Results 4,361-4,380 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 10, inclusive, together. Last Friday, the Presidency circulated the draft agenda for the European Council in March. The draft agenda focuses on the need for implementation of the commitments on jobs and growth entered into at last spring's European Council. In particular, they highlight the need to maintain momentum across the board. In this context, they...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is what the Minister told me.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: She is doing a good job.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with the Deputy.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have answered the first question, which related to the European constitution, a number of times. Following the French and Dutch referenda results, the European Council decided to initiate the period of reflection. Deputy Kenny has stated this period is almost complete. Austria began its Presidency quite anxious to make significant progress and the matter was discussed at the foreign...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will say a few words about the services directive but will not comment every day on the actions of our Members of the European Parliament. If I did I would have to raise many questions with Deputy Ó Caoláin about the bizarre decisions his party members continually make, so I will not go down that road. The Government continues to support a services directive with safeguards to ensure it...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The answer is "no".

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have given my answer.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Having seen a press report on the first issue, I will do anything I can to deal with the issue in Germany re the World Cup and prostitution. On the second issue, early last summer I made it clear inside and outside the House and at some EU conferences I attended on the country of origin principle that major difficulties would be created. I was lobbied by trade unions, small firms associations...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Or working a six day week.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As is mandatory under the rules, we have put forward a position paper. Our success in achieving high employment numbers in recent years means there is an interest in our proposals. Our position paper this year will stress the significant employment gains in the small and medium enterprise sector. Recent reports have shown that approximately 250,000 small business employers have made quite...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Iraq is not on the agenda of this Council meeting. I will take the opportunity to condemn all the violence and the dreadful atrocities carried out against ordinary citizens in Iraq. The General Affairs and External Relations Council meets monthly to discuss these issues. It is up to the coalition forces to make their own decisions. I note today that the UK commander-in-chief has made some...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——as it helps the Croatian economy. Greater numbers of Irish people are returning not only to areas they visited before the wars and the break-up of Yugoslavia, such as Dubrovnik, but to many other regions. All this is appreciated. It is hoped that there will soon be a direct flight from Dublin to Zagreb, which the Croatians and I believe will be beneficial. As I told Deputy Kenny,...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will go back over the issues. The General Affairs and External Relations Council has been discussing that issue. We have co-operated fully with the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. A few investigations are in train under the auspices of the European Parliament. One of those has asked for co-operation while the others have not. However, we are co-operating fully with them. As...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Conservation has become particularly important because of the price of oil, as the Deputy rightly said. It is generally realised that there is no possibility of oil prices reverting to the level of 18 months ago. It seems to be on a new level and I hope that will not reach a new ceiling, but these issues are relevant. As I said before, we will continue to assist in whatever way we can. On the...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No, but they are maintaining existing capacity and putting resources into this area, and that will continue. Germany has taken the alternative view, or at least the last Chancellor did so. I do not think the present Chancellor has stated her position yet. Everything that I have heard at those meetings makes me believe that the British will opt for more nuclear energy, with all the...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I join Deputy Kenny in condemning the cold-blooded killing of Donna Cleary, an act of barbarism in terms of its deliberate and random nature. The perceived reason for the shooting could not be more trivial. The Garda has mounted a major investigation into the crime and arrested five people in connection with it. One of those detained in Coolock Garda station complained of feeling unwell, was...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I could rehearse the statistics for last year about the most serious categories of crime but that will not do much for Donna Cleary and her family or for anybody else who is killed. A Criminal Justice Bill is before the House which can perhaps assist in this but a great deal of legislation has already been passed, including legislation on sentencing for drug and gun crime. The Criminal...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is in the system and it is to be hoped that——

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I would be very glad if speeding through this legislation solved everything. It builds on tough legislation passed only seven years ago.