Results 341-360 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will have to check that. I do not know which Bill it is.

Order of Business (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Foreign Affairs is dealing with the second matter. The names of the commission will not be announced tomorrow but the Minister has contacted the High Court to name a judge and we have to wait until we get that from the court. We are ready but we have to get a High Court judge.

Order of Business (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill will be introduced next year, 2009.

Order of Business (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date for the health (long-term residential care services) Bill but the Government is considering it.

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We are going to get unemployment. FÁS and the other agencies have already put in place integrated support services for those made redundant and those who might lose their jobs in the construction sector. When we saw this coming a year ago we moved on that. It involves information sessions, skills analysis, training, retraining and courses in job replacement. In delivering those services,...

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 15, inclusive, together. Before dealing with the detailed questions that Deputies have put down on Northern Ireland, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Dr. Ian Paisley, following his announcement that he will step down from his post in May. I said yesterday that he was a giant in the history of...

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I assure the House that there is an ongoing assessment of the activities of all paramilitary groupings. There is a number of fringe groupings, most of which are quite small, but an ongoing security assessment is undertaken by the Garda Síochána. Obviously, there is very close co-operation with the PSNI on these matters. Over the last six months or so there have been ongoing reports of...

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On the Quinn murder, investigations are ongoing into this serious crime. It undoubtedly has the trappings of paramilitary involvement, although republicans have condemned it and denied any involvement. The reports will be out shortly and we will deal with the views and assessments. Ultimately, any type of organisation or structure that engages in such activity or any groupings that might...

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On the security position — not to go back over it again — I should have said something when replying to Deputy Kenny and will say it in reply to Deputies Kenny and Gilmore now. Deputy Gilmore mentioned the Garda and its activity. As one would expect in these cases, there is always the attempt by dissidents to bring in arms. I want to record my acknowledgment of the good work done by...

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Garda has completed its investigation and I do not think it was bomb making. I do not think it was perhaps as sinister as it looked. There are reasons surrounding it, and the Garda must come to a final conclusion but it does not seem to be as sinister as it seemed initially. I assure the Deputy the issue of Sellafield is regularly on the agenda but there is also direct contact. We have...

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will return to what I said earlier because I think Deputy Ó Caoláin will accept that in reply to Deputy Kenny, I said the only important building block which is outstanding is the devolution of policing and justice. I hope we will be able to conclude that with Dr. Paisley and we will continue to work for that over the next two months or so. What stands in the way of avoiding contact —...

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I think I have already answered that and I have taken the same line. Perhaps Deputy Ó Caoláin meant to put it slightly differently.

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Since I have to try to chair the Opposition——

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I think what Deputy Ó Caoláin meant to say was that the peaceful role the IRA now plays, as supportive of the peace process, is to try to discourage those who might get involved in paramilitary activities from doing so.

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am sure Deputy Ó Caoláin meant discourage by peaceful, lawful and good community means.

Northern Ireland Issues. (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I would not put any on it. On the North-South parliamentary forum, I understand discussions are ongoing between the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the North-South parliamentary forum. These are being led by the Ceann Comhairle and the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, William Hay. The matter will be kept under review. The meetings the Ceann Comhairle...

Order of Business (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 5a, Finance Bill 2008 — Financial Resolution; No. 12, Finance Bill 2008 — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; and No. 13, Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007 — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 5a shall be decided without debate. Private Members' business...

Order of Business (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On the intoxicating liquor Bill, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform — I believe Deputy Kenny would agree with his actions in this regard — has decided to deal with the more urgent parts of the legislation, namely, those relating to the sale and availability of alcohol, first. The consultative process is due to conclude this month and, if co-operation is forthcoming, we...

Order of Business (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: There is nothing to the issue to which the Deputy refers.

Order of Business (5 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: There are actually four reports on the subject of breast cancer services in the midlands, namely, the Ann Doherty report, the John Fitzgerald report, Dr. Ann O'Doherty's report on mammography and John Bulfin's ultrasound report. The Minister for Health and Children has responsibility for two of these and both have been made available on her Department's website. There were a number of legal...