Results 9,681-9,700 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (2 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The overall objective is full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Unless we get clear understandings and a definitive position on what is classified as paragraph 13, which spells out in detail what we are talking about, we cannot make progress. Secretary of State, Mr. Paul Murphy, has a meeting today with Sinn Féin and a British-Irish intergovernmental conference has been set up....

Leaders' Questions. (2 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are a number of matters to address in the context of the M50. I will deal with the tolling issue, the widening of the lanes, interchanges and the upgrading of the road. As Deputy Rabbitte knows, a contract is being prepared by the NRA on widening and improvements which will constitute a costly operation. I understand the NRA hopes the works will commence later this year. A buy out of...

Leaders' Questions. (2 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The increase reflects a catching up on the indexation in the agreement between the NRA and NTR. In reply to Deputy Rabbitte, I accept that during peak hours the M50 is, at times, like a car park and one could not argue against that but the solution to peak hour congestion on the route in the view of traffic engineers is the implementation of the M50 upgrade and barrier free tolling. The...

Leaders' Questions. (2 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are three or four points. The Deputy accepts the additional works are vitally necessary and the Government has been pressing to get on with them. Procurement and related issues have been addressed. The issue on the contract is because NTR is involved in the funding of the project, a buy out is not an option because that will affect the work. The Deputy asked what alleviation can be...

Written Answers — Credit Cards: Credit Cards (1 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In addition to my departmental credit card, there are currently 21 credit cards issued for this Department. Details of authorised users are as follows: Name Position Tom Kitt Minister of State Dermot McCarthy Secretary General Michael Collins Second Secretary David Feeney Private Secretary to the Taoiseach Una Claffey Special Adviser Gerry Howlin Special Adviser Joe...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (1 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: My Department has not made any public appointments since August 2004. In relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, Professor Finbarr McAuley and Patricia T. Rickard-Clarke were re-appointed to the Law Reform Commission in September 2004 and Marian Shanley in November 2004. Dr. Sean Barrett, economist, Trinity College, was appointed to the National Economic and Social Council,...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The issue of the decommissioning of weapons and explosive materials held by all paramilitary organisations has been the subject of discussions with all of the political parties, including the DUP and Sinn Féin, in the talks process.

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. Tables 1, exports, and 3, imports, respectively, compare Ireland's main trading partners for the nine month period January to September 2004 with the corresponding period for 2003 — September 2004 is the latest month for which data are available. Tables 2, exports, and 4, imports, similarly compare the full year 2003 to 2002. In all...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Chief Constable Hugh Orde's comments on 7 January regarding the Northern Bank robbery are a matter of deep concern. While recognising that the investigation is ongoing and arrests have yet to be made, irrespective of the final outcome of the investigation, the attribution of the Northern Bank robbery to the Provisional IRA represents a serious set-back for the political process in...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: From 17 to 23 January, I made an official visit to China and Hong Kong. The purpose of the visit was to further enhance Ireland's strong economic and trade links with China. I was accompanied on the trip by my colleagues, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for Health and Children, the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Minister for Communications, Marine...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The only State, semi-State, State-sponsored or statutory body under the aegis of my Department that is not subject to the Freedom of Information, FOI, Acts is the Law Reform Commission. Proposals for extending FOI are being developed at present in the Department of Finance in the context of plans to extend FOI to other appropriate bodies by the end of 2005. The question of extending FOI to...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: My Department has not made any public appointments since the Cabinet reshuffle on 29 September 2004. In relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, Patricia T. Rickard-Clarke and Marian Shanley were re-appointed to the Law Reform Commission in September and November 2004, respectively, and Dr. Seán Barrett, economist, Trinity College, was appointed to the National Economic and...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest sympathy to Deputy Rabbitte and the Labour Party on the death of Eileen Desmond on 7 January. Eileen was one of the earliest women to be elected to this House as a Labour Deputy. As Deputy Rabbitte said, she was one of the first women since Countess Markievicz to be a member of the Government. The circumstances of...

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 17, statements on the tsunami disaster in South-East Asia; and No. 18, Disability Bill 2004 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders that (1) No. 12 shall be decided without debate; (2) the following arrangements shall apply with regard to No. 17: the...

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is still a runner. I understand there is agreement.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is my intention to publish the Quigley report tomorrow. The employment permits Bill will be published this session.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the sea fisheries Bill to strengthen the sea fisheries law and to secure compliance with EU law have been passed and it is hoped to publish the Bill this session.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In the case of a few of the Bills listed in the area of communications, marine and natural resources, the legislation is being reviewed in the Department in the context of its new statement of strategy. That covers three or four of the Bills that were on the list.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The advice is that legislation is required and it is being prepared as a matter of urgency.

Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the first matter, the legislation is being dealt with as a matter of urgency. It is hoped that the medical cards will be issued in April and that there will not be a delay. The heads of the nurses Bill are due this session. The heads of the medical practitioners Bill have been approved by the Government and the Bill will be due later this year. We will publish the heads of that Bill. Was...