Results 181-200 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, drafting of the text is proceeding and publication is to coincide with consultation and publication in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The legislation is listed for later this year by which time I hope we can proceed. The Assembly must be operational before we can complete it.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: We will certainly have it ready later this year. The heads have been approved and drafting is under way. It is not ready now but it will be later this year.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Postal (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is not likely to be taken in the immediate future. What was the Deputy's second question?

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: It is a matter for the Whips.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Work is under way on the drafting of the heads of the Bill. It is expected during the course of 2004.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The local government (rates) Bill will standardise, modernise, streamline and consolidate rating law. The heads of the Bill are expected during this year and it could be next year before it is drafted.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The pensions (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is now called the public service superannuation (miscellaneous provisions) Bill. It implements the public service pensions reform package announced by the Minister for Finance in the Budget Statement last December. The Bill will be before the House in this session.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: That Bill will be incorporated into the Health Act.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Within the last seven years, there have been no cost overruns in respect of contracts or procurements funded directly, or indirectly, by my Department.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Details of all reports, consultancies and other advisory or PR commissions awarded by my Department in the past five years (1999 — to date) are listed in the Table 1. Details of bodies under the aegis of my Department are listed in Table 2. Table 1: Department of the Taoiseach Name Description Overall Cost Date â'¬ St. John's University New York Basic Income Study...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: There are six staff assigned to the communications unit and it estimated the total cost of the unit for 2004 is €314,402. Of this, €120,428 is a direct cost to my Department with on average €38,795 being borne by the five other Departments who have staff seconded to the unit. I will make a statement on this matter when responding to a similar question that has been put down for oral reply.

Written Answers — National Archives: National Archives (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together. A total of 720 files or file parts were transferred to the National Archives by my Department and released for public inspection on 1 January, 2004. Six files were withheld. I will make a statement on these matters, when responding to identical questions that have been put down for oral reply.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Requests for files and papers made by the tribunal to my Department are required to be kept confidential. The matter of a statement will be addressed in my reply to a similar oral parliamentary question from the Deputy, due for reply shortly.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 to 189, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to freedom of information requests relevant to my Department is contained in the following tables. Comparisons between the yearly number of applications show an increase between 1999, with 207 requests, and 2001, with 276 requests. The trend was downward after that with 146...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I met Chancellor Schroder in Government Buildings on Monday, 9 February. We had a useful and constructive exchange of views on the Intergovernmental Conference. We agreed on the importance for Europe of the new constitution and we are united in wanting to see the IGC concluded as soon as possible. We had a wide-ranging discussion on the IGC including on the principle of a dual majority voting...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (17 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The names, titles and annual rates of remuneration of my special advisers are tabled below. Katherine Bulbulia, programme manager to the Tánaiste, is also based in my Department. The role of the advisors is to keep me informed on a wide range of issues including business, financial, economic, political, administrative and media matters. Under the direction of the programme manager, their...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Mr. Loughlin Deegan, a qualified solicitor, was appointed to the position of special adviser to act as a liaison between the Attorney General and myself and other Departments on items relevant to the programme for Government as well as to keep the Attorney General informed on items arising in the Dáil and Seanad or media which could impinge on, or be relevant to, the role of the Attorney...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: He does not give legal advice to or provide legal services for the Attorney General. On behalf of the Attorney General, he monitors what is going on. The Attorney General cannot monitor what is happening in all Departments, keep in touch with the legislative programmes of all Ministers and with everything being dealt with by his office or monitor what is going on in the Dáil and Seanad. Mr....

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Attorney General's office is independent and, therefore, Mr. Deegan is not a political adviser in any form. He acts as a special assistant and liaises between the Attorney General, me and other Departments and colleagues on items that are relevant to the programme for Government. He also keeps the Attorney General informed on items arising in the Dáil, the Seanad, committees and the...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: That information would be available to the Attorney General but, in so far as advice or work on it is concerned, that is a matter solely for the Attorney General.