Results 3,081-3,100 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The communications legislation is nothing to do with this issue. Pornography on the Internet is covered by several legislative measures that are already enacted.

Moriarty Report: Statements (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: What came home forcefully to me as I read this report is the sheer scale of the amounts of money — more than €11 million, or some €45 million in today's values — found by the tribunal to have been either privately donated to Mr. Haughey or misapplied by him during the period under inquiry from 1979 to 1996. What struck me even more forcefully were the devices employed to conceal the...

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The company is in active negotiations with IMPACT and the Irish Airline Pilots Association, IALPA, in respect of the proposed changes it is seeking to receive. It has not been possible to progress discussions with SIPTU and the craft unions. On Monday, IMPACT commenced participation in a facilitation process at the Labour Relations Commission. The union is participating with the National...

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Joe Higgins knows my position on this. Staff in Aer Lingus have done a tremendous job over the past 15 years and the management of the company is also doing a good job. In spite of very stiff competition and opposition, it is trying to maintain a strong company. There are 1,800 members in the company who have been given relatively good conditions which they, obviously, want to hold...

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3 together. The Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion last met on 7 December 2006. The next meeting is due to be held on 21 February 2007. As I have outlined to the House now on a number of occasions, Cabinet committees are an integral part of the Cabinet process. Questions as to the business conducted at Cabinet or Cabinet committee meetings have...

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: December.

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion comprises a large number of Ministers and Ministers of State and it meets at least once a month. It covers education and science; enterprise, trade and employment; community and rural affairs; finance; the environment, heritage and local government; health and children; and social and family affairs. Usually a number of Ministers of State...

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: All aspects of the supply side are discussed but the Deputy would obtain much more information from the relevant Minister. A great deal of information is available on the supply of these drugs, the international syndicates involved and the locations from which they are sourced, such as Iran and Afghanistan through markets across Europe. The issue of the supply of drugs has been examined as...

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Drugs are one aspect of the sub-committee's work. Meetings are held regularly to discuss only the drugs issue because it is a major problem. We discuss drugs in the community, drugs in the broadest sense that are creating difficulties for individuals, the drugs strategy and everything related to it. However, the office of social inclusion under the aegis of the Minister for Social and...

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, it is nationwide.

Constitutional Amendments. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 11, inclusive, together. The Oireachtas All-Party Committee on the Constitution published its report relating to the family on 24 January 2006. The relevant Departments are considering its recommendations. The Government has acted on most of the key recommendations which have emanated from earlier reports of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution....

Constitutional Amendments. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I appreciate the briefing documents did not contain the wording which we finalised only yesterday. A significant amount of debate and consideration took place on the issue, involving the Attorney General and eminent constitutional counsel in this area. We have to do an Irish translation and this will take a few days. The Deputy will be aware that is crucial in a constitutional referendum....

Constitutional Amendments. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No, I do not. That would be the worst of all worlds. I would like if we can agree it and still get it done within the timescale, but if we agree it and cannot get it done within the timescale that would also be an achievement. There are a number of areas involved, some of which should not create great difficulties. The rights of all children are to be recognised and affirmed. Power is to...

Constitutional Amendments. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have listened to opposing arguments on this matter. In the past 30 years the courts have granted rights to children of unmarried parents under Article 43. These personal rights are the equivalent to the constitutional rights of a child of married parents. The legal team has examined this area and is satisfied with its resolution. In a case like this eminent people are consulted, not...

Constitutional Amendments. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, it is not possible to hold the referendum before Easter because of the number of days that remain. Even if we all agreed next week to pass the referendum Bill in the Houses, we could not hold the referendum by Easter.

Constitutional Amendments. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Higgins missed the point. Most of these issues have been discussed ad nauseam. I have been involved in referendum campaigns where public attention was not caught until the campaign was almost over. Those who are interested, including NGOs, professionals and those who have discussed the legal cases, in particular the last one which has been discussed in great detail for the past...

Constitutional Amendments. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: When parties see the proposals, which Deputy Brian Lenihan has explained to spokespersons, and consult with legal people it will not take more than a few days for the Opposition to decide if it will support the wording. Then we can make a decision on it. I think we can complete the work. People who work in this area believe it is crucial we deal with this in the short term, whether that...

Constitutional Amendments. (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the first matter, it is more than one question and the Government will publish its view on how to deal with it next week. We have had various discussions about how best to take the Oireachtas committee forward. The document is before the Whips and I look forward to making some progress on the committee of the House that will deal with matters on an all-Ireland basis.

Order of Business (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 22, statements on the Moriarty report; No. 1, the Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006, amendments from the Seanad; No. 23, Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006 — order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 21, the Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage, resumed. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in...

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The point I made yesterday was that the level of drugs is played up when there is much statistical evidence that the national drugs strategy campaign has enjoyed success. Deputy Kenny is suggesting a voluntary scheme in schools and if we are dealing with minors, the agreement of parents is necessary. If the parents, the board of management and the children agree, however, it is a matter for...