Results 5,601-5,620 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Legislation has been passed by this House to make that the case. The DPP is an independent officer who makes his own independent and objective assessment of the circumstances applying in each case. It is not the function of this House or any entity to seek to influence the decision of the DPP. I am not going to get into that. I never have and will not do so.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: What implications, if any, arise from Dr. Harbison's condition are a matter for assessment by the DPP on a case by case basis. For me to suggest that the DPP could be definite that he would not be prepared for some case that might arise in one or two year's time in the Court of Appeal is not possible — I could not do that. I will not make such a stupid guess on a matter like that. Whether...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On a point of order, no spokesperson on my behalf made any statement last night. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform made the statement.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte raises two issues. First, he asks whether we can give an assurance on the integrity of the criminal justice system. Of course we can — it is an independent system. The issue of prosecution of offences, which the Deputy tried to gloss over, is a matter solely for the DPP.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy tried to go a little away but then he stopped.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: A decision on proceeding with a trial or a retrial, which is the core of the Deputy's point, is exclusively a matter for the DPP. Therefore, I cannot understand how anybody other than the DPP can give that answer. On the Deputy's next question, the Minister last night clarified whether there were any known cases — Deputy Rabbitte also asked that question today. There was no confusion. The...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——and neither should I have the detail of previous cases. The Minister answered on that through his spokesperson——

Written Answers — Social Partnership: Social Partnership (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Negotiations on a successor agreement to Sustaining Progress are being conducted on a strand-based approach and the first strand has been focusing on the issue of employment standards. It is accepted that it is the congress position that significant progress will be made in this first strand before any substantial engagement takes place around core pay issues. Several meetings have been held...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: At present, some 5% of my Department's staff are available to provide services in Irish. The greatest demand for service in Irish comes in the form of written correspondence or telephone queries from the public. These queries are dealt with by referring them to staff who have an appropriate level of proficiency in Irish. To support such staff members, and to encourage others to develop their...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I travelled to the United States on 13 March for St. Patrick's Day, returning on 18 March. My programme included official engagements in San Jose and Washington. I was accompanied by the second secretary general of my Department, the Government press secretary, a special adviser, a private secretary, a personal assistant and security officer. The director and another official of the Northern...

Written Answers — Dublin-Monaghan Bombings: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In line with the recommendations in the final report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights on Judge Barron's report into the Dublin-Monaghan Bombings of 1974, the MacEntee Commission of Investigation was established to examine certain aspects of the investigation in this jurisdiction of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974, arising from findings made by...

Written Answers — Centenarian Bounty: Centenarian Bounty (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On 28 March, the Government approved in principle the extension of the scheme for the payment of the centenarian bounty. Under the new arrangements, it is intended that the bounty, which currently amounts to €2,500, will be payable to any Irish citizen who was born on the island of Ireland, regardless of where he or she may currently reside. Up to now, the bounty was payable only to...

Written Answers — Departmental Legal Advice: Departmental Legal Advice (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 106 and 108 together. My Department does not have a legal adviser. Any legal advice required by my Department or bodies under its aegis is sought from the Office of the Attorney General.

Written Answers — Departmental Legal Advice: Departmental Legal Advice (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 107 together. My Department does not have a legal adviser. Any legal advice required is sought from the Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General is legal adviser to the Government and attends Government meetings in that capacity. There have been a number of developments since the 1997 Report of the Review Group on the Law Offices, which was...

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 10, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 15, Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]— Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 16, Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 10 shall be decided without debate; parliamentary...

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the legislation list for the last session there were 16 Bills, ten of which have been published. The other six are at an advanced stage. I make the point at the start of every session that the list runs to the start of the next session, in this case to the autumn. It is intended to pass them all.

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They are at an advanced stage of preparation and, strictly speaking, should all be published this session. The intention is to get them all published. We rarely get them all out, but we get as near as we can. The fines Bill will provide for updating the indexation of fines and related matters and will be taken this session. I understand the education grants legislation will be taken later...

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said earlier, I will make the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform aware of the issues he can answer. I have made a distinction between those he cannot answer and those he can.

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not want him doing the job of Director of Public Prosecutions.

Order of Business. (25 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill has been switched to the Office of the Minister for Children where it can be co-ordinated properly across agencies and Departments. That is why it was switched. It makes more sense and is more appropriate that it be dealt with by that Minister and that it be co-ordinated across the agencies for which he is responsible.