Results 7,541-7,560 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The defamation Bill will come to the House early next year.

Order of Business. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I presume the nurses Bill is the one in question. It is being drafted. The Veterinary Practice Act was enacted in July.

Order of Business. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will raise the matter with the Minister.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Mr. Justice Murphy sets out the position since 1962 so I will not go back over that. We must recognise that progress has been made in many areas. The gardaí in the diocese, as per this report, have rightly prosecuted child abusers since 1990 and their omissions of the past have been corrected. Mr. Justice Murphy also emphasised the independence and integrity of the Garda Síochána over that...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I cannot answer the question as to why people who had suspicions or information relating to people in the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s did not come forward ——

Leaders' Questions. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have outlined the position in more recent years. Perhaps Deputy Sargent is not aware of what is already on the Statute Book because the Sex Offenders Act 2001, which provides for the monitoring of convicted sex offenders, has been on the Statute Book for over four years. We established the Garda central vetting unit over three and a half years ago to ensure that those working with children...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That unit was doubled in size recently.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We enacted the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. We established the office of the Ombudsman for Children. Large sections of the Children Act that relate to this specific area have been enacted. We also have the Protection of Children (Hague Convention) Act 2000. Most of the matters raised by the Deputy are covered by legislation that is already on the Statute Book ——

Leaders' Questions. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are other measures highlighted in this report that must be enacted and as I have just said, we will do that.

Departmental Records. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Expenditure by my Department from January 2005 to the end of September 2005 was €19.845 million compared with a total Estimates provision for the year of €38.965 million. While fluctuations in spending occur from month to month and some expenditures do not fall due until the end of the year, I am satisfied that overall spending by my...

Departmental Records. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Since we last discussed the issue, the Government has produced the document, which has been well received, setting out the White Paper on the constitution. I hope it is circulated widely. The Department of Foreign Affairs has made it available through all the usual channels, including schools, libraries, public buildings and various organisations. I am aware from third level colleges and...

Departmental Records. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is a good idea. I will suggest it to my Accounting Officer in order to keep down the cost. The Forum on Europe is an independent group. The Estimate is based on the forum's budget and the resources it requires. It is not prepared on the basis of what the Department believes is required. We have an input into trying to ensure it is not excessive. In recent years, we tried to make...

Departmental Records. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A number of subheads in my Department are currently showing expenditure under profile, including the tribunals. There are fluctuations in spending from month to month in this area. Under subhead K, the Moriarty tribunal, the Estimates allocation made a provision for the possible award of legal costs on completion of the work of the tribunal. That would be whatever the tribunal would deem to...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 10, inclusive, together. Mr. Justice Barron's first two reports were published, examined and reported on by the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. The first report dealt with the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974. The second report dealt with bombings in Dublin in 1972 and 1973 and events elsewhere in the country prior to...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have an update on the work of the commission of investigation. I have heard nothing to indicate it will not be finished and I hope it will come in around this period of time. I have not heard of a problem with people assisting the commission but I do not have an update on its work. The Ludlow report will be published shortly and, hopefully, the Dundalk report and other related...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has given us an account of the report and his questions can be answered in the affirmative. The Government set up the Barron inquiry to get to the facts and ensure they were presented. The British Government is well aware of the contents of the two reports to date and will be aware of the contents of other reports. On the second point, the best way is to try to get full...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I repeat what I said already. The Attorney General was asked to commence preliminary advice and I will receive this in November. I have already mentioned the issues he will examine to see if we can construct a case. At the same time we seek to pursue a closer focus on information needed. In fairness, there was an argument about that because we sought a broad spread and this would have...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will have to check that for the Deputy. My officials had outlined the matter to Justice for the Forgotten and other groups representing relatives. I cannot recall what arrangements were made but I can check this and send the Deputy a letter. An agreement was worked out at the time.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There has been a long delay and a long legal wrangle. Two issues are responsible for the delay. Initially the report named individuals but left it to the Government to decide if names should be made public. These people were never arrested or charged. I felt uncomfortable publishing names as dissidents or others may take action against these people and we would have no defence against that. A...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (26 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have spent a number of years doing our utmost, and Mr. Justice Barron has done a good job, to get as far as we can in the circumstances. It was hugely upsetting for the victims, the families and extended families that an examination or investigation was never carried out. It is welcome that is now in place and I know they are satisfied with it. What we can get the British to do and how we...