Results 4,541-4,560 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We sent a reply to Colombia before Christmas. While issues are still being processed, ultimately, it will be a matter for the courts. As for the legal basis, it is difficult to see progress on it. Given all the circumstances, I cannot envisage any early resolution of an extradition case. Ultimately, however, it is a matter for the courts. We sent our position to the Colombians before...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: All I want to say about plan B is I hope we never get there.

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If we do, I do not disagree that we must then find a new way forward. We have given that some thought, but not much because we do not want to have to. If we get to a situation where we cannot get a working executive going, then obviously we must look again. It is not something on which I want to speculate or comment, but we could get to that position this year because we will not let this...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I discussed this with the leader of the SDLP, Mark Durkan, and colleagues on a number of occasions. As I stated, I would like to see their proposals and other proposals examined and discussed within the Assembly. If we cannot get things up and running exactly as we would like, all the parties have different proposals and they should get an airing. The reason for that is if they are to be...

Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 13, Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005 [Seanad]— Order for Report, Report and Final Stages and No. 12, National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006 — Second Stage, resumed. Private Members' business shall be No. 47, motion re political donations and planning, resumed.

Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I was talking to the Minister earlier. He had meetings this morning on some ongoing issues. I will try to get a final date from him but he is trying to bring matters to a conclusion.

Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will get full clarity from the Minister and I will give the information to the Whips for the meeting tonight. As I understand it, because of the extent of the amendments to the Bill, it will be recommitted so that we can have effectively a Second Stage debate. Members will be able to contribute on the totality of the Bill. That is my understanding but I will get absolute clarity.

Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Water Services Bill 2003 is awaiting Committee Stage. I will raise with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when it is intended to take Committee Stage but the Bill was published more than two years ago and Second Stage has been taken. It is a matter for the Whips to allocate time regarding the other issues.

Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It will be taken later this year.

Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the health Bill have been approved and it will be ready later in the year. I do not have an exact month.

Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste said she has asked the judge to conduct an examination. She will not make moves until the judge reports back. I cannot recall how long the judge said it would take but it is not a long period. The defamation Bill will be published this session.

Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Cabinet will meet in Wicklow on 7 June.

Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the second question, I will talk to the Deputy about it.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (28 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. Mr. Justice Barron has completed all his reports. His reports on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974, the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, and the murder of Seamus Ludlow have each been referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights for consideration. I received last month Mr....

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (28 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I hope the completion of the Barron work by the Department will not take too long. The only delays that have arisen in any of the reports seem to have happened when decisions were made on whether to redraft them on foot of debates, which always seem to take place, involving speculation about names. I think the reports on some of the other incidents, such as the bombings at Dublin Airport and...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (28 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have continually raised the inquiries aspect with the Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, and sought to apply pressure as regards co-operation with our investigations. We have received a great deal of co-operation in recent years. Numerous Secretaries of State have been involved in this aspect and have helped. I always like to see more help and more files and so on, but so far they have been...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (28 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Looking at Mr. MacEntee's third report, it depends on the end of May deadline, whether he has the information he expects by the end of March, and the two subsequent people who have been identified who it is expected will talk to the inquiry. I cannot be sure except that it may open up lines of inquiry, but Mr. MacEntee seems to believe that May would provide enough time. Obviously in these...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (28 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will treat the report in the same way as I treat any reports. I published his interim reports immediately. When his final report is published it will be discussed by the Government and also in this House. If any parts of the report are relevant to the committee's work, I will supply the report to the committee as I have done with regard to all reports on this level. To the best of my...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (28 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We embarked upon an investigation process some years ago. The late Mr. Justice Hamilton did excellent work and this work was completed by Mr. Justice Barron. We have got as much data as we could for all these cases from everybody both here and from British intelligence whether that was through the NIO, British security or wherever. They were extraordinary times. We have tried to go back and...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (28 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are talking about our own system. Much more will come out on these issues. Deputy Rabbitte asked me to follow up the court case, which I did. We will hear much more about that also. It will be another extraordinary saga of those times. There is only so much data we can discover in these cases. For the past five or six years we trawled as extensively as we possibly could for information. I...