Results 4,661-4,680 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (5 Nov 2003)

Noel Ahern: He is unwell.

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (5 Nov 2003)

Noel Ahern: The Senator should give the correct figures.

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements (Resumed). (5 Nov 2003)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Senators who contributed to this debate. The debate has been both important and interesting and gives an opportunity for people to focus on what is a very important and major national environmental problem facing us.

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements (Resumed). (5 Nov 2003)

Noel Ahern: It is Government policy that people pay by weight. It varies in Dublin, for example, in Fingal one pays with a tag, whereas in the city council area there is an annual charge. If there was a great system and a public acceptance of the need to pay, then paying with a coloured bag or by tag would be the way to do it. However, when there is no acceptance, the wheelie bin and the city council...

Seanad: Election Expenses: Motion. (18 Jun 2003)

Noel Ahern: I put on record the Government's appreciation of the work of the Standards in Public Office Commission in compiling and publishing the recent report on expenses for last year's general election. The commission produced a thorough report and has carried out its job in accordance with its mandate. I will not go into the history of Electoral Acts and electoral expenses, but it is important to...

Seanad: Election Expenses: Motion. (18 Jun 2003)

Noel Ahern: If we want an equal playing pitch it will have to be equal in all respects, not just in how many newletters or posters one uses. The different ways that we raise our profiles or canvass will all have to be measured. It is not a perfect world. Then we will have to start analysing who is a friend of what media person or who is a drinking friend and who is not. Some people seem to get enormous...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Public Transport. (22 May 2003)

Noel Ahern: I welcome the opportunity to reply to the matter raised by the Senator. Under the Road Transport Act 1932, Dublin Bus is not required to apply to the Department of Transport for a licence to operate a proposed service or alter an existing one. However, since 10 January 2001, the company is required to notify the Department of proposed new services or proposed changes to existing services at...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - School Absenteeism. (22 May 2003)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Senator for raising the matter. The Education (Welfare) Act 2000, which is now fully commenced, established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework which promotes regular school attendance and tackles the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. To discharge its...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - School Absenteeism. (22 May 2003)

Noel Ahern: I share the Senator's concerns. The Seanad adjourned at 1.25 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 27 May 2003.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Housing Grants. (7 May 2003)

Noel Ahern: A floor area certificate, which is required for the purpose of stamp duty exemption by the Revenue Commissioners, is issued where the floor area of a newly built house or apartment is not less than 38 sq. m. and not more than 125 sq. m. New house grant approval, where sought, can also issue where the house or apartment meets the conditions and standards specified by my Department and which...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Designated Areas. (25 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senator Scanlon for raising this issue. The European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, which transposed the EU habitats directive into Irish law, is the statutory instrument under which special areas of conservation, SACs, are designated and afforded protection. These sites have legal protection from the date they are publicly notified for designation to landowners and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Designated Areas. (25 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: I would regard it as normal practice that the purchaser or his or her advisers would ascertain from the seller if there was a designation for conservation purposes on the land. The registration process can take quite a while to complete. Anybody purchasing land would be well advised to ascertain, through the auctioneer or solicitor handling the transaction, the position with regard to any SAC...

Seanad: Nenagh Law Centre Staffing. (25 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Michael McDowell, who could not be here. He has also asked me to bring the points made by the Senator to his attention. As Senators will be aware, the overriding principle underlying the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 is to provide legal aid and advice for...

Seanad: Nenagh Law Centre Staffing. (25 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: I am not suggesting that waiting ten or 11 months is ideal. A system is necessary to ensure that persons who are subjected to domestic violence and cases involving the care of children are provided with a priority service. This is a most important initiative by the board and accounts for over 20% of all applications. The House will be aware that a sum of €17.075 million has been allocated...

Seanad: Nenagh Law Centre Staffing. (25 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: I accept what the Senator is saying and I will pass it on to the Minister. There seems to be a problem in that the service in those offices is not what might be expected. I am not sure of the nature of the support to be given by the head office.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008: Statements. (19 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad in my capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy and update it on the progress made in implementing the strategy which was launched almost two years ago and for which my Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating its implementation. While it is set to run until 2008, I am pleased that much...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008: Statements. (19 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senators for their contributions and their interest in this matter. Their remarks were, generally speaking, fair and reasonable and reflect the fact that the problems are difficult to solve. I welcome the supportive comments. Senator Brian Hayes spoke of the need for politicians to be involved in local drugs task forces and I agree with him in that respect. Politicians are now...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008: Statements. (19 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: I will accept all help that can be offered at any level in that regard. There is a logic to it. The funds from the CAB may be a slow burner but when a meeting of the British-Irish Council was held here some weeks ago, the British Minister dealing with the matter, Mr. Bob Ainsworth, took the opportunity to visit the CAB which is deemed a successful operation and an innovative idea. I hope it...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008: Statements. (19 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: Many of the schemes were community based, in keeping with the experience in my area some nine years ago. Some areas were slow to come on board but did so and no longer treat the drug abuser like a pariah. Waiting lists were a problem in that part of the city and, though it is not now as bad, it is still one of the weaker areas.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008: Statements. (19 Feb 2003)

Noel Ahern: What is the saying about an ill wind? It holds true in some respects.