Results 4,661-4,680 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy knows what the issues in Monaghan are. He knows some of the issues have been mentioned in other parts of his region on several other occasions. Whether Deputy Ó Caoláin likes it or whether I do not like it, the reality is that expert medical advice has been that what is required is a critical mass of proper services both in paramedical——

Leaders' Questions. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have found to my expense that it is the case that when one pays for advice, there will always be another expert to give another view.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I must listen to the physicians and to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland who make the statements on behalf of their practitioners in this country. In the interests of patient safety and health, we must listen to their views on Monaghan hospital and elsewhere. I remind the Deputy there has been significant political involvement in many of these decisions relating to his region. I also...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputies Cowen and Martin did not take on the review of the common contract because it was not there to be reviewed. The last one was given by Deputy Noonan when he was Minister and when he gave significant breaks in the common contract. The Government is committed to tackling these issues. The Tánaiste has entered into negotiations on a fair basis with the consultants. We have put in...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have no difficulty with them giving interviews because this is a free society but I wish that as well as giving interviews they would help us to resolve the problem.

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. I attended the European Council in Brussels on 23 and 24 March. I was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Finance. As I will make a statement on the Council later today, I will at this stage merely give a summary account of its proceedings. The Council was addressed by the President of the European...

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To deal with the second issue raised, I have had discussions over a number of years with Foreign Minister Maratinos of Spain as I know him from his past involvement as an envoy, and in the past two years I have had discussions with Prime Minister Zapatero. The idea is that they will discuss those issues with us, as well as issues of mutual interest. That meeting will take place shortly. The...

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte is correct. There was a long debate on the issue in which the Netherlands tried to move away substantially from the agreed text that had been prepared, and it was very persistent on this point. The good news is that it received little support. An amendment was made, with which the Commission was satisfied, that in the context of its overall position, the Commission wants to...

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first issue, there has been no change on the progress and the agreements we got at Christmas. As the Deputy will recall we got those written into the conclusions. The resources we secured for the peace fund — the amount of which I cannot remember off the top of my head — were included in the conclusions and agreed. I do not believe there is any danger in that regard and I have had...

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I was brushed aside by the international media yesterday. President Barroso had now thought of this great idea——

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——but since he is a good friend I am glad to see that. He is a good person. The reality of this issue which I pointed out at the meeting is that the network stipulates the costs for which we are all paying. Travelling around does not incur an additional cost for the network. The imposing of such charges represents additional profiteering by the companies. Therefore, there is no need for...

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the last question, we should harness as much as we possibly can. Deputy Sargent and I have always agreed on that and we will continue to pursue that. As I stated in my reply, we also ruled out the use of nuclear power.

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I did at the meeting.

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is almost impossible to get reported what one states inside the Council meetings because no journalists are present. One must run out and give the leak outside, which I tend not to do.

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not. If one wanted to do that, one could get killed in the rush getting out from the meetings. Guantanamo Bay was not discussed at the meeting. I read the reports in the newspaper of the statements made by some countries at the meeting, but they did not make any of those statements. Although I read that they did, I assure Deputy Sargent that they did not because it was not discussed. I...

European Council Meetings. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The point I made — at least sometimes Deputy Higgins and I agree — was that we have implementation in this country in that we have succeeded in forcing the companies on this issue. Obviously we had to get their co-operation as well. We have done that with the two large companies, O2 and Vodafone. We have already achieved that in this country. I also made the point that it could happen...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ruairí Brugha on the sad occasion of his death in January. His life, which extended almost 90 years from his birth in Dublin in October 1917, saw the unfolding of the history of the Republic. The only son of Cathal Brugha and the son-in-law of Terence MacSwiney, he was born amidst the turmoil of...

Order of Business. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 14, statements on European Council, Brussels and No.10, Criminal Justice Bill 2004 — motion re instruction to committee, resumed, in accordance with the order of the Dáil of 28 March 2006. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted not later than 10.30 p.m. The...

Order of Business. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The first matter will be discussed with the Whips. The third level support legislation is due this year.

Order of Business. (29 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No.