Results 321-340 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: It is hoped that both Bills will be passed this year.

Order of Business. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The health and safety at work Bill will be before the House this session. The answer to the other question is "yes".

Order of Business. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Work is continuing on the immigration and residency Bill.

Order of Business. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: There is no amendment promised. A number of conversations took place with the individual concerned to try to assist him and explain these matters to him.

Order of Business. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Preparation of the Bill is continuing.

Order of Business. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: It is not possible to indicate but the recent reports of the constitutional group will be examined.

Written Answers — Property Acquisitions: Property Acquisitions (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: My Department has had no discussions or negotiations to buy this property.

Committee on Social Inclusion. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Cabinet committee on social inclusion last met on 25 February 2004. This was the tenth meeting of the committee in the past 12 months. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 26 May.

Committee on Social Inclusion. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: As there has been a ruling on these questions for several years, I cannot go into details. I am just following the practice. It was ruled that the questions are internal to Government. If the Deputy puts down a question to the relevant Minister on the issues he wishes to raise, he will get a full answer.

Committee on Social Inclusion. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The next meeting will be 26 May.

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 17, inclusive, together. The ceremonies in Dublin and the events which took place around the country to mark enlargement on Saturday, 1 May 2003 are widely recognised as having been a success. It was an enormous honour for the Irish Presidency to welcome our new partners into the European Union. As well as being a key highlight of our Presidency, I am...

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: That proposal was discussed at the March meeting when I gave the report to the European Council. I also discussed it last year, in the preparations for the Presidency, with most of the countries, although perhaps not all of them. It has been discussed by the contact group which met two weeks ago. It was discussed again yesterday at the Foreign Ministers' meeting on the Intergovernmental...

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I was getting so much support from the European People's Party I thought Deputy Kenny was my lobbyist. After the EPP meeting Mr. Jean Claude Juncker publicly supported me and I thought Deputy Kenny was his seconder.

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I have not changed my view. A number of names have been mentioned, as Deputy Kenny knows, and it will be difficult to find a resolution on the matter. All the people whose names are seriously in the field are good candidates and the selection will be difficult. The task of managing the 25 countries, the completion of the integration of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, the issue of the western...

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy knows what I mean.

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The French position that we should have 20 Commissioners from the 25 member states comes from a report of the Convention on the Future of Europe. That report proposed that four fifths of the member states would have a Commissioner. I have been opposed to this proposal from the time it was mentioned in the Convention nearly two years ago. It is a dangerous argument. I am glad to see that what...

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Opposition would like if I no longer held this position.

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I will deal with the Deputy's final question first. My honest assessment of the situation — we are speaking in this regard of ten years into the future — is that the larger countries would prefer the Convention-type proposal that there should be 30 Commissioners — it is inevitable we will reach that number in this decade. They would like to establish a small executive-type operation or...

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: What Ministry will the Deputy be given?

Official Engagements. (18 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: On the question about the Irish language, there have been continuing discussions with the relevant Commissioner and former leader of the British Labour Party——