Results 7,241-7,260 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Perhaps the Deputy brought in some reforms also.

Order of Business. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The ten Bills will be published by the end of January. The third issue mentioned by Deputy Kenny is being actively examined. People who are allowed into the country and given the courtesies of the State must comply with certain issues. Whether it will require legislation or regulation, the issue is being actively pursued.

Order of Business. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation is not listed.

Order of Business. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As of now the legislation is not listed. Perhaps a question to the Minister would be appropriate.

Order of Business. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The second piece of legislation referred to by the Deputy has been enacted as the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005.

Order of Business. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Tribunals of Inquiry Bill is due to be enacted this session. The questions to the Department of Transport will be next week and there will be an opportunity to discuss the Aer Lingus issue.

Order of Business. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minerals Development Bill is to be published in 2006. The Bord Gáis Éireann Bill, which has 50 heads to restructure Bord Gáis Éireann, is being worked on currently. I hope to publish the Bill in 2006. The 172 heads of the electricity Bill, which has heads to convert the ESB into a plc under the Companies Act and consolidate existing electricity, have been approved by Government. A...

Order of Business. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Criminal Justice Bill 2004 is due in this session. I do not know if the amendment is contained in it.

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I appreciate the points the Deputy makes and that he is genuinely trying to do something to promote the Irish language. People have been attempting to do that since the foundation of the State. Concerns have been raised about the spoken language for as long as I can remember and people have been trying to improve the situation by one means or another. In more recent years efforts have been...

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This has been the policy of successive Governments since the foundation of the State. Many policies have changed, but the policy of promoting the Irish language to maximise those who speak it has not changed. The point made by the Deputy is whether we get the best value for the effort and money invested. It is a point for debate and I will not disagree with any of the experts who have...

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I hope we can begin the social partnership talks shortly. There are some difficulties which are well known and I have addressed them already. There is an important meeting today at An Post and there are ongoing contacts at Irish Ferries. I hope that both those issues can be resolved and I ask people involved to do their utmost. It will help industrial relations overall in the country, as well...

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Every survey carried out by the OECD, the EU and all independent analyses show that this is the position. After the last budget, the average tax rate for a person on the average industrial wage will be 11% lower than it was in 1997. It comes to less than 17%, compared with less than 28% in 1997. The Deputy makes a point about the number of people who drift back into the higher rate of tax. He...

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have already stated that the rates are fixed. Obviously however, there are other issues which were not changed in the last few years and to which we can return. We decided to help the less well-off. We increased the minimum wage and——

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We made the minimum wage tax-exempt. We took an enormous number of people, 34% of the entire workforce, out of the tax net altogether.

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Single people who faced an enormous tax wedge were taken from the net altogether. I acknowledge that we have not yet reached the target of 80% and we have given the relevant figures. As for the fuel allowance, we took two good measures for the benefit of pensioners. We substantially increased the amounts they receive and extended the number of weeks during which they are entitled to fuel...

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That was extremely helpful and beneficial. We have taken the elderly from the tax net with the age exemption scheme operated for people over 75. Such people are now exempt from tax up to limits which now stand at €16,500 for single people and €33,000 for married people. This represents a significant increase for people. As for the fuel allowances, we have increased the number of weeks...

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The decision to appoint Barry McSweeney was made by the Government as part of a wider package of measures in the area of science co-ordination and oversight.

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (15 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The European Council does not, as a rule, act as a legislative body. As such, there is no ongoing agenda for the Council. The business for each European Council is fixed by the Presidency in consultation with the other member states. The key challenge for the next meeting of the European Council in December will be to reach political agreement on the European Union's financial perspectives...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together. My Department did not seek, nor is it seeking, exemptions from EU directives or regulations which fall within the Department's competency area.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Since becoming Taoiseach, I have had the opportunity to travel by both mainline train and Luas. Unfortunately, my schedule is such that it generally prevents me from using such transport regularly. However, these options are kept under review by my office.