Results 6,561-6,580 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. I propose to circulate in the Official Report the information requested by the Deputies on the statistics regarding freedom of information requests received in my Department. In 2005, a total of €780 was collected in fees in respect of 52 applications. A further €225 was collected in respect of internal review fees for three...

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To the best of my knowledge, it is the other way around. I do not know whether the change has yet occurred, but another long list of bodies was to be made subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1997. Regarding health and safety issues, I am not aware of any change. Whatever was the position remains such. The Health and Safety Authority, if it was ever on the list, remains so. It has not...

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said, I will check for the Deputy whether there has been any change in processing health and safety queries from the inception of Act. I do not believe that there has been. If someone asked regarding health and safety in my Department, I cannot imagine why he or she should be refused the information. My reply to the next question will contain information on what is covered by health and...

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Information Commissioner produces an annual report which is examined in detail by the Department of Finance and by an interdepartmental group. I am not involved in the process. The Deputy asked a question concerning section 24 of the Act which provides protection for records whose disclosure would reasonably be expected to damage the security of the State, defence of the State,...

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have raised the issue of fees before and we have examined the matter in other jurisdictions. There is a range of fees in other jurisdictions, particularly for appeals. If it concerns a personal matter there is no fee here, otherwise a fee of €15 applies, which is a modest sum. It is estimated that the average administrative cost of processing an application is €425, so the fee is small...

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has misunderstood the Act. As I said in my earlier reply, I have no role in the processing of individual applications. I am not consulted on applications that come to my Department, nor am I consulted on replies that emanate from it. It would not be appropriate therefore for me to comment on any individual cases or on specific matters.

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No, I have no——

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They are not. As political head of a Department I have no role whatsoever. The whole purpose and objective of the Freedom of Information Act is that I am neither consulted on what comes in, nor am I consulted on what goes out. That is the way it has been since 1998.

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am not aware of any change in how health and safety issues have been dealt with. Whatever way they were dealt with in the first place, I understand they are dealt with in the same manner now. I am not aware of what was in the 1997 Act regarding health and safety but if a freedom of information question was asked regarding health and safety, to do with lifts or stairs, or other related...

Freedom of Information. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is absolutely nothing on the file. However, as I said to Deputy Kenny, I will check to see whether there has been a change, but certainly I am not aware of any change in regard to health and safety issues.

Disability Act 2005. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together. My Department is fully committed to ensuring that the spirit and the letter of this legislation are honoured in the way the Department provides its services. We have for many years been conscious of our duty to ensure access to our buildings and services by people with disabilities. At the time of the adaptation of the...

Disability Act 2005. (7 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My Department does not have an overarching role with regard to the Disability Act. My Department is one of the Departments which tries to implement aspects of the Act — every Department has been given responsibilities under the Act. My Department was not one of the sectoral areas. The Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Fahey, works on this issue...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My Department did not engage public relations consultants during 2005 on behalf of either myself or my Department. Three contracts were engaged by bodies under the aegis of my Department. Two contracts were engaged by the National Centre for Partnership and Performance and one by the National Forum on Europe, the details of which are set out as follows. Caden Communications, 4 York Terrace,...

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No, there is no confusion. To have full random breath testing that will allow us deal with what comes up in the courts will require legislation. The Attorney General's scheme will deal with this. Currently, gardaí can have road checks. There is nothing wrong with that under the law. If they see anything untoward, they can breathalyse people on that basis. The current situation does not mean...

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Does the Deputy want to join the list?

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The traffic seems to be flowing very well, does it not?

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The traffic Bill has been afforded priority by the Government and has been designated for priority drafting. There have been discussions between the Department of Transport and the Office of the Attorney General on that matter and we are well advanced. The single electricity market legislation is due this year.

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the second question, the legislation will be prepared this session. I cannot answer the first question until the Minister, Deputy Martin, finishes making his observations thereon. I will raise the point made by Deputies Enright and Kenny.

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin.

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are two Bills. The pharmacy No. 1 Bill is to provide for fitness to practice regulations for pharmacists and the removal of the restriction on pharmacists educated in other EU and EEA countries from owning, managing or supervising a pharmacy. That legislation is due this year. I understand the pharmacy No. 2 Bill, which is to provide for changes in the regulatory framework for pharmacy...