shortly.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is listed for 2007.

Ministerial Air Transport Service. (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The procedures I outlined to the House previously in respect of the use of the ministerial air transport service, most recently on 26 January 2005, have not changed. The position is that my approval is required prior to the service being used. Procedurally, requests for the use of the service are made to my office by Ministers' private...

Ministerial Air Transport Service. (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The MATS aircraft are housed at Baldonnel. I suggest the Deputy direct a question to the Minister for Defence. Practically all flights arrive at or depart from Baldonnel. A high proportion take off from Baldonnel and a smaller number from Dublin Airport. Those that take off from Dublin Airport do so for a variety of logistical, operational or safety reasons, including the needs of the...

Ministerial Air Transport Service. (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Most long-haul flights such as those to the United States usually leave from Dublin Airport, while shorter journeys such as those to Britain commence from Baldonnel. I fly from both Baldonnel and Dublin Airport. If I am returning late at night, I prefer to land at Dublin Airport, as it is located five minutes from my home but otherwise I do not really care. Most flights usually leave from...

Ministerial Air Transport Service. (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am. Three of the helicopters in which I flew crashed in one form or another in one year. That finished me and helicopters, except when I have to use them. I thought I had better take——

Ministerial Air Transport Service. (6 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I was not on them but, unfortunately, others were.