Results 3,701-3,720 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It does not and that is the point.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In terms of legislation this session runs to the day before the next session starts. That is what happens all the time.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will raise this matter with the Minister. Normally at the close of business on the final day I have an opportunity to give Christmas greetings to the House, along with Opposition leaders. However, the European Council meeting starts tomorrow and I will not be in a position to do that. I would like to thank the Ceann Comhairle for all of his diligent work throughout the year and for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are no agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department for which I do not answer questions in some respect. However, there are a number of agencies/bodies in respect of which it would be inappropriate to respond to questions about their operational affairs and these are: the Moriarty tribunal; the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution; the Independent Commission of...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The number of road deaths and the carnage on the roads is both disappointing and disturbing. At the start, we should remember all those who have unfortunately lost their lives in recent weeks and months. As Deputy Kenny said, the primary target for the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 was to reduce road deaths to no more than 300 per annum by the end of 2006. That target will be very difficult...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Since 1998 the Government has had road strategy programmes designed to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on the roads. While I accept that any number of injuries or deaths on the roads is too high, to the best of my recollection, the figures for 1998 were higher than they are today. At that time there were only approximately 1 million vehicles on the roads while there are more than...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As Deputy Rabbitte said, the Irish Human Rights Commission wrote to me over the Christmas and new year period. There have been discussions in the Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs on this issue. We welcome the publication of Senator Marty's memorandum and will follow his future work on this matter in every way we can. The memorandum summarises the various allegations made and...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will try to make the position clear again. Deputy Rabbitte correctly stated that there are a number of investigations going on, such as that of the Irish Human Rights Commission. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe has asked for responses to questionnaires, which we will give. We will be happy to co-operate with the European Parliament and the PACE investigations. Last week, the...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is my new year's resolution to try to be precise.

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I confirm to Deputy Higgins that the Government will stick by the announcement of last summer concerning the comprehensive growth plan for Irish aviation that puts the aviation sector on a clear, upward growth path. We will provide new external capital to Aer Lingus and we will examine how this can be best done. This will mean that part of Aer Lingus will be sold to allow the airline to...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have stated time and time again that the Government will maintain a strategic interest in Aer Lingus. We have stated we will allow an equity injection which means a sale of a proportion of Aer Lingus. This will be decided following the consultant's advice in the area. The purpose of this is to prevent what happened in 1993 and some four or five years ago, when Aer Lingus nearly went down...

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is not an airline in Eastern Europe that has continued with that old hat.

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We want to secure Aer Lingus, secure the staff, secure the jobs and help to develop the airline, including new long haul routes to Thailand, Singapore and Bahrain. If Deputy Higgins thinks the ancient ways of rusty aircraft will keep the airline going for the future he is off his head.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. In line with the recommendations in the final report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights on Mr. Justice Barron's report into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974, the McEntee commission of investigation was established to examine certain aspects of the investigation in this jurisdiction of...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will go over my response again because I know there was quite an amount of noise when I began my reply. We should not discount what the sole member of the commission, Mr. Paddy McEntee SC, stated in his report and his requirement for more time. He states that on 11 January he received an offer of a meeting with certain entities whose assistance and co-operation he had been assiduously...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I was attempting to highlight the more significant point.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am glad. I will raise with Mr. Blair the point on whether the information will be made available. I told the House that meetings have been arranged to discuss the information. I always raise the issues with him. In terms of a full inquiry into all the aspects from throughout the period, most of these issues are from a long time ago and that process will not work.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will publish Mr. McEntee's second interim report which includes some procedural detail that explains his progress on this matter. Rather than second-guessing him, I will make the report available. I do not have information to suggest he is unhappy with the level of co-operation and assistance he receives. I know a large number of previously uncovered files have been uncovered for him during...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To repeat again, the McEntee commission reported on 11 January that various groups were prepared to communicate with it and assist it with information the commission believes they have. Mr. McEntee has assiduously followed up these issues. He believes it is worth engaging to try to obtain that information. The commission is following a definite line. Regarding the issues relating to the Garda...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The date is 28 February. To date, the overall cost, as against what it would be if this was a tribunal, is €925,000, with a projected total cost of approximately €1.25 million.