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

National Security. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The committee has no political role. The committee does its utmost to protect and safeguard the country from a defence and security point of view. It exchanges information. It is not involved in the politics of the matter, nor is the office of emergency planning which constantly tries to ensure the State is protected and to oversee emergency planning generally. Therefore, the questions raised...

National Security. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: There has been no change in the terms of reference. I am not involved in the day to day work of the advisory committee. It is always looking at new threats and militant groups because there is always concern about new groups in the Middle East that surface on an almost monthly basis. Intelligence is exchanged on an ongoing basis but the terms of reference of the committee have not changed....

National Security. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy wants to pursue that matter, he should put questions to the Minister for Transport. I do not have the figures.

National Security. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: On the issues of concern to the Deputy, there are no difficulties with Shannon that feed into the wider system. Flights from the United States and elsewhere also land in German bases. The House is well aware that the position when the war started, when there was no UN resolution, was that we believed there should have been a resolution and have consistently supported Mr. Kofi Annan at every...

National Security. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Rabbitte, I have no information whatsoever about prisoners being moved to Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere.

National Security. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Approval has been sought in that regard as per the schedule used for that purpose from both the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Transport. However, I have no information about prisoners. I do not have the number of overflights, but I am sure Deputy Kenny is aware that nowadays, with long flight capability, many are going to Germany, and are also overflying France, incidentally. On the UN...

National Security. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: ——across the table in Hillsborough and in the White House. It was not something he wanted to hear, perhaps, the first few times, but in any event we made that point very clear. It is a lesson for the future. As regards any of these conflicts, all the divisions within the European Council, the hostilities and difficulties in parliaments could have been avoided, I believe, if sufficient...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: In recent years the economy has annually turned in one of the best economic performances in the world. From 1997 to 2003 the economy has grown by more than 8% per annum in real terms. These are genuine increases for the economy and for business. For the current year we expect Ireland to maintain its global economic position. The mid-term review of the economic outlook forecast a growth of...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: On the professions, we know this is an area of high cost. The Competition Authority, as Deputy Kenny knows, has produced its interim reports for each profession and will produce the final reports. On regulatory reform and the concept of regulatory impact analysis on legislation and other areas, we published a White Paper last January in which we are committed to having a thorough regulatory...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I remind Deputy Rabbitte that the stars are coming to this country because of the good tax regime, they are not flying in the other direction.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I am sure Mr. Daniel Day-Lewis or any other stars will have little difficulty in dealing with the remedial issues mentioned in the Radiological Protection Institute review. It is a serious issue and has been for some years. The Radiological Protection Institute has undertaken several reviews that highlight how people can take preventative measures with regard to this issue, at minimum cost to...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I do not wish to be flippant. An issue is either serious or it is not. There are other concerns in this area and asbestos is probably a more serious issue than radon gas. I believe, subject to correction, there was a proposal about a grant but no such grant was paid to anybody.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Such a grant was never paid to anybody. It is great to have a theory but no money was paid out.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Radiological Protection Institute has done several surveys on this and has pointed out that basic issues of ventilation in old houses will dramatically improve the situation.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: There are strict regulations with regard to new houses. I am not simply talking about opening the doors. It is a question of proper ventilation schemes. The institute has also said that it will give advice and recommendations to householders on how this issue can be tackled on an individual basis. The Department of Education and Science has provided assistance in this matter to older schools,...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked a number of questions, which I will answer in two ways. He mentioned gangland killings and referred to the need for local development, social exclusion programmes, educational programmes for the disadvantaged, early intervention schemes to target young people at risk and the need to work with organisations in the statutory and voluntary sectors such as Barnardos and others....

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: In respect of all the issues to which the Deputy referred, if he were to give credit to what is being done with the resources being spent, I could take him seriously and say we should do more, and I would not oppose that. The Deputy is aware that we invest tens of millions of taxpayers' money in local development social inclusion programmes. We invest enormous amounts in community development...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Costello knows very well what we are faced with. We are up against hardened criminals who are not in the same category as disadvantaged people.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: We are up against fairly ruthless people.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I am all for helping people, but let us not be mistaken about this. We are up against tough hardened criminals and we know what they are about.