Results 2,181-2,200 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The state aid rules do not prevent us from enhancing regional development. We are entitled to give higher state aid to locations outside the greater Dublin area and have been doing so for some time. It is correct that state aids create conflict on projects from time to time and it is for us to negotiate those issues and argue our case on them. We had a very high level case about two years...

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked a number of questions and I will try to answer them all. The title "reform treaty" is good because it is a reforming treaty. It is necessary because the Union is far bigger than when the current rules were designed. Some 90% or more of the treaty is the same as the constitutional treaty, and I understand the two reasons the other 10% or less was removed. On one side, this...

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I hope that not only all the Government parties but all the parties in the House will support the reform treaty. I will work towards achieving this in my preliminary discussions.

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am confident that we will achieve that position. I will deal with the point about the charter first. I fully support the charter and have done for the past seven years. I fully supported its being part of the full agreement but we were not going to reach consensus on that issue. Several countries wanted it to be separate. It will, however, have the same legal status as the treaties and...

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No.

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will return to the key issue as the last thing I want to do on is confuse the Deputy. I have briefed the Cabinet and all my other colleagues. Parties may have to go through their process of ratification but I am confident everybody will support it.

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am not aware of that party's rules in that regard.

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will clarify the position for Deputy Allen, who asked whether there is a formal opt-out or a derogation. There is not. When the British inserted a protocol I sought, as I would always do in these issues, legal advice. That advice is that it is unlikely there are circumstances where that protocol would affect Ireland. That is clear, but the position is not as clear whereby the European...

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Precisely.

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It was not a matter of reserving my position, I made it known that I wanted to examine the British protocol, in accordance with my legal advice on the night, to see whether that has ramifications in other areas. I said I wanted to return to that at the convention and I will do that. Having much experience of these matters, I am always deeply suspicious of the British legal team, which is a...

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have learned. It is on that basis I said I would examine it. The procedure is that if I left it go, I would not be able to raise that issue in the IGC in the formal way I wanted to do so. It is no more than that. My experience of these issues is that one has to make things absolutely clear. The legal position is that it does not create any difficulty for Ireland, but I am not satisfied...

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I assume we will have to have a referendum, but I will check with our legal advisers. The IGC should be finished by Christmas, although the Portuguese Presidency has said it will be finished by the end of October. I wish the Portuguese well on that, but they will start it in the second half of July, so maybe it will be achieved. It seems unduly optimistic. The idea is that this will take...

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I stated I am confident that everyone will support the reform treaty. To prevent anyone reading this record thinking I did not raise the question, I reiterate that I am totally in support of the charter. I just want to ensure that the implications of the British protocol, which was tabled late and legally and carefully drafted, do not affect other countries, not only Ireland but all other...

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Does Deputy Ó Caoláin seek the date for the post becoming effective?

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Obviously, if Deputy Ó Caoláin puts in his full effort and his significant party resources behind the reform treaty——

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: With Deputy Ó Caoláin's support, the position will be effective in summer 2009.

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will hear the Attorney General's view but would also like to hear the view of the Council secretariat. It can draw on much practice and precedent to form a judgment on this issue. The preliminary view is that it poses no difficulty but I would like to see the matter taken into account. When examining a case, the ECJ does not just consider how it affects European law in the countries that...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 6, statements on the European Council; No. 2, Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007 — Order for Committee, Committee and Remaining Stages; and No. 3, Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage, Second and Subsequent Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m.,...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have no knowledge of and nor have I been in any way involved in Deputy Beverly Flynn's deal, negotiations or settlement with RTE. She never raised the issue of RTE with me. In fairness to her, she never mentioned it.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny is trying to imply that I had some discussion, arrangement or understanding with Deputy Flynn implicating RTE.