Results 181-200 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: It is recorded, open, transparent and visible.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The constituencies for Deputies are of equal size, whereas a person standing in a local election in Dublin could require a quota of 3,000, while a candidate could be elected to a town council with 100 votes.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: May I go beyond five minutes?

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I thank Deputies for their contributions on the Third Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments. I repeat that the Government has always fully co-operated with the workings of the tribunal and has acted to ensure that it is thoroughly and comprehensively resourced to do its work. Deputies will agree that it is in everybody's interest that all the...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: It is proceeding through the Houses.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The tribunal has cost €31 million to date and is staffed by an extensive legal team and a 48 strong administrative staff. This report shows that the tribunal is more than capable of doing an effective job of uncovering acts of corruption. To date, the legal fees of the legal team amount to €17.5 million. Other legal fees to non-tribunal counsel amount to just over €1 million and...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I agree with Deputy Allen that we should find out who did it. The information should be released by the tribunal and people can then judge it.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Deputy Allen suggested that the wrongdoers should be exposed and punished, and I agree with him. Deputy Seán Ryan and I were members of Dublin County Council. In my 16 or 17 years on Dublin City Council there was never any suggestion of that. The Deputy was there. I never received a cheque from a developer either. However, in a flippant way, the Deputy used to receive little cheques from a...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy asked questions about a current matter in Donabate and mentioned 84 acres and 200 acres——

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I do not have the current information on the matter. I am not too knowledgeable on that matter. I welcome the comments made by the Members. I agree with the other speakers that many wrong things happened and that is being put right. Much has happened with regard to the rules for public representatives. Some speakers made good points about the issue of planners or managers retiring or changing...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: In reply to Deputy Burton, that is one way of dealing with it but there is no point in having a tribunal and allowing those who received money to keep it. The action is being taken by CAB.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: CAB has recovered approximately €30 million to date and it will actively pursue those people——

Tribunals of Inquiry: Statements. (20 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Yes. CAB deals with any money which is deemed to be corrupt. The Government is using other measures to plough back resources for facilities and amenities in west Dublin. For the sake of everyone, we must get to the bottom of that and take all possible action. Some people have been found guilty and many more need to be discovered. Public life must be put right for the sake of everyone.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I am very happy to speak on this motion on behalf of the Government. There have been many inaccurate and mischievous reports regarding the proposed legislative change by the Government on the dormant accounts. It is extraordinary that some of that continues here this evening and people do not seem to be listening to the facts. I note the Opposition's glowing comments in praise of the Minister...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: It is extraordinary how the Opposition is so complimentary towards the Minister for Finance.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: This represents a real about turn.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I would like to clarify a number of issues. When my Department began implementation of the Dormant Accounts Act, it was found that there were deficiencies in the arrangements in the Act for the spend of the dormant accounts money, including the size of the spend.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: It would help the Senator if he listened.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: These related, in the main, to administration and accountability issues. Under the current legislation, there is no provision for any explicit organisational structure, chief executive officer or executive accountability. Instead, the law provides that a part-time chairman providing a few hours' work a month on the dormant accounts should be accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts....

Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: That can be done. The Senator should wait for the rest of my speech. In view of these administrative issues, it was apparent that two possible routes could be followed. One was to establish an independent agency with a large staff, chief executive officer, offices, etc, to administer the fund and the other was to use the existing mechanisms of State and accounting procedures, including...