Results 2,241-2,260 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (26 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 4, motion re election of Leas-Cheann Comhairle; No. 5, motion re restoration of Bills to the Order Paper; and No. 2, Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that all divisions demanded in the House this week shall be taken manually; that Nos. 4 and 5 shall be decided without...

Northern Ireland Issues. (26 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: A truth commission was discussed more than ten years ago in Dublin Castle and at that stage we had examined the South African situation. There was not an appetite for a commission then or since during various discussions with representatives of political parties and other non-political organisations who would have been able to assist in making it workable. The reason it was a success in...

Northern Ireland Issues. (26 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: In regard to addressing the Assembly, Deputy Rabbitte asked if we would have a meeting. We will have a meeting around the North-South Ministerial Council meeting but we have no formal arrangements yet. I am very anxious to get the institutions up and running fully first before we do anything else. It is important that the provisions of the Agreements, the Good Friday Agreement and the St....

Northern Ireland Issues. (26 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As I said, the question of the North-South Parliamentary Forum is contained in the St. Andrews Agreement. With the Assembly restored, it would seem more realistic to get that up and running. I will again consult the party leaders on how we might make progress on that. Some of the difficulties we had in the past should now be removed and the North-South Parliamentary Forum will allow us to...

Northern Ireland Issues. (26 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Separate questions are tabled on the MacEntee commission report and I will deal with that issue then because there is extensive detail on that and on the follow-up on the other Barron inquiries. I would prefer to take those questions at that stage.

Northern Ireland Issues. (26 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together. The period since the dissolution of the 29th Dáil has seen tremendous progress in Northern Ireland, with the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive and the appointment of Dr. Ian Paisley and Mr. Martin McGuinness to the positions of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, respectively. The North-South...

Northern Ireland Issues. (26 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Like the Ceann Comhairle, I am glad to see that Deputy Ó Caoláin is well. On the closure of Bessbrook, the demilitarisation process continues and I am very pleased to see this. On Deputy Ó Caoláin's question, demilitarisation is raised on an almost daily basis by either myself, more often the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, or officials. It is a weekly if not almost a...

Northern Ireland Issues. (26 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: In regard to the first question, the British Government's position is not that it will not offer an inquiry. It has offered us an inquiry and amended the legislation on the Finucane case but the family, the Government and others rejected the form of that legislation. We do not accept the kind of inquiry the British Government has offered — it is its right to offer it. The British...

Allocation of Time: Motion (14 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, (i) the proceedings on No. 5, nomination of members of the Government, shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.15 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) the speech of the Taoiseach and of every leader of a party recognised as a group shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; (b) the speech of each other Member called upon...

Allocation of Time: Motion (14 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy is right to say there has been a change in the groupings. I cannot, however, respond favourably to his request. Deputy Kenny's party has 51 Members, Deputy Rabbitte's party has 20 and my party has 78 so it cannot be done. Debates take place in this House in which Government and Opposition time can be shared but there is now no technical group so things cannot be done as they...

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (14 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: B'áil liom cead a chur in iúl, mar eolas don Dáil, gur chuir mé m'ainmniú mar Thaoiseach in iúl don Uachtarán agus gur cheap sí mé dá réir. I wish to announce, for the information of the Dáil, that I have informed the President that the Dáil has nominated me to be the Taoiseach and that she has appointed me accordingly. It is a great honour for me to present to the House the...

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (14 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Finally, I am pleased to announce my intention to nominate Paul Gallagher SC as Attorney General. As a distinguished advocate, I am confident he will bring to the Government wisdom, experience and energy. I wish to pay tribute to the immense contribution made by the outgoing Attorney General, Rory Brady SC. I wish him every success in his resumed career at the Bar. I commend my...

Nomination of Taoiseach. (14 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Is cúis mhór áthais domsa seasamh anseo inniu os chomhair na Dála mar Thaoiseach. Is mór an onóir, an phribhléid agus an dualgas atá orm an cheart a dhéanamh ar son muintir na hÉireann agus cuirfidh an Rialtas nua seo chun oibre le fuinneamh. I express my deep gratitude and appreciation to the Dáil for the great honour it has conferred on me by electing me Taoiseach. I am deeply...

Election of Ceann Comhairle. (14 Jun 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Ba mhaith liom an Teachta Seán Ó Donnchú a ainmniú mar Cheann Comhairle. I wish to nominate Deputy John O'Donoghue to the position of Ceann Comhairle.

Order of Business (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 18, motion re Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998; No. 1, Medical Practitioners Bill 2007, amendments from the Seanad; and No. 23, Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad] — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be...

Order of Business (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I introduced the Act in 1998 in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing. The House met in special session to pass that legislation. The International Monitoring Commission report, published in the past several hours, shows there are at least three militant, illegal, and dissident republican paramilitary groups operating in the State. That is why it is necessary to extend this legislation. I...

Order of Business (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The statutory instruments by regulation must be laid before the House. I do not know the reason for the lengthy period of time.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I visited the Deputy's area on a few occasions recently and attended the opening of the new school in Hartstown. I spoke to teachers from a number of schools in the area and am aware of the pressures and the school needs of communities in rapidly developing areas, particularly Dublin West and mid-west where the population is growing dramatically. Whatever about setting up a special unit, I...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: First, to correct the Deputy on a factual point, we currently have the largest school building programme in the history of the State. If one looks back on recent years, in the 1994 to 1999 period, €659 million was spent on the school capital programme, whereas in the past six years we have spent more than €2 billion.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Please, Deputy.