Results 7,621-7,640 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Code of Conduct. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A few weeks ago I attended the opening of the new $150 million Guinness expansion. If I am photographed with a pint of Guinness, which I do not drink, is that promoting Guinness?

Code of Conduct. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I accept the point about ongoing promotion.

Leaders' Questions. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Like Deputy Kenny, I have not read all 280 pages of the report. The Government discussed it for the first time this morning and at some length. The Ferns inquiry was set up some years ago to investigate the handling of the allegations of abuse. The report is a catalogue of serial abuse and gross dereliction of duties in the diocese of Ferns. It is shocking to everybody's sense of how our...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The House knows we have passed the Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, the Sex Offenders Act, the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, the Children Act and the Protection of Children (Hague Convention) Act and established the Garda central vetting unit. However, we must also recognise other areas in which progress has been made. The gardaí in the diocese of Ferns have...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: One recommendation is that the Oireachtas should consider creating a new criminal offence covering the failure to protect children from injury or sexual abuse. That recommendation must be accepted first. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform gave commitments on behalf of the Government regarding the Dublin diocese which still stand. In response to the Deputy's first question, I...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Legislation was passed recently to allow for examination of the Dublin cases. We awaited this report as a template. Now that we have received it we can deal with that issue and ask the church authorities in every diocese to implement the 1996 standards and these recommendations. The Deputy may not agree when he reads the full report — I have not read it all — but I do not think there are...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that in regard to the Monageer case. I am not arguing about that point, wherever there are deficiencies we must deal with them. The priority is to ensure that the standards established almost a decade ago are being implemented. That was not the case, the guidelines of 1996 were not fully implemented. We need to clarify the position and ensure people will co-operate with these...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister has spent much time in recent months and throughout the year working with management and trade unions at An Post. Late last week he had a detailed, protracted meeting with the unions in order to help, and he has made a huge commitment to bringing both sides together so An Post can resolve its difficulties and make its modernisation plans work effectively. In that way it can...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is not the issue currently causing difficulty in the trade union movement. The Deputy is ill-informed.

Leaders' Questions. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are issues in An Post creating difficulties for quite a considerable time. They have been examined at great length by the Minister, the Labour Court conciliation service, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and affiliate unions in order to advance matters. The Minister spent a long time last week addressing these issues. The Labour Court is involved in addressing the issues and though it...

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 9, motion re ministerial rota for Parliamentary Questions; No. 10, motion re statement of expenditure for Houses of the Oireachtas; No. 11, motion re referral of Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005 to Standing Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills; No. 15, statements on the Lisbon National Reform Programme; and No. 16, Employment Permits Bill 2005 — Second...

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Debate on the Book of Estimates will take place later next month and the points could be made then because the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission will be included in that.

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the defamation Bill were cleared by the Government during the summer and it is hoped to have it completed by Christmas and before the House in the next session. The press council proposals are within that legislation. On the HSE issue, questions that were previously referred to the health boards are now referred to the HSE. Policies are dealt with by the Department but day-to-day...

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As of now, fireworks are illegal and there is no legislation to deal with——

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: People have to try their best in these situations and, in particular when adults become involved, to organise and control fireworks.

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are no proposals for legislation.

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will discuss the Corrib gas issue with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes.

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Next year.

Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In 2006.