Results 1,101-1,120 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is an urgent matter and is due for consideration in the current session.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The first Bill referred to has been passed and implementation of it is a matter for the Minister.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Later this year.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Both the Attorney General and the Minister for Education and Science will examine the result of the case but, following a preliminary examination, I do not think there will be any changes.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Whips can discuss that.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the criminal justice (protection of confidential information) Bill have been approved. The Department has received the first preliminary draft and it is under consideration. The legislation should be possible this year. The heads of the criminal justice (international co-operation) Bill were approved late last year and the Bill is due in the middle of this year. The Criminal...

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It will be introduced this year.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I made an official visit to China and Hong Kong from 18 to 22 January at the invitation of the authorities. The purpose of the visit was to enhance Ireland's strong economic and trade links with China. I was accompanied by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Communications, Marine...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. The National Security Committee, which is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government, comprises representatives at the highest level of the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Defence and Foreign Affairs and of the Garda and Defence Forces. The committee meets as required and will continue to do so. Given the...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The office of emergency planning deals with the detailed day-to-day issues. Obviously if a policy issue or some vital information arises from the high level group, it would inform the Minister for Defence, who is on the committee, and he would inform his colleagues in the office of emergency planning which deals with the broader remit. There is that crossover of personnel involved in the...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The office of emergency planning which co-ordinates the work relevant to Deputy Kenny's question and uses the various emergency services in preparing contingency plans is under the aegis of the Minister for Defence. All the issues raised by the Deputy, including those relating to aviation, are the responsibility of that Minister. The high level group was set up after the events of September...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: While this committee discusses information on one or other group of terrorists there is no particular or specific threat to this country. There is always information about the movement of certain individuals associated with different organisations who at times move through this country. They are small in number compared to their numbers in most other European countries. There is ongoing...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I repeat that the national security committee meets periodically and its members stay in touch on an ongoing basis. The committee's role relates primarily to classic security issues, particularly international terrorism. That is the purpose for which its members come together, namely, to examine information from Europol and Interpol in a broad sense, which would not be dealt with in the...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I state for the third time that the high-level group is not involved in day-to-day issues. The relevant procedures involve the Department of Transport for civilian aircraft and the Department of Foreign Affairs for military aircraft. The authorities' procedures, which have been laid down for 50 years, are followed in such cases and are updated along the way. International security...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Perhaps it would be helpful if I gave a short reply. There are procedures laid down on prisoners and munitions, for example, as I have already stated. If these procedures are breached, of course we would be concerned about it. I do not have any particular issue with the point raised by the Deputy. He has asked a question and I will pass it on to be examined.

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I very much doubt that although I could not be certain they did not. I doubt the group went into that much detail.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take questions Nos. 6 to 11, inclusive, together. I thank the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights for their work in preparing the final report on Mr. Justice Barron's report into the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, which has been published. I am grateful to the sub-committee for the timely way in which it prepared its...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked a number of questions. On the 1974 bombings, we again took up that issue directly with the British Prime Minister, restating our previous position. That was done in my original letter of 17 November, to which the Prime Minister replied on 10 January, and again we put our position and made a statement to him on 1 February. I raised the matter last week.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, we provided a report by hand——