Results 8,241-8,260 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Cabinet Committees. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The committee meets on a monthly basis. I do not know if this is helpful to Deputies, but if direct questions are posed about any of these issues, the Ministers who report to the committee would be only too glad to answer them. When I was on the other side of the House and Deputy Rabbitte was on this side, he used to take part of the time allocated to Taoiseach's questions to answer these...

Cabinet Committees. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I could do so too because I attend the committee meetings, but that is not the point. Procedurally that is how it should be operated.

Cabinet Committees. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There has been no change. It can still be done and there is no problem in doing so.

Cabinet Committees. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister of State is responsible for all actions in the drugs area. He is also responsible for housing because in many of these areas there is a cross-link between the difficulties and problems. Research shows that these areas——

Cabinet Committees. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The health aspect is different, being concerned with treatment centres. I do not think it would be a good idea for the Minister of State to take on the additional responsibility of the health aspect.

Northern Ireland Issues. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 15, inclusive, together. I met Dr. Paisley and senior representatives of the DUP on 15 June in the Irish Embassy in London. The meeting was the first chance to meet the DUP since its success in the UK elections. We had a good, comprehensive discussion about the current political situation. The DUP knows that the Good Friday Agreement is the centrepiece of...

Northern Ireland Issues. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the Deputy's first question on the date we expect to hear a response, frankly, I do not know the answer. The two Governments expect to hear a response over the summer. We expect to hear one in the weeks immediately ahead prior to the holiday break in August. That is what we believe, although we do not have any definite information. As I said previously, if that is not adhered to, I will...

Northern Ireland Issues. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with Deputy Rabbitte on the first point. Nobody is suggesting that anybody is giving recognition. However, the reality must be acknowledged, as well. We are trying to end paramilitary activity and criminality and complete decommissioning. We do not want to embark on the next round of trying to end something that is clearly impossible to finish. This does not mean, however, that these...

Northern Ireland Issues. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I raised that case time and again. I met Billy Wright's father and I always played my part in the case. With regard to the case of Mr. Kelly, we knew, from our people, that he was involved in the marching season last year when he was quite helpful in de-escalating trouble on the streets. The British side says it has information that he had broken his licence. We cannot make a judgment on that...

Northern Ireland Issues. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There is no new information on the disappeared but we continue to engage with any information there is. Sites that have not been checked previously are always kept under review. If the information is sufficiently detailed and specific enough to do something, it is checked. On the number of volunteers, I do not have any real oversight of this. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform...

Northern Ireland Issues. (28 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Sargent again asked me about the date. As I said, I do not have a date nor am I as concerned about one as making sufficient progress on the issues which are important. Obviously, I hope it will not be a long period. I have already acknowledged the role of Sean Kelly, of which we are aware. I hope the case will pass through the appeals commission very quickly and that the issue will be...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The information sought by the Deputy relating to reports published in my Department since June 1997 is detailed in the following schedule. Name of report Cost of report Date of publication Length of time to prepare report IMS "Survey of Civil Service Customers" Fixed price contract for consultancy and publication costs €11,369 (IR£8,954) July 1997 Three months ...

Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date for the crimes Bill. However, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has appointed Professor Finbarr McAuley to chair the statutory criminal law codification advisory group which will progress the codification of the legislation.

Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It has been passed by Cabinet and is due for publication shortly, either next week or in the next few days. I will check it for the Deputy, but it has gone through Cabinet.

Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date for the transport reform Bill. There is some work done on the draft heads, but there is no date for the heads yet. Some other transport Bills are due in 2006, but I have no date for that particular Bill.

Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation is enacted. I will bring the Deputy's remarks to the attention of the Minister.

Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Government has approved the heads of the Bill and it has gone for drafting. I do not have a date for the Bill, but I will ask the Department to bring forward a date.

Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That Bill will come before the House in 2006.

Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: What is the title of the Bill?

Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I mentioned the health inspectorate Bill. The drafting of that legislation is a priority and it should be ready for the autumn session.