Results 4,981-5,000 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Every time somebody uses this technology, he or she does not need a hard copy.

Leaders' Questions. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is not much point in having technology, if one goes that route. If that is the Irish solution to electronic voting in 2006, God help our ability to stay strong on software.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I understand the report is being implemented and all the relevant agencies have been involved in its implementation. The resourcing for this was reflected in the Book of Estimates. The Health Service Executive has been involved in providing services and I am not sure what crisis the Deputy is talking about. Perhaps he is referring to the Rape Crisis Centre's engagement with the Minster of...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is untrue that a service is not in place.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The service, which deals with therapy, treatment and psychological counselling, is good.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Perhaps there should be more centres and my colleagues continually seek more professional staff in all areas. There is a difficulty, as I pointed to the Deputy recently regarding another service, in sourcing staff for professional and technical posts. There is a necessity to recruit highly trained professional staff and we have been recruiting such staff from abroad because we do not have...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I understand it, they received additional resources in the last Book of Estimates, while this report was being prepared. There was an outstanding issue with regard to some independent agencies who lacked adequate funds and who made their case. I met them to discuss this matter. While I do not know how discussions ended, the agencies made a case in that respect. As for professional...

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the second issue, everyone has an obligation to fill in their forms. People are now familiar with them and are aware of their duties in this regard. In so far as they have filled in the forms, I am satisfied. On the first question, as I said, I accept the point made by the Standards in Public Office Commission. While the commission concluded that the complaint did not warrant commencement...

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am replying to a question. As I said in my reply, I accept the thrust of the recommendation of the Standards in Public Office Commission and my Department is considering the most appropriate arrangements to meet the commission's concern. The Government will make the point I have expressed to obtain clarification. If we can resolve the matter at that level, then we can do so. If obtaining...

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No. People are doing it this very week. I am trying to make a point concerning the future more than the present. We should not close ourselves to systems that operate very well because somebody has a certain view. I accept the view but I would argue it. If limitations had be placed on the existing system, I would accept a provision concerning a parliamentary party. However, if later today,...

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have given the letter to all the wizards who normally read these and we will get an interpretation. I accept the view expressed because I do not want to take issue with it but I do not want to close down the right of Members of this House who are not officeholders to something that has existed since the implementation of the 1924 Act. I do not regard it as necessary to change the system. On...

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a difficulty with that. It is fair that the information should be available to everybody but it should not be done in a collective sense if everybody does not want it. If an Opposition Front Bench spokesperson is dealing with some Act in opposition — we have all been in that position — and wants to have something clarified, there is no need for a formalised committee of the...

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are guidelines, codes of conduct and the ethics Acts, and the Standards in Public Office Commission has laid down what people should do. I do all I can to bring to their attention what is contained in the Acts and guidelines and refer to it every year when they have to fill up their form. I hope people comply with that. The Cabinet secretariat brings home to people the rules and...

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Several times in opposition I got briefings directly from civil servants.

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I asked several times, both when leading the Opposition and as Opposition spokesperson. If one was to follow this rule one could not talk to any public servant unless everybody else was there. That does not make good parliamentary sense. If the Deputy listens to the point I am making——

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I said I accept the thrust of the commission's decision, but I would debate with it how it can be implemented so as not to restrict Members' rights. I shall make that point, and if I cannot convince it of that, we will have to go ahead. It is a misunderstanding of how a system works. Deputy Kenny's point is correct that if one gets a briefing one should accept it is available to everybody....

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. I met the Finucane family on many occasions. Most recently, I met Geraldine Finucane and other family members during my visit to the United States in March. I had a more detailed meeting with the family on 27 February in Dublin, prior to the debate in March in this House. I am aware that Ken Barrett, who had been jailed in 2004 for...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said in my reply, I meet regularly with the Finucane family, and Geraldine Finucane and other family members contact the small group of officials who work with me on Northern Ireland issues a few times each month. We continue to show our support through a number of steps. The family is continuing its efforts here and in the UK, Europe and the United States to find the full truth in the...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Needless to say, I appreciate that support throughout. The situation is unsatisfactory. I will not put any gloss on it. We are at a stalemate on the issue. I feel bad about it for a number of reasons, mainly for the Finucane family. What I probably feel most upset about is we followed an honourable path and went into a fair process of picking a number of cases, of getting an eminent judge,...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have anything further to say. We have raised the issue of collusion with the British, especially in respect of a number of incidences and at every opportunity in respect of the Finucane case, of which we are speaking. We will do so again next week when the Minister for Foreign Affairs meets Peter Hain. We will use the opportunity to raise these issues again.