Results 8,381-8,400 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 13, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a report by the Minister for Defence pursuant to section 4 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 1993; No. 20, Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 21, Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill 2004 — Second Stage...

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the Deputy's first question on the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill, it will not be ready before the summer, it will be the autumn before it is completed.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the Dáil reform proposals, I understand they are the subject of discussion between the Whips.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There were no announcements.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A proposal was put forward that in addition to Leaders' question time, Ministers would deal with other topical issues. That sounded like a sensible proposal, rather than taking some of these issues on the Adjournment at 11 p.m., but that is a matter for Members to discuss. I will be here on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but I will not be here on Thursday.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Not a hope. As long as I can get a drink in a restaurant, I will be happy. What I outlined is the subject of the proposals. It is purely a matter for the House whether it wants to reach agreement on that, otherwise we will continue as at present. There are some good proposals and it would be useful if the Whips could complete their consideration of them so that in the autumn session we can...

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date. I will have to check with the Tánaiste when the regulations are to be signed.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It will be taken this week.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The health Bill, which is to provide for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority and the Social Services Inspectorate on a statutory basis, will be before the House this year. The nurses amendment Bill is to update the provisions on the regulation of nurses and midwives. I do not have a date for the introduction of that Bill.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is to be published this session, although I do not know if we will reach it.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, I understand it is almost ready.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Not at this stage. When it is formally cleared by Government it may require legislation but at this stage no legislation is promised.

Freedom of Information. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. Two freedom of information requests were received in my Department during April 2005. During April 2004 four requests were received and ten requests were received during April 2003. During May 2005 two requests were received. During May 2004 one request was received and 11 requests were received in May 2003. All freedom of...

Freedom of Information. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This question arose last year and the Information Commissioner highlighted it previously in a special report on the operation of the Act, which she published. I understand the Information Commissioner is more concerned about the cost of the appeal to her office than the original fee. That is the point Deputy Kenny is making. None of the changes made affected this. The cost of an appeal is...

Freedom of Information. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Normally if there is no information, it means there is no file in the Department, not that anything is lost. If that happened, I would specifically say so, but as far as I can recall, that has not happened since the Act was introduced. On amendment of the legislation, each year the Department of Finance looks at the reports of the Information Commissioner and the interdepartmental group, and...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 25, inclusive, together. Discussions in recent weeks have focused on overall political developments in the aftermath of the British elections, with an emphasis on the centrality of the Good Friday Agreement, a complete ending of IRA paramilitary and criminal activity and capability and the continued partnership between both Governments. The Good Friday...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As far as the vacuum is concerned, in the period up to the election it was not possible to make progress and everyone reluctantly accepted that. In the past few weeks, we have been trying to regain momentum on the basis of progress. As I noted in my reply, that is based on a decision to embrace the issues which we did not succeed in completing on 8 December last year. These are the ending of...

Northern Ireland Issues. (14 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not consider that I had any secret meetings. I am not responsible for headline writers. The content of that article was absolutely correct where I said I had a number of meetings. However, I had no secret meetings. As far as I am concerned, the meetings I have had are all on the record and are formal meetings. The fact press conferences are not held does not mean they are not formal...

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The 2004 annual report for my Department is being finalised and will be published shortly. The cost of the report is not yet available but the cost of the 2003 annual report was €26,981.97. One of the commitments in the Government White Paper on Better Regulation, published in 2004, was to produce guidelines on consultation for the public sector. Work on these guidelines, Reaching out —...

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That Bill has been taken off the list.