Results 501-520 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On the last point, I understand there were industrial relations difficulties which have since been ironed out. Prison officers are now co-operating with the new security arrangements. I assume I am referring to the same issue as that raised by the Deputy. If not, I will check that for him.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am not sure of the legal consequences of that. There was a difficulty with prisons officers operating the new security arrangements. I understand that was an industrial relations issue which has since been resolved.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: What is the Deputy talking about? Nobody is blaming anyone.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I mentioned an industrial relations issue that has been ironed out. I gave the list of the preventative issues that are taking place. In fairness, 500 of this country's 3,000 prisoners are on methadone treatment. They are being tested. One cannot move to any of the open-end prisons without having been tested and found to be drug free. Substantial moves are being made in that area. We...

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 7, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a Council Framework Decision on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to judgments in criminal matters imposing custodial sentences (back from committee); No. 8, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a proposal that section 17A of the Diseases of Animals...

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Legislation is long passed and its full implementation is due by October 2010. The appeals mechanism is in place.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The appeals board is in place.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The civil partnership Bill will provide for a system of registration of same sex partnerships and certain legal protections for them and cohabitants. The draft heads are under preparation and have not been completed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform but the legislation is due this year.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will check that. I did not know.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Bill are complete and it has been sent for drafting. It is due in the middle of the year so it will not be published in this session.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date for the legislation.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The DTA legislation, as I said a short time ago, will be available shortly. The reform of the 1932 Act is due. It is a separate Bill.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It will be some time. There is no date for the foreshore (amendment) Bill.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have specific legislation.

Commissions of Investigation. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: There is no change in the State's position on this but a new defence has been lodged based on the undertakings of confidentiality that have been given by third parties. However, for any public inquiry to succeed, it is clear the co-operation of the British authorities is essential and the Oireachtas committee has acknowledged that. We have used all the appropriate means to ensure such...

Commissions of Investigation. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Subsequent to the Barron report on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the Oireachtas joint committee's report, the Garda re-examined all the recommendations made therein. I am not certain whether that was completed or if the Garda made a report but I will check that with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Garda revisited the matter because, as Deputy Ó Caoláin said...

Commissions of Investigation. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On Deputy Kenny's last question, I stated last week in a reply to Deputy Gilmore that the Smithwick tribunal will go to the High Court and the State will not resist that. That is the process which must be undergone. The papers from 1989 will be made available but the tribunal must go to the High Court to obtain them. The meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council was successful. We did...

Commissions of Investigation. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am glad to give my verdict on that, although everybody might not agree with it. I believe a file exists on the Finucane murder.

Departmental Staff. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, together. In employing special advisers, my Department complies with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, which lay down the terms and conditions of employment of special advisers. Under these Acts and on foot of Government orders, advisers are...

Departmental Staff. (19 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Paragraph A13 of the Vote for my Department covers the estimated total cost of special advisers' annual salaries, including the salary of my programme manager, which has been reduced from well over €1 million to €640,000 per annum because I have fewer advisers now. I thought Deputy Gilmore would have noted this for me, to show how much I have reduced it.