Results 3,781-3,800 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Cabinet Meetings. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have limited time and spend most of it in this rather cramped city, but I try my best to decentralise people to share the quality of life and standard of living in the large houses——

Cabinet Meetings. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——that, unfortunately, we cannot afford in these parts.

Cabinet Meetings. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte has reminded me that I was recently in Clonakilty to open some of the offices in question and that I visited some of the offices in Cavan. I opened the Marine Institute on the beautiful coast of Galway Bay.

Cabinet Meetings. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No, it is a fine building that cost more than €10 million to complete. It is an architecturally fine building that opens onto the sea. I can see why only eight people did not want to go, because it is a good location. They told me that four and five bedroom houses there cost only 55% of what they cost in this city and I understand why people would want to go to those lovely locations....

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 21, inclusive, together. Prime Minister Blair and I hosted three days of intensive multi-party talks with the Northern Ireland political parties from 11 to 13 October at St. Andrews in Scotland. The focus of the talks was on achieving full and effective operation of the political institutions of Northern Ireland. The St. Andrews Agreement, which the two...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has put forward a package for infrastructure. A large portion corresponds to the ongoing costs of Northern Ireland to the British Exchequer but there is an additional sum. The package consists of £35 billion for the Executive for the next four years and £18 billion in support of a capital investment strategy until 2017. I have urged the Northern Ireland...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No. That was one of the issues——

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Foreign Affairs has co-operated throughout with the Colombian authorities. He has held discussions with them but apart from the fact that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has held recent discussions I have not seen any new correspondence or requests from the Colombian authorities.

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will endeavour to answer all the Deputy's questions. The main slippage has taken place in respect of the programme for government committee. The intention, when we broke up on 13 October in St. Andrews in Scotland, was that the programme for government meeting would be held on the following Tuesday. Regrettably, that did not take place. I was concerned about that; it was unhelpful to...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No. The pledge will be signed in March but what is in the pledge and the basis of the pledge are now agreed. That was a difficult exercise but it embraces the two issues. While Friday is important, everybody knows there will not be a development in March until these issues are dealt with. That must happen before March. Needless to say, I would like that to happen as soon as possible with...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The memorandum of understanding on information-sharing arrangements between Ireland and the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, relating to sex offenders has been negotiated between the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the UK Home Office. The Tánaiste has received Government approval for its signing. It will be signed next Monday by the Tánaiste and the Home...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: With regard to the second issue raised by the Deputy, I am aware that the appointment of the interim Commissioner for Victims is being investigated by the British Attorney General. The process was regarded as not being properly followed, issues arose with regard to cross-community support and the matter is under investigation. I have not raised the matter with the Prime Minister, Mr. Blair,...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with Deputy Kenny that it is a nightmare thought for parents that any of their children would be interfered with, harassed, assaulted or abused in any way. Obviously, it is an issue to which the authorities and the Government give the highest priority. Deputy Kenny stated that a number of issues have been highlighted in a newspaper today. There is no evidence that sex offenders from...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——to the court for a sex offenders order against any registered offender if there is a belief that his or her behaviour in the community gives reasonable cause for concern or is a danger to the public. In reply to Deputy Kenny's fair question, I want to stress that this provision of the Sex Offenders Act, which is now five years old, applies to offenders coming here from abroad and the...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I accept what Deputy Kenny has said. I accept also that this is an area which cannot be over regulated, if it stops paedophilia or any kind of abuse. To reply specifically to some of the questions raised, the issue of soft information which has come to the fore a number of times is being examined. The Tánaiste has already said at the committee that that requires a constitutional amendment...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy should ask the Garda.

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Garda is very conscious of this issue. The case in Swords is another example of a case that received much publicity. Unfortunately, there are many cases that get no publicity. It is an issue on which we have to be vigilant and nobody wants to tolerate these issues. The memorandum of understanding on the sharing of arrangements will be launched by the Tánaiste and the Home Office...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are all very familiar with the Stardust events and I certainly am because at the time I lived beside the Stardust site in the Pinebrook estate in Artane. As I was the administrator on call in the Mater Hospital that night, I remember it very well. It was for that reason that I decided after 25 years it was time for somebody to do it. Deputy Rabbitte is right in stating that no...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that.

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (21 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The processes for the appointment of the President and Commissioners of the Law Reform Commission is set out in the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975. The process for the appointment of the chair and members of the National Statistics Board is as set out in Section 18 of the Statistics Act, 1993. Following the passing of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act, 2006, and...