Results 341-360 of 1,150 for speaker:Frank Fahey

Animal Welfare. (1 Feb 2007)

Frank Fahey: ——provides that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds, a licence authorising the hunting of deer by that pack, during such period as specified in the licence. The current licence held by the Ward Union Hunt expires on 31 March 2007. This licence and all licences issued since 1999,...

School Accommodation. (1 Feb 2007)

Frank Fahey: As regards the proposed amalgamation of the existing boys' and girls' national schools in the Lixnaw area of County Kerry, the schools indicated to the Department of Education and Science that they propose to amalgamate to provide for a single co-education national school to serve the area. Before progressing the project further and to ensure that any capital funding allocated to assist in...

School Accommodation. (1 Feb 2007)

Frank Fahey: I will bring to the attention of the Minister the points he has made. I do not believe it is a question of an inspector visiting the schools. I am assured by the Minister, however, that a technical examination will be carried out to determine the suitability of both schools before a final decision is made.

Stardust Disaster. (1 Feb 2007)

Frank Fahey: At the outset, let me say there is no need for the relatives to go out and protest at this stage. As the Deputy is aware, considerable progress has been made on the matter. Both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste are most anxious that the process be concluded as quickly as possible. Following the meetings held with representatives of the victims with the director of the forensic science...

Schools Building Projects. (1 Feb 2007)

Frank Fahey: As the Deputy has said, under the permanent accommodation scheme 2005 the school authority was offered funding of €300,000. It was agreed that this would not proceed and the school would be delivered by the traditional method, in line with the project's priority band rating. Officials in the Department of Education and Science have recently completed their reassessment of projected...

Europol (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Frank Fahey: Following consultation by my Department with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on the matter, he has advised that the words "with any necessary modifications", which the amendment proposes to delete, are necessary to ensure our Data Protection Acts apply and have full effect. These words were included in the Europol Act 1997 and they are a common form in Acts such as this, which give...

Europol (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Frank Fahey: In the Europol Act 1997 the same terminology, "with any necessary modifications", was included and the Office of the Attorney General is of the view that these words should be retained. It is a common word construction that is necessary to give effect to the relevant section of the Bill and one used in other legislation. I do not think the Deputy need worry about this issue.

Europol (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Frank Fahey: I thank Deputies for their contributions and the interest they have shown in the issues covered by the Bill. While it is short, it is very important in increasing the level of co-operation between member states in the fight against international organised crime, as recognised by Opposition Deputies. It is important that it be enacted without further delay and that the three protocols that...

Domestic Violence. (7 Dec 2006)

Frank Fahey: The organisation in question is a registered charity and non-governmental organisation which received substantial grant assistance from my Department to undertake a locally based one-year pilot domestic violence intervention project. The purpose of the pilot project was to develop an integrated programme co-ordinating the work of the civil and criminal judicial systems and other key agencies...

Domestic Violence. (7 Dec 2006)

Frank Fahey: I agree with the Deputy that the probation and welfare service has done a good job as part of this pilot project, as have the Garda and the other support agencies. However, until such time as we receive the final report, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment on what the outcome of our considerations would be. I must await the final report and its consideration by my...

Domestic Violence. (7 Dec 2006)

Frank Fahey: There has been no lack of funding for the organisation and considerable funding has been made available. As I said, it started out as one-year pilot project and has now been operating for over three years, with almost €440,000 spent on it. We must take stock and look at the actual outcomes of the work being carried out and the value for money we have received. We will then certainly look...

Domestic Violence. (7 Dec 2006)

Frank Fahey: I have already met them. Therefore, there would be no purpose in meeting it until such time as we have considered the situation following the submission of the final report.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

Frank Fahey: I thank Senators for their contributions to the debate. The comments referred both to the Bill itself and to the general electoral agenda. It is not possible to respond to all the comments made but I will attempt to cover as much as possible. We will go into matters in more detail on Committee Stage. Senators broadly welcomed the extension of voting facilities to prisoners. It may be...

Seanad: Legislative Programme. (30 Nov 2006)

Frank Fahey: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am taking the place of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, who is abroad. The Minister for Transport is fully committed to the introduction of a modernised regulatory framework for public transport at a national level and will continue to advance the regulatory reform agenda. The programme for Government contains several related...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Frank Fahey: I thank Senators for their contributions to this debate. Little has been said with which I would not agree and the eloquent arguments made by Members represent an important step forward. Many of the difficulties surrounding domestic violence arise from the hidden nature of this heinous crime. Victims are often afraid to report the crimes committed against them, particularly when the...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Frank Fahey: An independent report made that recommendation.

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Frank Fahey: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to inform the Seanad of progress on this important and serious issue. Domestic violence is too often a hidden crime in our society and we must never lose sight of the fact that it is a crime. Society must treat it as such and must punish offenders most severely. We must create a culture where every man, woman and child enjoys the right to live...

Stardust Fire (22 Nov 2006)

Frank Fahey: On behalf of the Tánaiste, I thank the Deputies for their contributions to this debate, which provides an opportunity to update the House on the very latest developments with respect to this important matter. As the Tánaiste has previously set out, discussions between his Department and representatives of the families led in 2004 to the presentation to the Department of a submission...

Health Service Staff. (22 Nov 2006)

Frank Fahey: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising it because it provides me with an opportunity to outline to this House the issues in respect of the staffing levels relating to the grades to which he referred. The latest available figures show that in the period since the establishment of the Health Service...

Seanad: Disability Act 2005 Sectoral Plans: Statements (2 Nov 2006)

Frank Fahey: I thank all the Senators for their very positive contributions to the sectoral plans. I also thank them for the recognition they have given to the great work done by the public servants in all the Departments involved with the plans. I express thanks to the officials in my Department and each of the other Departments who have put enormous work into the preparation of these plans and have had...