Results 2,921-2,940 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Strategic Management Initiative. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Boyle has got the wrong idea. I did not refer to the number of regulators who were recently established. I refer to our overall legislation which brought into existence approximately 120 regulatory authorities. I do not refer to a handful of regulators.

Strategic Management Initiative. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We are; last year, we added 11 more. We have been trying to reduce the number of regulators in recent years. Instead of appointing new regulators, we have been trying to assign new duties. Many of the existing regulatory authorities are local authorities such as urban councils. However, there are too many in terms of trying to do business or answer to them. I do not have precise figures...

Departmental Files. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. The evaluation of files for release to the National Archives is carried out by designated officials in my Department. I have no role in that process. As files are processed for release each year, it is normal that some are certified by the appropriate official for retention on the grounds set forth in the Act. Under section 8(6)...

Departmental Files. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The files are sent to the National Archives every year so all of the records will be there. Of the six files in question, two were withheld under section 8(4)(a) of the Act, which relates to public interest, one was held under section 8(4)(b), which relates to information obtained in confidence, and one was held under section 8(4)(c), which relates to distress or danger of defamation. In...

Departmental Files. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Even the names of most of these files are not given because that would be too much information. Not many files are withheld every year — between five and nine files each year in recent times — and most relate to people in Northern Ireland who wrote to the Taoiseach of the day with information. While the files come under the category of public interest information obtained in confidence,...

Departmental Files. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Very few, to the best of my knowledge. I have the figures from 1999 and later and no file or part-file was withheld in 1999 or in the few preceding years. The 30 year rule affects files from the 1969 to 1970 period so in 2000 and 2001 there were 12 and 13 such files. The figures for the years after this were five, five and six. Almost all of these files related to security information...

Departmental Files. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: They are reviewed every five years. I am not sure that the files I have seen and those that have been held back will ever be released unless, as in the human rights situation, we can get them out eventually. Many of the files relate to people writing to the Taoiseach of the day and giving their view or assessment of information they believed to be security information. How can anyone ever...

Departmental Files. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No files relating to the Sallins robbery were held in my Department. They would have been Garda files or files held by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. As I stated, the only files in my Department related to the security situation and only a very small number of files were held back. The files related to security information and we had no files relating to the issues the...

Departmental Files. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The National Archives has legislation, procedures and a budget for dealing with these issues so I do not want to answer on its behalf. State papers are released under the National Archives Act and provide historians with valuable insights into the Government's consideration of the events of 30 years previously. I am sure those analysing these historical records will find the State papers a...

Departmental Files. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Since the Government successfully implemented the other changes, it should consider this proposal along with everything else.

Departmental Files. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Naughten obviously agrees with the actions we have already taken in this area.

Civil Service Regulation. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. As I indicated in reply to previous questions on the matter, the recommendations of the Nally report in regard to the reorganisation of the Chief State Solicitor's office have been largely implemented. The recommendation that responsibility for local State solicitors should be transferred from the Attorney General to the DPP,...

Civil Service Regulation. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will not give judgments on these issues. The questions relate to the Nally report's recommendations on the updating of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor's in 1999 to improve relationships between the office and the DPP and on the powers that should be transferred from the Attorney General to the DPP, with legislative provision to allow the DPP to delegate to the Chief State...

Civil Service Regulation. (27 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: In recent times 75 additional staff were taken on but the more recent proposal is to have a separate research unit with staff who would not be involved in the ordinary day-to-day cases. In the context of this year's Estimates, they sought resources. I do not know at what stage the negotiations are at present. It seems a very valid point that staff involved in day-to-day cases should not be...

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The cross-departmental team comprises key officials in the various Departments. The guidelines set down in terms of cost benefit analysis are subject to independent scrutiny. The central expenditure evaluation unit in the Department of Finance, a question on which I replied to earlier, is charged with promoting best practice in project appraisal and checking compliance with the capital...

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is efficient in the housing area. Our construction sector is second to none.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Kenny report deals with the issue of land, but that only affects price rather than quality of construction.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Every project goes through a line Department and every major health project goes through the capital assessment unit of the Department of Health and Children. Every project is bound by appraisals and examinations that follow good accountancy practices. There are also State agencies involved, such as local authorities, the NRA, the Dublin Airport Authority or whatever. The officials in the...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Order of Business shall be No. 7, Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007 — Second Stage, resumed; and No. 8, Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage and Second and Subsequent Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted not later than 10 p.m.;...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the first issue, that is a fairly old and limited report. It is three years old and was conducted on 140 students. I understand the matter is being addressed to the colleges. I do not think it is necessary for the House to debate a report of that nature. On the question about the referendum, I stated my view yesterday and on Monday. We have listened to the views of the Opposition...