Results 4,481-4,500 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Departmental Expenditure. (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The National Forum on Europe comes under subhead N in my Department's Vote. The Estimate provision for the year is €1.491 million. Up to the end of August, €835,312 had been expended and the balance remaining is €655,688. That allocation was increased at the beginning of the year. Most of the allocations should come in on target, depending on various expenditures, but the month on...

Departmental Expenditure. (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The National Forum on Europe received a good increase in this year's Estimate and it is more or less on line to meet its allocation. We are examining next year's allocation but it has been upped significantly. The forum does not have expenditure difficulties. It is in a good position and has a good base from which to fulfil its remit and take as active a role as the forum and its members...

Departmental Expenditure. (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The allocation for the McCracken tribunal was held over for Estimate purposes. Very few issues remain in that regard and it is probably a subhead that will be dropped in the next round of Estimates. The fees element of the Moriarty tribunal could go into next year. As I understand it, the first of the reports is due sometime in the autumn. It was originally due in the early summer but was...

Social Partnership Agreements. (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 20, inclusive, together. Together with my colleagues, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, I met the social partners on Wednesday, 14 June last at the conclusion of the negotiations on a new social partnership agreement. The negotiations on this occasion were particularly protracted, which was...

Social Partnership Agreements. (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In respect of Deputy Kenny's first question, the NESC has carried out such an analysis and has produced a recent report on migration policy. This report provides the Government with a comprehensive review of a recent experience of substantial immigration and assesses its impact on the Irish economy and society. It makes several strategic recommendations about the policies that must be...

Social Partnership Agreements. (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will try to deal with the questions quickly. The inflation group was set up under Sustaining Progress to examine ways to bring down domestically generated inflation. It comprised officials from my Department and the Departments of Finance and Enterprise, Trade and Employment as well as representatives from ICTU and IBEC. Under the Towards 2016 agreement, we reconstituted the group with...

Social Partnership Agreements. (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is a matter for each local authority. I know the Minister talks about it from time to time, but it should be done by the local authority. It is their role and responsibility to do it and that is clearly set out. On issues of energy, Deputy Sargent knows this issue has moved from being an issue that was not much of an issue at European Council meetings or elsewhere to being a central...

Allocation of Time: Motion. (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the order which is agreed, I make the point I answered questions on this for an hour last week. I was asked would I answer questions for 35 minutes.

Allocation of Time: Motion. (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Then I was asked would I add Leaders' Questions time. Then I was asked would I give another 15 minutes. There are 60 minutes for question time. I think I have taken an entirely reasonable position on this. I would have thought that I am the centre of the issue and it is not unreasonable for me to have 15 minutes and others to have 25 minutes.

Disclosures relating to the Mahon Tribunal: Statements (3 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In the discharge of my public duties, the interests of the Irish people have always taken precedence over everything else. I believe the Irish people recognise that this is so. Over the past week, I have encountered people in different parts of the country and I have been touched by their sense of balance about this issue and their innate common decency about the personal dilemma that I had...

Written Answers — Famine Commemoration: Famine Commemoration (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Commemorations are organised from time to time in respect of the anniversaries of signal events of historic importance, usually in relation to a 25th, 50th, 75th or 100th Anniversary with even longer intervals thereafter. The Deputy will recall a major commemorative programme arranged for the 150th anniversary of the Great Famine. Deputies will appreciate that there is not scope for official...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No position in any of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department was affected by the increase in the non-executive Chairpersons' fees of State Bodies recently sanctioned by the Government.

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: A Task Force on Road Haulage Issues was established in September 2000 to draw up an agreed Programme of Action for submission to Government for regulation of abuses in the industry and increasing the professionalism of the industry generally. The Task Force completed its work in November 2000. Membership of the Task Force included representatives from the Departments of the Taoiseach, Public...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The budgetary allocation for each of the public bodies, executive agencies, advisory bodies and taskforces operating under my Department is listed in the schedule below. Budgetary Allocation since January 2006 Name of Agency € 337,050 * Ireland Newfoundland Partnership Nil **National Statistics Board 38,042,000 ***Chief State Solicitor's Office 1,923,000 National Economic & Social...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The current sanctioned staffing levels for permanent staff in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is 19. However, this figure can increase to 25 provided such an increase is offset by an identical reduction in the number of Contract Drafter positions. At present there is 1 vacancy for a permanent member of staff. Earlier this year, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service,...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Commemorations are organised from time to time in respect of the anniversaries of signal events of historic importance, usually in relation to a 25th, 50th, 75th or 100th Anniversary with even longer intervals thereafter. Having regard to their significance in our history, I would acknowledge that special consideration is justified with regard to Daniel O'Connell. However, Deputies will...

Written Answers — Dublin-Monaghan Bombings: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Judge Henry Barron dealt with these issues comprehensively in the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings. The issues in question were the subject of careful scrutiny and detailed investigation by the Commission. Judge Barron's Report quotes directly from the minutes of the meeting in September 1974 and of a further meeting in November 1974....

Written Answers — Dublin-Monaghan Bombings: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Judge Henry Barron dealt with these issues comprehensively in the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings. The issues in question were the subject of careful scrutiny and detailed investigation by the Commission. Judge Barron's Report quotes directly from the minutes of the meeting in September 1974 and of a further meeting in November 1974....

Written Answers — Census Statistics: Census Statistics (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Census 2006 Preliminary Report contains provisional results which are based on summaries returned by each of the 4,400 census enumerators. The definitive population results, based on the scanned Census Forms, will be released in a series of subject-matter volumes between April and December 2007. The results in the Preliminary Report are therefore subject to revision. They will...

Order of Business (27 Sep 2006)

Bertie Ahern: This Bill has been delayed to allow us give effect to the recommendations of the joint working group on the protection of children. The legislation arises out of the North-South Ministerial Council. Work thus far on the Bill has concentrated on developing procedures for the vetting of convictions through the vetting unit. The development of a register gives rise to a range of policy and...