Results 10,301-10,320 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Order of Business today will be No. 30, the Finance Bill 2004, allocation of time motion for select committee; No. 13a, motion re the ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; and No. 6, the Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licence) Bill 2004, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m....

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: It is the conclusion of Second Stage.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that we should try to avoid guillotining any Stage, where possible. However, the Second Stage of the Bill is today, but Committee Stage will be taken next week and Report Stage the following week. The Bill must be enacted before 24 March, so it will be taken in three stages. It is necessary to allow adequate time for Committee Stage next week.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill has already started its passage through the House. There is a difference between the number of people identified in the survey as working as whole-time equivalents. In the report to which Deputy Kenny refers, it is stated that, if one works for over an hour in any capacity, one is classed as a full-time employee. That is not the way to count the public service. There is an enormous...

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked me several questions, but the first concerned whether we were going to introduce legislation. The answer is "Yes". The reason does not concern our changing our minds or position, or any advice that we may have received. The right to vote is one of the fundamental rights of our democracy, and because people raised several related issues, I said last week that we would listen...

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy asks me a question, he should let me answer it, for God's sake.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I did say that. There is no constitutional or legal position that says that one has to change the law. However, because the right to vote is fundamental and people, both inside and outside the House, have stated that on this issue we should be careful, "treble careful", as it was put in one newspaper, when making any changes, we have listened. We have examined what we can do to bring...

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I did not think it was necessary, but perhaps it is, to repeat that the system has been examined many times, both internationally and locally. A number of issues have been raised in the current debate, of which tally information is one, and we will provide for——

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The questions of an independent group handling the process and of accidental or non-accidental spoiling of votes were raised. The issues regarding the count and the ability of the system to deal with it have not——

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I read the newspaper coverage of this over the weekend and the system has been looked at by about five international groupings. To say it has not——

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The system has not been found to be flawed in any way. We will bring forward the legislation quickly. We believe, and all the advice we have had from those involved is, that while these measures are not necessary, it is better to proceed with them and give credibility to the system, and we will do that very quickly.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the charities regulation Bill are expected before the end of 2004 and the dormant accounts (amendment) Bill, about which I spoke earlier, is expected this year.

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Abbeylara and the issues around it are not among the issues listed for constitutional change. The Commissions of Investigation Bill, the debate on Second Stage of which we await, will hopefully address some of the issues raised by the Deputy. I do not disagree and have stated before that the 1921 Act which operates in this country and deals with inquiries is lengthy and costly. The way in...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The answer is "Yes". I have an open enough mind on the other matter raised by Deputy Rabbitte. If we were to do this on the basis of five or six issues together, we would never finish, quite frankly. It would be 2017 and I certainly will not be here then.

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I do.

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I hope I will not even be doing that. Perhaps there is a case for examining this area. I am not against this, I have already said that the report that has been published in this area should be shared with the all-party committee. I am not sure if this has happened, but I have no difficulty with it. Many of the points are small and will not make much difference, and there is a reason the...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I have given my views on this issue many times and Deputy Higgins knows exactly what those views are. We await publication of the all-party committee's report, which I understand is due in a few months. The process has not been under way for seven years. The committee started its work about 16 or 17 months ago. The Kenny report was produced about 30 years ago. More houses have been built, by...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: There are competing views as to how the numbers in the Seanad should be made up. I gave my views to the committee last September on the issue. I understand from the subsequent debate that took place and from meeting the committee on a number of occasions over the past six months that it will recommend that what is known as the Taoiseach's 11 be used in a different way and also that the...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I am not against examining such a proposal. The Seanad can be used in a broader way to take account of representative groups. Some of these perhaps feel they should be represented in this House, but the Seanad can give them a part and role to play. I am not against that idea. I have always been in favour of the recommendation that people from outside of the State could hold seats in the...

Constitutional Amendments. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I faced their wrath many years ago when I told them that, while others told them the opposite. I will not change my mind on that issue. I will endeavour to process the Seanad report as soon as it comes out. I believe it will make new recommendations on the Taoiseach's 11 and the overall formation of the Seanad.