Results 1,581-1,600 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Task Force on Active Citizenship. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We all agree that we should try to increase the level of voter participation. It is interesting to compare Ireland's record over the last few elections to that of other countries. Our figures are good, when compared to other countries, over the last three polls — the local elections of 2004, the referendum of the same year and the general election of 2007. A number of issues need to be...

Task Force on Active Citizenship. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It was only the congestion caused by the people returning from the premiership matches and the best of luck to them.

Task Force on Active Citizenship. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Whatever about suggesting 20 years ago that Friday, Saturday or Sunday should be considered, it would take a long time to convince me of that argument now. I am in favour of everything that can be done to improve participation in elections and to educate and explain the matter to people by means of civic education programmes. It is important that we do everything we can to achieve a...

Task Force on Active Citizenship. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I was merely wishing my daughter bon voyage, no more than that.

Task Force on Active Citizenship. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There are many ways in which people can be encouraged to become involved. I share the Deputy's views on An Bord Pleanála's oral hearings. The engagement of local authorities is very important but in fairness to them they have moved into regional and local offices and decentralised their staff, and that has helped. The system is far better now than it was ten or 20 years ago when...

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Since it was appointed on 14 June 2007, the Government has established six Cabinet committees on which I sit. Details of these committees and the dates of their meetings, where appropriate, are as follows: the Cabinet committee on European affairs last met on 17 October 2007 and is due to meet again in December 2007; the Cabinet committee...

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I was going to make the point that it is open to the Deputy to table any of the other questions he posed to the Minister for Health and Children. In many cases I answer those questions in a different format during Leaders' Questions. However, because Cabinet committees are an extension of the Cabinet itself, I cannot answer them here. The meetings to which the Deputy refers take place...

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The work of the interdepartmental groups is continuing. Work relating to the North-South bodies is moving from the previous agenda towards matters involving more economic co-operation. I refer in this regard to work involving the North-South Ministerial Council and the other relevant councils that are now thankfully meeting either weekly or a number of times each week. The work and input...

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The formats of Cabinet committees differ. Some meet monthly, others quarterly and others every six weeks. The Cabinet committee on science, technology and innovation meets quarterly. The Cabinet committee on health normally meets monthly as does the Cabinet committee on housing, infrastructure and public private partnerships. The Cabinet committee on social inclusion, children and...

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will have to check. It normally meets quarterly.

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Items are discussed at Cabinet committee if they cannot be discussed by the Government. The climate change strategy and issues surrounding climate change have been discussed at most meetings of the Government. The committee will carry forward its work but because it involves a new committee and a new agenda which is set out in the programme for Government it has been discussed at the...

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Gilmore either misunderstands or seems to misunderstand. The fact that the issue is being dealt with by the Cabinet instead of a sub-committee means that it is taking up more time and is given a higher priority. Rather than being addressed in a sub-committee comprising four or five Ministers, the issue is being addressed by the full Cabinet. That is what has been happening in...

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It dealt with Deputy Kenny's party leader's allowance at the same time.

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy is like me but it will help his party.

Cabinet Committees. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I chair most of the major Cabinet sub-committees, although not all of them. There are others that I did not mention but I have mentioned the main ones. There are other Cabinet committees which meet from time to time, including the Cabinet committee on Northern Ireland. The Cabinet committee on security also meets from time to time to get security briefings or to deal with issues relevant to...

Task Force on Active Citizenship. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, together. I was pleased to launch the report of the task force on active citizenship on 28 March last. The report was prepared following extensive consultation and research carried out by the task force since its establishment in April 2006. Copies of the report have been placed in the Oireachtas Library. I believe that the task force...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that I have met with victims and their families on many occasions. I have recently received a request for a meeting with the family of the person concerned and that is under consideration. As is usual in these circumstances, I have asked that a meeting be arranged with officials in the first instance. Many of the Joint Committee's recommendations have been...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The issues relating to the commemoration of the Great Famine on an annual basis are currently under consideration by the inter-Departmental committee. I understand that they have yet to finalise their recommendations.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There are six staff working in the Communications Unit. All are established civil servants, five of whom are on secondment from other Departments. The total cost incurred by the Communications Unit to date in 2007 is €311,270, with €144,698 being a direct cost to the Department of the Taoiseach and €33,314 on average being borne by the five other Departments who have staff seconded to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The total spend by my Department on official hospitality in the past 12 months (October 2006 to September 2007) amounts to €345,771. This includes expenditure in relation to State protocol, such as State dinners and receptions organised in association with visits by Heads of State or Heads of Government. It also includes entertainment of other foreign dignitaries and other official...