Results 9,981-10,000 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Appointments to State Boards. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The NESC is not a State board and certain groups have nominating rights. I have no control over the nominations and I must accept those made by the various bodies.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: As we know, Brian Curtin was appointed a judge of the Circuit Court almost three years ago in November 2001. On 27 May 2002, the Director of Public Prosecutions prosecuted Judge Curtin for knowingly having in his possession child pornography, which is contrary to section 6 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. Accordingly, the matter was dealt with on indictment in the Circuit...

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny has raised two points. I may be incorrect, but I doubt that the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board or its secretariat or chairperson carries out security checks. I may be wrong, however.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Perhaps they do, but I just have a feeling they do not. I take the point, however. I believe the important position of an usher in this House involves a security check. I believe all positions are important and should be checked. I shall make that suggestion. On the other aspect, we have spoken about this before, but at no time did either the Attorney General or the Minister indicate that...

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I assure Deputy Rabbitte that Deputy Brennan will be a very good Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: As someone who has been a good constituency politician, caring for the welfare of his constituents, I believe he is well suited for that change from his last post of transport——

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I believe he will do an excellent job. I do not believe he will be quite as Scrooge-like as Deputy Rabbitte's former colleague and the president of his party, who only gave £1.50 to the old people when he had the limited opportunity of looking after them. Deputy Brennan will be far more caring. He will demonstrate this tonight when he talks about the carers' issue in the House. What normally...

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Conor Lenihan's appointment is now totally regularised because I regularised it this morning. We will have to wait for the next Cabinet——

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Rabbitte, I was amazed there was so much interest in the reason the Government was looking to the future in terms of what we are trying to do as a caring Government and the huge expenditure we have put into social, community, health and other aspects. We were looking to hear a broad based view on where we should best allocate resources in the next budget and following...

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: As I said last week and previously, decisions made by Government are collective, responsible decisions and people act towards the agenda. As far as I am concerned, everybody is equal, regardless of the Ministry held. Whether it is I, a Minister or a Minister of State, people are equal. They have a job to do. Decisions are discussed in advance. The Government makes policy and by moving people...

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I remind Deputy Ó Caoláin that in recent years the Minister, Deputy Brennan, was involved in progressing projects, nowhere more than in Deputy Ó Caoláin's constituency in Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Monaghan town and Cavan. They were all major projects and I thought he would have wanted to put that on the record of the House.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: On the issue of Aer Lingus and as I said to Deputy Kenny some time ago, that report is being prepared. It should be ready some time in October and will examine some of the strategic issues raised about Aer Lingus. The Government will examine that report. I said previously that the idea of a management buy-out was not one I thought received support but we have to do these things properly and...

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Government will continue to work closely with the trade unions representing Aer Lingus and its staff on all the issues vital to their future. The report on the future of Aer Lingus, which considers some of the strategic options and some of the difficulties, will be available this month and there will be an exchange with the workers. I have stated that I am familiar with the efforts of the...

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 18, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2004; No. 19, motion re referral to joint committee of the proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the draft order entitled Adoptive Leave Act 1995 (Extension of Periods of Leave) Order 2004; No. 20, motion re referral to joint committee...

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: It has been requested that this matter go before committee where it and all of the surrounding issues can be debated. The regulations are designed to increase the aggregate limit of the fund. The money in the fund is reinvested in the industry to develop its infrastructure. There are 25,000 jobs in this industry. I have no difficulty with the report being brought back to the House for debate....

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: For ten years or more it has been the practice to publish the Book of Estimates on the third Thursday of the month of November. The position will remain the same this year, whatever date that may be. The budget will be introduced on the first Wednesday of December.

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Government passed the Bill a week ago but I do not believe it has been published yet. If it has not yet been published, it will be in the near future.

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Yes.

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the energy Bill, which deals with the regulatory restructuring issues relating to the industry and the conversion of the ESB into a plc under the Companies Acts, have been approved. However, I do not have a final date for publication because a considerable amount of work remains to be done on the legislation. The heads of the Bord Gáis Éireann Bill, which is designed to...

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: A number of issues have been discussed in respect of the building societies (amendment) Bill. Those discussions are ongoing but I understand that the Bill will be ready this session. The Deputy, as did Deputy Rabbitte last week, also raised the issue of the boundaries commission Bill. I have asked for it to be brought forward and I am informed that this will probably not happen until after...