Results 9,461-9,480 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Consultancy Contracts. (1 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The purpose of the inquiry was to ascertain all the facts. Everybody was interviewed about the relevant issue. In future, we will have to follow the procedures put forward. The Cabinet discussed the issue so all Ministers are, therefore, aware of what is happening. We have also informed Ministers of State about the new procedures. We will change the Cabinet handbook at the appropriate time. I...

Consultancy Contracts. (1 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As regards matters to do with European procurement, the report addresses issues relating to procurement. Deputies are well aware that the application of procurement guidelines whether at national or EU levels is complex and no two sets of circumstances are alike, as the report makes clear. Mr. Quigley's report at no time says that anything was wrong with the specific procurement exercises. He...

Consultancy Contracts. (1 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Procedures are already in place for all of these areas. If one insists on everything being so clear-cut as regards such matters, one will find oneself all over the place.

Consultancy Contracts. (1 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Quigley report did not say so. It said, however, that there was nothing to suggest that Deputy Cullen acted inappropriately in the matter. Obviously, Deputy Sargent just wants to fire people when they have been cleared. I am glad he is not a judge. In the remit of the Standards in Public Office Commission, which I set up on foot of the wide-ranging powers in the Standards in Public Act...

Consultancy Contracts. (1 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not think that is the case either. In the last decade, we have moved an enormous distance in terms of tightening up things. Sometimes there is a level of common sense with these issues and people should tie that level down. I set up the investigation into this so we can learn lessons, tighten procedures and not have vagueness. At the same time, we cannot write a system in which no one...

Consultancy Contracts. (1 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The only papers I have on the report is the report itself, which I have made available in the Dáil Library. I have no other papers.

Consultancy Contracts. (1 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I cannot do so because I do not have those papers. I only have the report. Mr. Quigley's working papers and documents were not given to me and are not available to me.

Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the first matter, the Cabinet sub-committee is looking at this issue and we have had advice from the Attorney General. We discussed the matter yesterday and received a report from the Tánaiste who answered questions on the issue in the House yesterday. We will move ahead on the issues. The Deputy will appreciate there are many complex issues and questions about the categories and we will...

Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste is answerable for the legislation giving tens of thousands of people free access to GPs and is working on it as a matter of urgency so that people will be able to get these medical cards, which are important for their health, in the month of April. The work permits legislation is due this session.

Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Curragh of Kildare Bill will be published in the summer.

Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Work on that legislation is advancing and the Government hopes to conclude it shortly for introduction during the year.

Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will ask the Minister why this Bill has not been brought forward. It is ordered for Report Stage.

Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The medical practitioners Bill will be published later this year. I do not know if the issues identified by Deputy Ó Caoláin will be covered by the provisions of this legislation, but will ask the Department of Health and Children to communicate with the Deputy on this matter.

Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The pharmacy Bill is due later this year.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not disagree with Deputy Rabbitte on that point. This is an opportunity, two and a half years on, to bring this phase of the process to an end. We have brought other parts to an end. Let us not forget that. We do not have the kinds of statistics and problems that obtained before, which were all bad news. The Deputy is correct regarding the McCartney family. There are people who can...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Joe Higgins is right. I can only add that the names are known. The names of those people involved are freely spoken about. I will not mention names but I have talked to several people who told me who was involved. It is well known; there is no mystery about it. The issue is to get people who were there to co-operate with the PSNI to have these people charged. This recalls other cases...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The barbarity of punishment beatings is well-known and this is not the first time we have talked about them. Last year, there was the Tohill case and the previous year people were shot. There have been many cases, and this has even led to suicide among young people who have been threatened. The focus on it arose before now. That is why paragraph 13 is in the declaration. It is still the...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The costs incurred by my Department during 2004 in respect of the Moriarty tribunal amounted to €3,607,418. The estimated costs for the tribunal for 2005 amounts to €4 million. However, provision of an additional €6.5 million has been made to cover costs such as report publication and some element of award of legal costs in...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, I have no control over these issues. When the Minister for Finance announced the new rates, the Attorney General was requested to contact all the tribunals to come to a conclusion time from which the new rates would be applicable. The period agreed in the case of the Moriarty tribunal was 11 January 2006. It is hoped to complete the tribunal by that date. It is...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (23 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am subject to correction, but I am not aware of any challenges affecting the tribunal. The Christmas period or early January was the date negotiated before the Bill was passed some months ago. It does not mean the new rates will apply from that date. If everything is not finished by that date, I do not envisage a situation where the Government will say that is it. This is the difficulty....