Results 681-700 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. 32 staff currently serving in my Department have applied through the Central Applications Facility to relocate under the Decentralisation Programme. The breakdown by grade is: Grade No. Principal Officer 1 Assistant Principal 5 Higher Executive Officer 3 Administrative Officer 7 Executive Officer 6 Staff Officer 1 Clerical...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: My Department does not operate any programmes or schemes funded in full or in part by the European Union. For details of the Operational Programmes for which my Department has had direct responsibility in the past, I would refer the Deputy to the reply given on 25 March, 1997 (ref. 8046/97). Responsibility for these programmes rests currently with the Department of Community, Rural and...

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It will be introduced later this year.

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It will be in this session.

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am aware that the Minister has been working on this but if a parliamentary question is tabled, she will——

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Dublin transport authority Bill will be introduced in this session. What was the other Bill the Deputy mentioned?

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It will probably be next year before it is introduced.

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It will be in this session.

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Finance Bill 2008 is before the House. Any comments on it should be made on Second Stage.

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I think I indicated last week that the Bill would be before the House in this session.

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We have not decided on a date.

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of that Bill have been agreed. The Bill will be before the House mid-year this year.

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date for it at this stage. It is listed.

Order of Business (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I think a parliamentary question to the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, would be appropriate.

Social Partnership. (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am aware the trade unions have raised some issues that they are not happy with. I am aware of the fees issue and some other issues. I am also aware there are many issues that were not in the agreement but which have arisen subsequently and been implemented. That is the normal cut and thrust that goes on. On the legislation, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy...

Social Partnership. (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Let me be very clear about this. The national minimum wage is a statutory one which is fixed in a process in the Labour Court and which takes account of this country's unique partnership arrangement. It has been the case since the Labour Act 1946 that employers, the Government, as an employer, and the unions adhere to that. It is the law and it is illegal for anyone to breach that. There...

Social Partnership. (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister informs me that the National Employment Rights Authority is examining this issue. That body exists on an interim basis and it will have statutory effect with the enactment of the employment law compliance Bill. The issue is about jurisdiction and that matter is being examined. We do not have the information on what the company is paying its staff, but the issue is still about...

Social Partnership. (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will take the Deputy's questions in reverse order. We should all be proud of the fact that we have a very good national minimum wage in this county. We should be even more proud that this is the only country in the OECD to have a minimum wage that is high and keeps a large proportion of the workforce out of the tax net. No consideration whatever is being given to reducing the minimum...

Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Nowhere did I say all is rosy in the garden and there are no problems.

Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We should be realistic. Deputy Kenny knows or will at least be aware that since 12 August there has been a financial market crisis throughout the entire world. That has had a knock-on effect into the last quarter in a very severe way on practically every economy of OECD countries — effectively the whole world. From a very strong position in the middle of the year, there have been ripple...