Results 1,961-1,980 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: My record on the issue of undocumented Irish people, whether I have civil servants or not, is second to none.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy refers to the reconciliation stage, as it is called, which covers reconciling the two Bills.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I would be happy to go again to the United States, probably for the tenth time in 12 months, to lobby on this issue. I will not hide my light under any bushel in respect of the lobbying I and my party colleagues have done.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Fine Gael is not the only one. I acknowledge that it is vital to have all-party approval on this matter and have given credit to the Deputy and his party leader in my speeches and discussions in America. I will not withdraw anything in that article because I am a political animal and like anyone else will sell the point for which I and my party have been responsible.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I saw it.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Now that we have raised this issue, that article answers the effort——

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy should have some manners.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy should let me answer.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Will the Deputy allow me to answer?

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: When we were in Washington recently the Deputy and his party——

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: ——and the Labour Party published a document which I answered regarding the incorrect direction which the two parties wish to take.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: They want to set up another quango which will not be responsible to this House.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: It would cost approximately €1 million. The Department has already set up the Irish Abroad unit which is responsible to this House.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: This organisation disseminates much-needed money to groups in the United Kingdom and in America and elsewhere. Deputy Allen's party and the Labour Party proposed to spend some of that money setting up an independent quango which would not be responsible to this House. It was to that I referred.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I would have no problem with that, but there have been all-party delegations from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: If the committee wishes to go again I would have no problem with that.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: It would complement my efforts and those of my officials and the embassies.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Absolutely. We encouraged the committee in that work.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I did not know Deputy Allen was so sensitive. I am delighted to see that he reads our propaganda.

Emigrant Issues. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Michael Higgins was propagandising at the weekend. I was listening to some of the ráiméis that came out of him about benchmarking and the conscience of the people within this so-called arrangement. We noted that the leader of the Labour Party did not once mention Northern Ireland.