Results 4,741-4,760 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Higgins would tell all the countries that joined the European Union that they were wrong and that they should re-nationalise all the companies they have sold. He believes that but I think it is rubbish and, thankfully, the people in those countries think it is rubbish as well. I reject the Deputy following that course here. Aer Lingus in its current situation can hardly manage to deal...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Please listen. It is not possible to fly people from these locations if one does not have the aircraft. I am sure the Deputy understands that.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Therefore, we need investment to bring people here. If we can bring these people to different regions of the country, it will develop tourism, which will create jobs and allow us to become a modern country.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I know Deputy Higgins does not particularly like that but that is what I want to do for the future. I believe this policy is the right one.

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. A number of Independent Deputies offered invaluable support to the previous Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government. While in regard to this Administration their support is not as critical to the Government's majority, given the support they provided in the past, I have tried, and will continue to try, to be as helpful as...

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is not the strategic objective. The Deputies concerned have been supportive of the Government and it would be wrong, just because we have a majority in the House, not to give them some assistance. The Deputies concerned do not seek preferential treatment. In fact, other Members, including other Independent Members, ask for support from time to time. We try to deal with them...

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Three of the four Independent Deputies who supported the Government in the last Dáil still keep in touch with the Government. They are Deputies Healy-Rae, Blaney and Fox.

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Both my office and that of the Whip assist all Deputies on a daily or weekly basis. Deputy Sargent will appreciate that if I found someone helpful and constructive over five years, I would not just turn over the book and say the numbers are different and we are not interested any more. That is not the way I act because it is disrespectful. It is no more than that. The Deputies do not seek any...

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy checks back he will find a few of them who helped me to get this job on the first day by voting for me. Being the fair-minded person I am, if a Deputy voted to get me into the job and then asks me something, I take notice of it. I never hold that against——

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I appreciate it.

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I never hold that against Deputy Ó Caoláin's party. I meet his party more than I meet anybody and am always favourable towards it, both North and South.

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I may have asked the Independent Deputies to help him over Easter.

Standards in Public Office. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 9, inclusive, together. The code of conduct for office holders was drawn up by the Government following consultation with the Standards in Public Office Commission and has applied since 3 July 2003. I have exchanged recent correspondence with the commission with regard to the provisions of section 2.2.3 of the code with a view to providing office holders...

Standards in Public Office. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There have been very few breaches of the code. Ministers have sometimes not been careful enough or have inadvertently allowed literature go out and three or four of them have had to pay back in that regard. With regard to the advertising which involved Deputy Callely, the Standards in Public Office Commission gave a view which I brought to the attention of all. It is a difficult area where...

Standards in Public Office. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not want to be too fussy about this. Years ago, when I was in Opposition and doing some research on manpower policies, I was able to get access to civil servants to brief me on particular issues. When I researched the Trade Union Act and the changes to the Trade Disputes Act 1906, I was also able to get civil servants to give me a briefing on process. I do not see any difficulty with...

Standards in Public Office. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: When that issue came up, a fair point was made about it and I acknowledged that at the time. It was the subject of a complaint to the commission which examined the complaint but did not consider there was any basis on which to pursue the matter. However, arising from consideration of the matter and following communication with the commission, I issued guidelines to Ministers on the issue. I...

Standards in Public Office. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No changes are envisaged to the limits or levels. I do not think there were any breaches of the code. There were a few issues concerning Ministers of State who used departmental letterheads wrongly. One Minister of State sent out 15 letters concerning an event and he had to pay back the money. I do not think there were any breaches of the terms of the code and no changes are envisaged. The...

Standards in Public Office. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That issue was raised at the time and the code points out that Ministers should be careful how they promote any particular product, although it is very difficult to do that. If a politician goes to the launch of something and holds it in his or her hand, then——

Standards in Public Office. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That would definitely be bad for one's health. People must be careful but I am not too sure how, in political life, one can have a clear line on that issue. It is quite difficult.

Standards in Public Office. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The commission pointed out that the latter case was not clear from the code, but how does one make it clear?