Results 5,461-5,480 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Written Answers — Audit Committees: Audit Committees (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My Department's Internal Audit Committee comprises four members, of whom two are external members. The members are appointed by the Secretary General of my Department in his capacity as Accounting Officer. The Committee is as follows: Mr John Malone, former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture and Food (Chairman / external member); Ms Sylda Langford, Director General of the...

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation is due this year.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads have not yet been approved. It is listed for this year.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister did not quite bring it to the Cabinet this morning.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister has received legal advice that, in line with due process, he should give the report to a number of the individuals who are named in it. After the Deputy raised this matter last week, I asked how long the process should take. It is considered the people in question will need two or three weeks to consider the report.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: This session.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The report has been prepared.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister published the report approximately two weeks ago as part of the national debate on this issue. All the organisations which are involved in this area have been asked to make some comments on it. That is where it is at present.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have to have the debate first.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We will have to wait until we have received the comments on the report.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Bill have been approved. The Bill is being drafted and will be introduced this session.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill will be brought to the House next year. The Deputy should take the Ceann Comhairle's advice.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have the arrangements for the debate in this House on the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006, which was formerly known as the strategic national infrastructure Bill. I will ask the Government Chief Whip to check.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To the best of my knowledge, legislation is already in place to deal with the issue of trafficking. The Garda National Immigration Bureau has been working to deal with a number of gangs. It has arrested a number of people and broken up some of the gangs which are involved in this activity. I do not think any other legislation is proposed.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I could give a longer answer, but the problem is that we are dealing with promised legislation, rather than with Leaders' Questions. I will give it. Although the offence of trafficking is not explicitly provided for in Irish law at present, a range of offences which can be prosecuted under current legislation are involved in any trafficking activity. Offences such as assault, sexual assault...

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Bill have been approved and it is gone for urgent drafting. We hope to have the Bill within a few weeks and it will be debated in the House in this session. We should very much like to have it passed by both Houses before the summer session.

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As regards the second question raised by the Deputy, that Bill is currently down for debate in the Seanad and it will come to this House. On his first question, I have given a comprehensive answer to Deputy Joe Higgins. As regards the Children's Act, there are some sections that have not been fully enabled as yet. Perhaps the Deputy will get the details if he puts down a question for the...

Order of Business. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: This year.

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1a to 4a, inclusive, together. On 28 March the Government approved in principle the extension of the scheme for the payment of the centenarians' bounty. Subsequently, on 25 April, the Government approved the arrangements for its operation on foot of recommendations by an interdepartmental working group. Up to now, the bounty was payable only to centenarians...

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In the first part of the Deputy's question, I believe that he quotes a previous statement, but he also quotes from what I said today. "The centenarians' bounty is not just a practical gesture, it is also a token of regard. It is appropriate therefore that this regard should be extended equally to Irish people wherever they are in the world." I have repeated what I said previously. The answer...