Results 2,201-2,220 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is what Deputy Kenny is implying.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Let us cut to the chase and stop at the tape.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There was no discussion between me as leader of Fianna Fáil or as Taoiseach with Deputy Flynn regarding her case, or her pending settlement with RTE. She did not raise the issue.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: She did not imply that she was trying to settle or that she was going to pay. There was no discussion.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I stated in the interview that in my judgment Deputy Flynn's future lay in Fianna Fáil.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I said nothing about RTE. Deputy Kenny has been long enough in that seat, never mind in this House——

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny is well able to answer questions. He does not need Deputy Bruton's help.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: RTE's independence is well known. I do not believe Deputy Bruton does it much service by questioning its independence.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Three points, not two, were raised and I will try to answer them. The written understandings I have with the three Deputies concerned are based on the national development plan, Transport 21, the multi-annual programmes and the Book of Estimates. As I stated yesterday, some €187 billion is provided for in the national development plan; €34 billion in Transport 21 and we spend...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The third issue, the sinister question raised by Deputies Kenny and Rabbitte that I, as Taoiseach, or a Minister had something to do with the settlement by the legal team for RTE directly through the authority, general secretary or director of RTE, is 100% untrue. I had no discussion on or involvement in that matter. This is not a cute issue for the Opposition to raise. Many of the new...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I want to be very clear about what is being said. It is being implied that I would ask a State company to involve itself in a settlement with a Member of any side of this House. That is contemptuous and I reject it.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not think any Deputy who is in discussions with the Government is either naive or silly. People want to see projects in the national development plan, Transport 21 or the multi-annual capital and current programmes implemented. Deputy Rabbitte knows that while those projects are spread over a seven-year period, people will want to prioritise them, as every Member on my own side and the...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Whether money is spent on Castlebar or €27 million is spent on the airport at Knock, I am sure Deputies on every side of the House welcome such proposals. There are similar issues in the national development plan. I would be amazed if Deputy Flynn did not support such proposals and was not glad to see them. They are the kind of proposals in which she is interested. She does not need to...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Flynn was involved in a case and tried to come to terms with RTE. I was asked, if those matters were resolved, would she have a future in my party, having spent ten years in the House supporting my party, even when she was not a member of it. I remind Deputy Rabbitte that she is not a member of the party. I suggested that I believed her future is in the Fianna Fáil Party. As to...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I probably have three or four people capable of holding each position. I am not the leader of a small party, like the Deputy's, that would not even be able to fill all the officer positions, so it is a different position.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not accept the implication that a State company, in this case RTE, would take any soundings from me — I did not give any — on the settlement of a case.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is not a fair political point to say that I would interfere in any way.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is a matter for the Director General of RTE to state whether there was any interference by me or anyone associated with me or with Fianna Fáil. The answer to that is "No", but it is a matter for RTE to say so, if they see fit to do so. It is a matter for Deputy Flynn to say if she had any discussion with me about her pending settlement, payment or circumstances. She did not.

European Council. (27 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. I travelled to Berlin on 31 May for a meeting with Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Reinfeldt of Sweden. This meeting was a part of a series of consultations by Chancellor Merkel with prime ministerial colleagues in advance of the Presidency report to the June European Council. Our discussions focused in particular on...

Written Answers — Agreements with Members: Agreements with Members (26 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 to 148, inclusive, together. These are political agreements that I have entered into as Leader of the Fianna Fáil Party with individual independent Deputies. These agreements are confidential but I am happy to confirm to the House that they are as always based on the Programme for Government which incorporates the National Development Plan, approved...