Results 761-780 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It is a technical point whether this is statements, a debate or a motion.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: This is an opportunity, if people have an interest in contributing to this and putting forward their views. If somebody wants to do something more comprehensive again, we can listen to that. This is the first I have heard that these statements are not satisfying what Members' want.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Chief Whip has informed me he is scheduling a debate on the Paul Quinn murder for Thursday next week.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: There will be three Bills in the House next week.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny also raised the water charge issue. The Government made its decision and issued a statement on that some weeks ago. The Deputy could put down a question on the matter for the Ministers involved. The Government has discussed the issues surrounding the EU referendum. It also discussed the suggestion made by Deputy Kenny. We have asked the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the...

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Government has a firm view. It is better to deal with that issue first, as the Deputy's letter suggested. If that is not possible, it means the EU referendum will be held alone. We were considering whether we could include the comprehensive children's issue as part of the EU referendum but it is not possible. I understand there is too much work and it is just not possible to have it...

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On the last question, legal issues arose which have now by and large been resolved. The Attorney General was directly involved in those issues and the questions raised have been resolved. If the consultations have not taken place, they are due to take place soon. The Bill is listed for this session and the Minister for Health and Children is anxious that it be dealt with in this session....

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: There are different reasons in the various cases. The Sports Council (amendment) Bill is in category A and will be published in the spring. Officials working on the Bill are engaging in consultation with the Department of Finance about various issues, including the National Coaching and Training Centre. The enforcement provisions in the broadcasting Bill are the subject of a legal review...

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: So I am told.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I understand so. I am not sure what day it will be published. It was cleared today.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: A few days.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Two weeks.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008 was published on Monday, with the intention of starting the consideration of the Bill on Thursday of next week. It is obvious that the debate on the Bill will continue for some time. People will have plenty of time to engage in consultation.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The matter will be discussed later. Preparatory work on the heads of the education (Ireland) Bill is ongoing. A body to be known as Education Ireland will be established as a limited company, on an interim basis, pending the publication and enactment of the legislation.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will have to raise it with the Minister.

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The forensics Bill will not be introduced in this session. It will be introduced in the next session. It is not possible at this stage to indicate a date for the publication of the pharmacy (No. 2) Bill. Progress on the legislation depends on the implementation of the new Act and the development of the necessary framework in the proposed Bill. As the remaining pharmacy group...

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: No date is fixed for the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill or the health information Bill. There is a detailed discussion paper on a whole range of sensitive issues. My preference all of last year, based on the commitment we gave in 2006, was to hold a referendum on the substantive issue of children's rights. This suggestion emanated first from the constitutional...

Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I have heard the Deputy's concerns and I have listened to the NGO groups. The House must stand by the commitment that we gave. However, if the committee working on this believes it is not possible to complete the work then it is not possible. That is the reality. If it is possible to deal with the more limited issue of the age of consent, which is not being pressed for by NGO groups —...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny asked me three sets of questions, the first of which concerned what governments are doing internationally, that is, what Presidents Bush, Sarkozy and others have been doing in the past few weeks. In response, that is precisely what we did in the first week of December last. The Tánaiste announced a budget that allocated 6% of GDP to a capital programme, amounting to an...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jan 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am very glad to answer the questions and then, as the Deputy has suggested, we can move on from these issues. I will answer them comprehensively. Regarding other issues, from the Government's perspective, I finished Government meetings with my colleagues on the Sunday of the weekend of 23 December and the Government resumed in full session on 4 January. I admit that was a few days off,...