Results 6,321-6,340 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, together. The cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and public-private partnerships, PPPs, is scheduled to meet next on Wednesday, 1 March. While the agenda remains to be finalised, it will include Transport 21 and housing. These meetings are generally held on a monthly basis and there are eight more meetings planned for the...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. The information requested is provided in the tables outlined below. The figures, which are produced by the quarterly national household survey, are considered 'tentative' as the very large migration flows in recent years present a significant measurement challenge in a general purpose household survey such as the QNHS. The main concerns,...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The estimated population at April 2005 was 4.13 million. The quarterly national household survey, QNHS, provides a breakdown of the population by nationality. This is reproduced for April 2005 in the following table. However, it should be borne in mind that the QNHS data may understate the true extent of non-Irish nationals. The extent of the understatement may be of the order of 1% to 1.5%...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Further to Question No. 188 of 7 February 2006, details of all public relations services and advice sought by this Department from all sources in the past seven years are detailed in the following schedule. Year Name Purpose Cost â'¬ 2005 Nil Nil Nil 2004 Carr Communications Preparatory work on the disability strategy. The main purpose of which was to ensure consistency...

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The first Bill is due this session. Credit union legislation is not due but discussions are ongoing between the Department, the regulator and the committee about a number of issues related to credit unions.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The process is continuing. As the Deputy will be aware, the European Council, at a meeting at Christmas, gave final clearance for discussion on the matter. A date has not yet been set down but there is no doubt Romania and Bulgaria will join the European Union.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: While the discussions are ongoing, the process has reached a point of no return. Bulgaria and Romania will definitely join the European Union but the exact date for having completed everything is still a matter for discussion. There is no doubt, however, that both countries will join the EU.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I answered the Deputy's question an hour and a half ago.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I appreciate that and I am aware the Deputy was also in committee until late last night and will sit in committee tomorrow night. We have not yet seen the report on drift netting. I understand the committee met yesterday and will give the report to the Government today.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It will be taken this session.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am not sure.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Údaras na Gaeltachta amendment Bill is due this year. The public consultation phase has been completed and consultation with a number of relevant Departments is in hand. The heads of the Bill are expected in the next few months.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My colleagues inform me this matter is already provided for in the legislation and further legislation will not be required.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The carbon fund Bill will be taken later this year. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004, which has been published for a considerable period, is awaiting Committee Stage. I will have to check the position regarding secondary legislation.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Any employers, whether in the construction industry or elsewhere, who abuse the rights of workers with regard to their pensions, occupational health or other benefits are entirely wrong. Their actions are inappropriate. I understand that in some cases contributions were taken but credits were not given. Such cases are illegal. These are serious matters and have been highlighted for some time....

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said, if the Deputy has information about who is in breach of the regulations, he should give it to the ombudsman. With regard to his point, it was this Government that set up the Pensions Ombudsman in 2003, and the office became operational——

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The office became operational in autumn 2003. It is Government action that has led to a position where pension schemes are being investigated and the Deputy should not forget that. The level of the breaches in this area is coming out through the work of the Pensions Ombudsman. It is not true the Minister issued a weak press release. It is true that he has engaged with the construction unions...

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution published its report relating to the family on 24 January 2006. The relevant Departments are considering its recommendations. The Government has acted on most of the key recommendations which have emanated from earlier reports of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution. In...

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first issue, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has already set up a committee. There were already Law Reform Commission reports on the issue but he was also awaiting the report from the committee. He now has that and he recently stated he would proceed with the matter. The committee has indicated that legislative changes are the way to go forward. Deputy Kenny will...

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that. It should be worked out among the group leaders in the Seanad. I do not expect Senator Higgins to resign — I am not raising the issue.