Results 1,001-1,020 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

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

Michael Ahern: We are still getting a disproportionate share of foreign direct investment.

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

Michael Ahern: I am an optimist.

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

Michael Ahern: We have been proved right in the past and we will be proved right again.

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

Michael Ahern: I thank all the Senators who have contributed to this very important debate, especially Senator Leyden for initiating it. A few points were raised to which I would like to refer but the general consensus from all sides of the House was that our prices had increased substantially in recent years. The question of who was to blame was raised by Senator Coghlan, especially on foot of the report...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Foreign Conflicts. (1 Jul 2003)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senator Henry for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The Government unreservedly condemns the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy, and demands her immediate and unconditional release. On 30 May 2003, she was travelling in northern Burma. According to reports, her supporters were attacked and fired on by followers of the Union,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Special Educational Needs. (1 Jul 2003)

Michael Ahern: I am pleased to outline to the House the Department of Education and Science's position on this matter. The Minister for Education and Science is most anxious that all children receive an education appropriate to their needs. The pupil in question is due to start in Culleens national school, Killala Road, Ballina, County Mayo, in September 2003. An application for resource teaching and...

Seanad: Arts Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: Section 11 specifies the length of time ordinary members of the council shall serve. There is, however, no reference to the term of appointment of the chairperson. It was always the Minister's intention that the chairperson should serve for a term of five years. I propose the amendment to provide for this.

Seanad: Arts Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: At the conclusion of the Seanad's consideration of this Bill, the Minister wants to express his sincerest thanks for the manner in which Senators from all sides of the House participated in the debate which was informed and sincere. The level of engagement demonstrated yet again just how important the arts were. Although concerns were expressed about elitism or perceptions of elitism, what...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (12 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: This amendment is being brought forward as a result of the acceptance on Committee Stage of an amendment proposed by Senator McDowell. I thank the Senator for his contribution in this regard. Amendment agreed to. Bill, as amended, received for final consideration. Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass".

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (12 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: We have had a fruitful and co-operative discussion on the Bill on all Stages in this House. The process was aided by a number of substantial Opposition amendments which the House has seen fit to take on board in the version of the Bill before us today. A number of Government amendments were also tabled which Senators will acknowledge have improved the Bill. A small number of amendments tabled...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (12 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: We will put that on the website also.

Seanad: Interest Rates Reduction: Statements. (12 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: On behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, I wish to speak about the changes in interest rates in the last week. The Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, are abroad on business. The level of inter-bank interest rates is a matter for the European Central Bank, which is entirely independent of any Government in relation to its monetary policy activities, and the...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (10 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: Amendment No. 1 tabled by Senators McDowell, Ryan, O'Meara, Tuffy and McCarthy, if adopted, would have the effect of applying entitlements under the Bill from 10 July 2001, the date on which the directive was due to have been implemented by Ireland.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (10 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: I propose to discuss amendments Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, together. I thank the Senators who tabled them.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (10 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: I did not hear him.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (10 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senator O'Toole for bringing this amendment to my attention. It will bring the definition of "remuneration" in the Bill into line with that contained in the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001. This definition is acceptable as it brings consistency between them. I accept the amendment. Amendment agreed to.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (10 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: I will look at the definition and return to the matter on Report Stage. Question put and agreed to. Section 3 agreed to. SECTION 4. Question proposed: "That section 4 be deleted."

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (10 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: It is proposed to delete section 4 and, by means of amendment No. 14, re-insert it as the new section 20.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (10 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: The Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel has advised that section 4, which deals with miscellaneous amendments to the Employment Agency Act 1971 and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, should not be in Part 1 –"Preliminary and General"– of the Bill, but should rather be located under Part 4 –"Exclusions and other Measures". Accordingly, section 4 will be deleted and will...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (10 Jun 2003)

Michael Ahern: It is a technical change. The Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel has also added a new subparagraph (c) to this section, as a consequence of having earlier referred, in section 20(2)(b), to ministerial regulations made in 2000 and 2003 relating to transfers of undertakings. This amendment to the section was necessary for technical reasons. Question put and agreed to. Section 5 agreed...