Results 5,161-5,180 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny knows that any new legislation will not deal with the seven cases retrospectively. We cannot have retrospective legislation, which is my first point. As the House is aware, the Supreme Court struck down section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. I said last Wednesday that I would check to see how many people are involved. Seven people are currently imprisoned as a...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Our criminal code still prohibits sexual offences against young persons, the crime of rape remains part of our law and the Garda and Director of Public Prosecutions are duty bound to uphold and enforce these laws. Regarding the laws on sexual assault, there is a 14-year penalty for sexual assault on a minor, the penalty for forced and aggravated sexual assault is life and the charge of rape...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No. People know it is not true that we have a debate with the Supreme Court or Judiciary before they make their judgments, nor is there an early warning system for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Attorney General or me.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No, the Supreme Court judgment is not obvious.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am trying to answer Deputy Kenny's question seriously. In fairness, he raised the matter constructively last week.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will address that point if I get a minute. Will Deputies allow me to answer Deputy Kenny's question? We must deal with the issue and we will introduce legislation in this area promptly. We will try to have the legislation by the weekend, if we can. Someone outside the House asked me about this matter today. If we can do that, if the Cabinet sub-committees work through the weekend and if we...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: All Deputies will agree with me that the first priority is the protection of children. The Supreme Court judgment is too serious for gamesmanship or point scoring so I will not get into that.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have to say again to Deputy Kenny that no legislation will plug the cases of Messrs. A, B, C, D, E, F or G. There is no case for seven people. The Supreme Court has given its judgment on that.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I want to be clear about that point. The case we are talking about, Mr. A, is being appealed to the Supreme Court. Anyone who believes he can go out next weekend and do anything because there is no law is mistaken — offences are stipulated so that the law can protect young people. Sexual assault carries a 14 year penalty, a sexual incident with a minor where force is used carries a penalty...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It has been said in the House and outside it. It does not happen that way. I had no idea and neither had my colleague.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Everything is possible.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have nothing to do with leaking documents.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I said last week, and I repeat today that Deputy Kenny on this issue last week was fair and reasonable about putting a point and I answered that. I do not leak documents. I do not know anything about the leaking of documents and I do not agree with it.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I would like to say to Deputy Kenny that I can do something about the seven cases. In the Government's view and my view, however, there is a distinction between these cases and someone resisting an offence, as happened in the case the Supreme Court made its judgment on. It was a long drawn out case, the first part of it was heard last summer and it may have been submitted a year before that....

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As regularly happens, Deputy Rabbitte did not listen to much of what I said at the outset so I will repeat it.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will make the points. I said that the Supreme Court has struck down section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935 and seven prisoners are currently imprisoned in consequences of a conviction under that section. Those cases cannot be dealt with in a new Bill. The C.C. case was brought by a prisoner who was not convicted of an offence. The case concerned a person who was charged with...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——that we will endeavour to have that done by the weekend. It is the view of the people advising the Government, who are all eminent legal people, both inside and outside, that this could take us a week or so to do. I have asked that they have it done by the weekend. Deputy Rabbitte will appreciate that I am unlikely to draft it in the 46 hours or so I am in the United States, but I will...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Let us try to be serious about serious issues. All those laws are in place. If somebody does that tonight they will end up with perhaps a life sentence or 14 years. We know that. There is an issue we have to deal with. The Supreme Court has made its judgment. That is the end of the argument and there is no point in me making any view about the Supreme Court. The position is clear. There is...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: All the legislation on the Statute Book protects children against sexual abuse——

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The person would be charged with sexual assault.