Results 4,681-4,700 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I hope that a responsible media will see the cynicism of an Opposition that is not prepared to consider it. This is the usual outrage of an Opposition that will read nothing, understand nothing and put forward nothing. The machines have been validated beyond question by an international commission, but Deputy Kenny will not recognise that. I want to give him the opportunity to recover himself...

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My colleagues allowed Deputy Kenny make his point, so I hope the Opposition will allow me do the same. The Deputy said there was a negative conclusion in the report relating to the election management software. We have removed some €46 million out of the equation for the machines, and I am grateful to him for acknowledging that.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The commission states it is unable to recommend the election management software. However, it goes on to say that alternative election management software compatible with the existing voting machine and other hardware and software components for the system could be developed at a reasonable relative cost.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The overall cost of the entire software component——

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny, please be serious for two minutes, if you cannot do it for any longer. The total cost of that software is €500,000. So, the Deputy has now acknowledged that the hardware is acceptable. He quoted the commission——

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Sorry, I thought the Deputy said it was of sound quality. The commission says the main hardware components of the system, including a voting machine is of good quality and design which is robust against failure and well suited to its purpose. Let us move on to the commission's criticism, which relates to the election management software. It states that election software to be used with the...

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have already given the House a commitment that the system will not be used in the next election. The commission has stated that these machines have a life span of 40 years, that the hardware is fine but that in its view the software has a minor defect which can easily be put right. Deputy Kenny may wish to make a political comment about the system; I am stating the views of the commission...

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said to Deputy Kenny, the Government will consider the report in detail. The report has just been made available. We will report to the Government on the full implications of the commission's recommendations and we will consider the composition of a peer review group drawn from international electoral reform bodies and the IT industry to supervise any design. The decision remains to be...

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I wish to answer Deputy Rabbitte.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On Deputy Rabbitte's first point, I was quoting the commission's report. It states that the main hardware components of the system, including the voting machine, are of good quality and design, robust against failure and well suited to their purpose. That is an overall validation of the €46 million investment in voting machines and the associated hardware. Deputy Rabbitte asked me where I...

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I made the point on two occasions that the election management software only cost €500,000 in the first place.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That was the cost.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The report states that the election management system only cost €500,000. The commission has indicated that it is unable to recommend the election management software as it is.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I listened to the Deputy and I should be allowed to answer. The commission then stated that the alternative election management software compatible with existing voting machines and other hardware and software components of the system could be developed at a reasonable relative cost.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The overall cost is €500,000, and we should not mix up the software figure with the hardware figure.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I realise this does not suit the Opposition's argument.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The hardware comes from a company that exports billions of euro worth of such equipment. The report states that it cost only €500,000, and to amend it is a relative cost. According to the report, the chosen system can potentially enhance and deliver real efficiencies in the administration of elections in Ireland.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy English's leader has finished his question. The Deputy should be quiet.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Since the Deputy keeps interrupting, he reminds me that in the last election in which he was elected, he and his colleagues put out a leaflet highly recommending the system in Meath.

Leaders' Questions. (4 Jul 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The party stated——