Results 1,141-1,160 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I would like to deal with the casino issues because the Deputy raised them. Having received a report from Department of Finance officials, I do not think that anybody, including myself, did anything improper in meeting various people from various organisations. The point being forcibly made and the story that ran for two days in a national newspaper is that I gave personal approval to some...

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 5, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council decision concerning co-operation between asset recovery offices of the member states; No. 6, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Fisheries (Miscellaneous Commercial Licences) (Alteration of Duties) Order 2007 (back from committee); No. 6a, motion re...

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Foreign Affairs is acutely aware of this issue and has been very active in dealing with it for a number of years. The issue of immigration is extraordinarily fraught in the current campaign and we have to keep in touch with our various contacts on all sides to progress a bilateral arrangement in any way we can. There are a lot of difficulties around this and the most...

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We have taken note of what Deputy Gilmore and others said last week, when I was asked a number of questions on the matter in the House and by organisations outside the House which were supportive of the Bill but wanted certain amendments to be considered. I can confirm that we discussed the matter and the Bill will not be published for a while. We will not attempt to bring it through the...

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the child care Bill have just been completed and the legislation is due next year.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The health amendment Bill is listed for 2008. If the reports are produced before Christmas, the Whips can consider the issue of time.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance has not made me aware of any changes to the practice of providing the documents in place in previous years.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As I understand it, that is the intention.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: What legislation is the Deputy referring to?

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will check the matter for the Deputy as I do not have the legislation listed.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is listed for this session but that can roll into January. I do not have a date.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That is a matter for the Minister. I understand the latest information is that the Bill will be taken in January.

EU Issues. (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. I will first deal with the question on EU law. Transposition and implementation of EU law is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant Departments and Ministers. My Department has a monitoring role in the timely transposition of EU legislation into Irish law, through the Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee on...

EU Issues. (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As soon as the agreement is completed next week, with whatever final issues might be included the Attorney General will give a formal legal judgment. The outcome is not in doubt. However we must go through this legal process. Then the treaty will be signed. We must then turn our minds to the date to bring forward referendum legislation to allow us to hold the referendum. We must put the...

EU Issues. (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny asked a number of questions. With regard to the poll, it will always be shown that in a referendum, whatever the issue is, a large proportion of people will be in the "Don't Know" category. This poll shows we need the maximum amount of information out there. In fairness to the public, they go about their everyday business and cannot be expected to follow the minute level of...

EU Issues. (4 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We have made an arrangement and we all know fundamental changes will occur in respect of the Common Agricultural Policy. In Berlin in 1999, during the Irish Presidency and on the previous two Financial Perspectives, we have successfully pushed that down the road. On the most recent occasion, it was the agreement and understanding that we would move to single farm payments and reform the...

National Drugs Strategy: Statements (29 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Tá mé sásta go bhfuil díospóireacht againn inniu faoin straitéis náisiúnta drugaí. When this issue was raised for debate last week, I was happy to encourage the Dáil to consider the subject. A number of important issues arise in terms of the use of illegal drugs in society which need to be addressed. In addition, I wish to set out the Government's strategy for dealing with this...

National Drugs Strategy: Statements (29 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Whenever the debate is interesting I will be here.

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (28 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The exact information as requested by the Deputy is not available. Statistics on employment and unemployment are compiled, at a regional level, from the Quarterly National Household Survey. There are eight regions in the State: Border, Midland, West, Dublin, Mid-East, Mid-West, South-East and South-West. Sub-regional statistics, of the kind requested by the Deputy, are not available from...