Results 3,221-3,240 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: They are people of the highest quality. If the name of the game is just to dump people on the street because of a bit of controversy, it will be a bad day for this country and one I do not like.

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The reason a person with high qualifications who has become involved in controversy can move into another position is that work already under way had identified the need to have somebody——

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is not rubbish. What would the Deputy know about science or anything else for that matter?

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Those who know this business identified the position and the need for the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to strengthen its role in relation to research and development in the sectors within its remit, consistent with science policy.

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In addition, it was decided that the Department should have somebody who would oversee the drive towards and establishment of a proposed new energy research council, that he or she should set the agenda of the council in accordance with the Department's analysis of the issue and provide analysis and opinion on all major policies in the energy research area.

Leaders' Questions. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: When one has somebody good, competent and able to do a job in an area in which he or she will probably work alone and also able to run a budget of €340 million, it is not unusual that he or she would be an eminent person to fill a position. I wish Barry McSweeney well in the post.

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. The National Security Committee, which is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government, comprises representatives at the highest level of the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Defence and Foreign Affairs, the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The committee meets as required and will continue to do so....

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The committee obviously keeps all potential international threats from extremists under review based on security intelligence. The intelligence services are not aware of any specific threat to Ireland, and they believe that the threat level is relatively low. There is, of course, no room for complacency, and that is what the committee examines. The security services continue to maintain a...

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The office of emergency planning in the Department of Defence takes an overview. The office was established after the attacks of 11 September 2001. The issues that the Deputy has raised regarding day-to-day threats are real. As he knows from his brief, that office deals not merely with Army issues but with a wide range of issues. The National Security Committee brings together a small group...

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Avian influenza has been dealt with by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, and the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. It uses almost the same model as we put in place for the outbreak of foot and mouth disease some years ago, the difference being that there is greater involvement on the part of the Department of Health and Children owing to vaccines and other...

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is an office in the Department of Defence. I am not an expert on this but I have been at briefings of it and it is the case that some of our best and brightest in the military are involved in it. Much of that work involves planning, international planning and so on. Obviously, our military people are keeping abreast of what is happening internationally where there are now significant...

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy does not want to understand the issue but if you will allow me, a Cheann Comhairle, I will make two points on it. The use of Shannon Airport by US military is a long-standing practice; it has been in place for half a century. The period covers many crises and military confrontations. We have never withdrawn or suspended those facilities at any stage and the Dáil approved that...

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It was unanimously passed by the Security Council. The Deputy is taking a view now, whatever about when it happened, and he should realise what he is doing, that it is at variance with the unanimous view——

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked if some Minister or I would answer but now he does not want to listen. The Deputy is taking a view that is contrary to that of the entire United Nations, as unanimously agreed. Whatever about the argument at the time, it does not hold up now.

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It does not.

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If you are a world minority. You are not only a minority here.

National Security. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the first question, there is co-operation and a pre-agreed understanding on those matters, and as Leader of the Opposition I can bring Deputy Kenny through that at some stage. On the second matter, as part of the national emergency plan the fire brigade, Civil Defence and all other areas have detailed arrangements in place, not only for all the surrounding counties but even for Belfast,...

Cabinet Sub-Committee Meetings. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 11, inclusive, together. The sub-committee met on a total of three occasions, the last of which was 9 December 2004. There are no arrangements for it to meet again as its work is completed.

Cabinet Sub-Committee Meetings. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The sub-committee's work was to resolve the issues at the beginning of the year about the future finances of Aer Lingus. That work has been completed and the sub-committee no longer exists. In its work, the financing of pensions issue arose. However, this is a matter between the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Transport. There is a deficiency in the pension fund but it is being...

Cabinet Sub-Committee Meetings. (16 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are some standing Cabinet sub-committees. Others are formed when an issue arises that requires cross-departmental involvement with several Ministers and which can take up a considerable amount of time. A Cabinet sub-committee is also established to address an issue that does not directly involve all Ministers. In this case, there was an issue surrounding the future of Aer Lingus. As...