Results 981-1,000 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Mahon Tribunal: Statements. (10 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: The Deputy should withdraw that.

Seanad: Report on Future Skills Needs: Statements. (22 Jan 2004)

Michael Ahern: I am pleased to address the House on the most recent in a series of periodic reviews of future skills requirements of key sectors of the Irish economy which was produced by the expert group on future skills needs. The expert group on future skills needs, EGFSN, was set up by Government in 1997 to develop national strategies to tackle the issue of skills needs, manpower estimating and training...

Seanad: Report on Future Skills Needs: Statements. (22 Jan 2004)

Michael Ahern: I thank the Senators who contributed to the debate. The challenge that lies before us is to ensure the labour force has the necessary skills to secure our continuing development and prosperity. The work of the EGFSN, as reflected in the fourth report, is an invaluable guide to future policy actions and we will ignore it at our peril. The task of preparing the Irish workforce of the future is...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Death Row Prisoner. (11 Dec 2003)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senator Bradford for raising this matter on the Adjournment. In the first instance I wish to reaffirm the position of the Government regarding the death penalty; we are adamantly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances in any part of the world. We believe its abolition contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - EU Directives. (11 Dec 2003)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senator Henry and other Senators who have made a positive contribution to the development of debate on this important area of the law in the context of debate on what is now the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, and on subsequent occasions. Senators will recall that the 2000 Act aimed, among other things, to implement in law the requirements of a number of international...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: That has nothing to do with this amendment.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: The purpose of this amendment is to state that nothing in the Act is to be read as affecting the right of any person to seek "legal advice and legal representation" in respect of a claim. The amendment seeks to add "legal representation" and we reject that because the PIAB would then be required to communicate directly with solicitors. The board will always communicate with the claimant so he...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that any medical practitioner who provides a medical report in respect of a claim is registered under the Medical Practitioners Act 1978. We need to consult with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel on this matter. With regard to Senator Norris's point about receiving reports from abroad, if a foreign national on holidays here is treated at home, for...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: The Minister must obtain advice from the Parliamentary Counsel and further legal advice, which I gather has not been done.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: The board will ensure the medical practitioners involved are appropriately qualified.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: These are questions to be considered by the Parliamentary Counsel. This has not yet been completed.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: The amendment was only introduced yesterday evening so time has not allowed the Minister to obtain advice from the Parliamentary Counsel.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: The purpose of amendment No. 3 is to remove a section which provides that a respondent's agreement, or inferred agreement, to a claimant's submission for PIAB assessment shall not constitute an admission of liability nor shall it be used in any other manner to prejudice legal arguments in subsequent court proceedings. Therefore, I reject the amendment. Both parties can reject the assessment....

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: Section 49 deals with the time limits within which the board will have to deal with claims. Amendment No. 8, which I reject, seeks to reduce the timeframe in which cases must be dealt with from nine to six months. The time limits are reasonable and premature assessments could be grossly unfair to a claimant whose medical condition is evolving. Time limits refer to statutory duties but the...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: Section 56 deals with representation on the PIAB board. This amendment seeks to make it mandatory for a member of the Law Society to be on the board. We reject the amendment. The Law Society is not an interest which the PIAB is mandated to represent. The PIAB does not represent solicitors, but consumers, employers and employees. The board deals with claimants and respondents, so it is just...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senators on all sides who contributed to the debate. Senator O'Rourke mentioned that she looked forward to the day Seanad amendments do not have to be dealt with in the other House. Excellent amendments were proposed here that have improved the Bill, but hopefully the day will come when they can be accepted here. I am sure that will be achieved under the leadership of Senator...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: I would like to sum up on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Harney. This pioneering legislation provides for the establishment on a statutory basis of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board whose objective is to tackle the delivery cost of speedier compensation to genuine claimants while reducing the cost of insurance for consumers...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - School Accommodation. (20 Nov 2003)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senator Tuffy for raising this matter. The Minister for Education and Science is fully conscious of the issue raised by the Senator. Lucan is the fastest growing area in the country and there has been a marked increase in the demand for school places, particularly at primary level. To meet this demand, the Department of Education and Science has taken steps to increase the capacity of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Railway Derailment. (8 Oct 2003)

Michael Ahern: I apologise for the Minister for Transport, who is unable to attend. The derailment at Cahir yesterday morning is a matter of concern to us all. I am thankful that, despite the seriousness of the incident, nobody was injured. The circumstances surrounding the derailment are being investigated by Iarnród Éireann to ascertain the cause or causes of the derailment. The Minister was informed...

Seanad: Forfás Consumer Pricing Report 2003: Statements. (2 Jul 2003)

Michael Ahern: It should be noted that the Forfás report studied the inflation figures to the end of the year in January 2003 when the annual inflation rate was 4.8%. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office for May show a sharp fall in inflation to 3.7%, down from 4.3% in April. Notwithstanding this welcome downward trend, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have clearly indicated that the...