Results 1,741-1,760 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Benchmarking Awards. (23 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not think so. I am meant to remember everything. When decisions are made in that manner, some things can go wrong. The Civil Service does its best to avoid these situations but sometimes things go wrong. There is no question of people not doing their very best.

Benchmarking Awards. (23 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin is correct to say there has been significant reference to this issue recently but the public service benchmarking body is proceeding with a review of pay in public service grades covered by its terms of reference and will report at the end of the year. It is under the Department of Finance but, as I understand from discussions which have taken place in the past year, it...

Benchmarking Awards. (23 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The benchmarking body is an independent body which, with the benefit of those working with it, is doing a comprehensive analysis by grade of what has happened since the last benchmarking round several years ago. It will decide what increases these grades will get by examining the movements in comparable grades in the private sector over the period. It will also take into account benefits...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Poverty proofing was introduced in 1998 on foot of a commitment in the first National Anti-Poverty Strategy. It is defined as "the process whereby Government policies and programmes are assessed at design, implementation and review stages in relation to their impact on poverty and on inequalities which are likely to lead to poverty, with a view to poverty reduction". The Cabinet Handbook,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that there are no proposals to decentralise any of the bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy McManus raised this point last week or the previous week. I said then I would check it but that it was necessary to bring forward a Supplementary Estimate. What we are doing today is seeking leave to introduce the Supplementary Estimate — Vote 30. I can read the entire briefing note if that is required but it is preferable if the Minister deals with the matter.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Estimates statement is tomorrow. The heads of the national monuments Bill were approved by Government some time ago. The Minister announced plans for a major review of archaeological practice and policy, which only began this autumn. With regard to the issues in Brussels, the Government will state its case and put forward its view of the correctness of our position. The nursing home...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have no other information but it is due this session.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No Bill is listed on the competition issue. Obviously, the legal advice will have to be considered but no legislation is listed at this stage. A number of points arise with regard to the joint committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. There have been many discussions in recent years. There was an agreed position some years ago on a committee chaired by the Minister,...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That was the agreement we reached in the discussions. The view was that if we were to invite MLAs, we would have a very large committee. The MPs will be invited on a cross-community basis but the idea is that we would not invite 50 or 60 MLAs into a committee of 15 to 20 Members. That is not what the House wanted so membership is restricted to MPs. However, the parliamentary forum will...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We will invite them all. One never knows nowadays — perhaps they will all attend.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We do not have those yet.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It has not been listed yet.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is not listed yet.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If the Minister has made a statement, there is obviously some proposal but the legislation is not listed. I suggest that the Deputy table a parliamentary question to the Minister.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The heads were completed last year and the legislation is due this session.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the social housing miscellaneous provisions Bill have been completed and the legislation is due early in 2008.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Substantive work on the electoral amendment Bill will commence when the Constituency Commission report is available. The report is due on 25 October.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is due this session. Many new Members may not know that when we say this session, it means legislation will be taken at any time up to the start of the next session. In this case, the next session starts at the end of January.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It will be this session.