Results 8,761-8,780 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Perhaps Deputy Gilmore does not want me to do anything on the old age pension until 2012——

Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——but that is not the policy of this Government. We do not want to go back to what his colleague did and give such miserly pension increases. We refuse to go down that road. Our practice has been to give significant increases.

Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is our intention to implement our tax policies but it will be a matter for the budget. On Deputy Gilmore's point about the disimprovement of €1 billion in taxes in 2007 and the implications for future resources and political choices——

Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——as I have said previously, the economy is now forecast to grow at lower levels than envisaged at budget time. I will not give the budget today as that will be on 5 December.

Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I said we would implement our tax policies but do not ask me to give details of the budget.

Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is no point having a budget day if I am to give all the information beforehand. The economy is now forecast to grow at lower levels than envisaged.

Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: More of the growth, it is assumed, will come from the external sector. This means the growth in tax revenues will ease somewhat. That does not take away from our commitments and we intend to keep our budget in broad balance so that the general Government deficits remain close to balance in years ahead. We will, however, continue to implement our policies as we have resources to do so.

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 17, inclusive, together. The Estimate for the Department of the Taoiseach includes a provision of €1.621 million for the ongoing work of the National Forum on Europe in 2007. The allocation for 2008 has not yet been finalised. Since its establishment, the National Forum on Europe has provided the basis for an inclusive and broadly-based debate on...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with Deputy Kenny that we need to co-operate closely on tactics for the referendum. I will consult him on its timing. Summer is probably the best time but we must reflect on a number of issues between now and Christmas. The formal advice of the Attorney General must be sought. That can now be done based on the treaty, even though it has not been signed. The treaty must be signed;...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Not all travelled with me. A few joined me on the way. Regarding whether this will impose restrictions on travel between Great Britain and Ireland, which is the issue that concerns us, the answer is "no". The e-border system is a consequence of the heightened awareness of security risks associated with international travel and is born out of a desire to prevent security risks from entering...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is a British system. The proposal was put forward at the end of 2005 as part of Britain's response to international terrorism and the global difficulties that has created for the UK. They provided us with a preliminary outline of the proposed e-borders programme in the first instance. They indicated that a consultation document would be produced and they have done that. We have...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I imagine that those who will design the British system and our system will take account of that. I am not a designer of electronic systems but I am sure they will take these issues into account.

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We will leave them at it. We can design our system to deal with people who move into our country but there must be a relationship between our system and the British system.

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: While this is the main issue for us, Britain, Spain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Belgium, Finland and most of the other states are considering similar systems. Ultimately, either through Interpol or Europol, these systems will have to work together. Our difficulty is our land border. In the development of the British and Irish systems those involved...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The memorandum with the full detail of our system and the British system will not be provided to the Government until the new year.

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I said that we will need further Border controls.

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Regarding Deputy Costello's point, in recent referendums we prepared a document that was sent to every household. We have not decided whether that will be done by the Forum for Europe or the Department of Foreign Affairs, which dealt with it previously. We have put much effort and resources into the Forum for Europe in recent years and it will be an important vehicle for the referendum. One...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: In response to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, the project team is only commencing its work. It would make sense to co-operate with the UK authorities on this matter and try to operate on an all-island basis, as far as possible. I see this an opportunity for deeper co-operation rather than the opposite. In terms of costs, our naturalisation and immigration service have been examining the issue and...

Order of Business (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 10, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimate [Vote 6]; No. 10a, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimate [Vote 6] to select committee; No. 9, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 10b, motion re appointment of ordinary Members to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission; No. 10c, motion re referral to select committee of proposed...

Order of Business (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the first question, I do not know that information. I will check to see whether there is pending legislation. I understand the Deputy's concerns that there is no inspectorate or control in the area. I will raise that and bring the publication of the report to the attention of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív.