Results 2,461-2,480 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Official Engagements. (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I think so. There are no outstanding reasons it cannot be reconstituted and moved on. I have no particular information on the arms issue. There are still subversive groups, though small in number and dedicated in their unhelpful mission. They are still about and there have been some reports of activities, all from the usual sources. They still take up quite a large amount of effort and...

Official Engagements. (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We should have a debate on collusion. It will be during this Dáil. I thank Deputy Sargent for his remarks. On the first issue, we have invested an increased amount of resources in the American Ireland Fund, which is dealing with the issue of the segregation of education. A large part of the money goes towards integrated education and the fund is making good progress. It would have been a...

Official Engagements. (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, on the systems and allocation of housing. The Deputy raised the children issue yesterday. I have talked to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, about it and he has his officials working on it. There is ongoing dialogue through the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, but we have asked to bring the matter to a conclusion. In the interregnum, we will try to make...

Official Engagements. (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Is the Deputy referring to an all-island basis?

Official Engagements. (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will.

Official Engagements. (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy raised a number of issues. Work on the interconnector is continuing and is well advanced. Money in the national development plan has been provided for it. We have been supportive of the Border corridor of Sligo-Enniskillen-Dundalk, as it is hugely important for the economic development of the region. The last three Border roads will be open by the summer and will allow far more...

Official Engagements. (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I discussed a range of international issues, including Iraq, with President Bush. The Americans are continuing to work with the elected Government in Iraq to try to bring peace and some harmony to that war-torn area. Certain problems are continuing to this day, unfortunately — a large number of people were killed in Iraq today. I think the US Administration would be glad to be able to...

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, I cannot comment on the details of the O'Keeffe case, which has been appealed to the Supreme Court. On the costs relating to the previous case, I made it clear last March that the Government had asked the State Claims Agency, the statutory body that deals with legal fees, to approach the issue of costs in a measured and sensitive way. The agency informed Ms...

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Our education system has long been structured on the basis that schools are sponsored by religious and other patrons and run by local management on their behalf. Since the enactment of the relevant legislation, legal responsibility in this regard is vested in boards of management. The courts found in four separate cases that the Department of Education and Science was not liable for abuse...

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There are a number of points. The letter sent is based on legal advice of the legal position.

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is the legal position, that is the point.

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny asked me to clarify the position. That is the legal position.

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: One does not hide behind the law.

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: One does not hide behind the law; one quotes the law.

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If cases are fought in court, one does not ignore that. If one is in this office, one does not ignore cases fought in the court and just make up one's own mind. That is not what the Taoiseach does.

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I said I sympathise greatly with those who have been subjected to abuse.

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny is correct. I apologised to those who were in institutions because in the institutions the State had a full obligation. I have never stopped taking criticism from the Opposition in this House for that matter, but that is neither here nor there. Boards of management are not sued as individuals but as boards of management, and they have indemnity insurance on that issue, which...

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister does not believe this issue will stop people from volunteering to participate in boards. The head of the Catholic Primary School Managers' Association has also publicly assured board members that they are protected by insurance and, therefore, I do not want to get into the position of scaremongering.

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The position is that in the entire history of the State primary schools have been State aided as distinct from State run. The Catholic Church and other churches which have set up the vast majority of our primary schools continue to act as their patrons. Other patrons include those of Protestant, Jewish and Muslim faiths, and the patron bodies from Gaelscoileanna and Educate Together...

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte raised three points. First, he is incorrect to state I did not raise the hospital issue and the health service issue. Last week I gave extensive detail on the health issue at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis, including that we are bringing in a national screening programme for breast cancer——