Results 3,861-3,880 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform deals with that matter.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: While I gave Deputy Rabbitte a detailed reply, he said that the only clear thing is that there is traffic on the M50. He is right — we all know there is traffic on the M50. I do not want to go into the history of it——

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——but the big issue at the time the M50 was built was whether it would be viable. The country had a population of 3.4 million which was declining. West Dublin had no new development at that time and questions were asked about whether the new motorway would work. In the first six months the concern was that it would be a financial white elephant. The country has moved on and 800,000...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If there are 800,000 additional vehicles and 700,000 more people, a large proportion of them in Dublin, there will inevitably be more traffic. Deputy Rabbitte asked me what was the position. The issue of four lanes on a gantry was never accepted by the Minister, his Department or the Government. There was one issue, namely that we would move to barrier free tolling. There are no companies...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It will take two years to bring this to completion in the ordered way advised by our best engineers.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Decisions on such matters will be based on all the facts and will not be decided by a "yes" or "no" across the floor of this House.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is attending the conference in Nairobi this week and will be articulating Ireland's position. Delegates will continue discussions on a possible agreement to succeed the one made at Kyoto and Ireland will play a full part in that. The key focus is on involving countries that do not currently have emission reduction commitments....

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have already stated to the Deputy, today and a number of times, that we will introduce a carbon Bill.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have already stated that over the last number of years our national emissions have risen and that we must do more. The Minister has said several times that the downward trend cannot be maintained through existing policies so we must do more and there is no issue about that. Our experts have been working under the national climate change strategy to see what more we need to do than what we...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: May I answer? Why does the Deputy interrupt?

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We will reduce our emissions by 11 million tonnes per annum through measures already in place and I have stated that this includes 3 million tonnes from power plants and large industry, and that this is not enough. Our economy has grown by 150% while our emissions grew by 23 %, but it is not enough. We have examined a range of measures and we will study the Stern report. As the full report...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To keep the Deputy informed, the full report is not to be published until January.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is correct.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The carbon Bill is being prepared and we will, based on what happens in Nairobi and on discussions at EU level, return to this issue.

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5 together. The Government appointed Deputy Kitt as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department and the Department of Defence. Deputy Treacy is also a Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European affairs. As Chief Whip, Deputy Kitt is primarily responsible for the...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As chairman of the legislative committee, to the best of his ability the Minister of State keeps a close handle on legislation in the Parliamentary Counsel's office going through the various processes between Departments and deals with points raised in the House to the best of his ability. We do not discuss this on a weekly basis. At the start of each session we decide what the legislation...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are times, at the weekends, I would like to give them more work to give myself a break. However, they work hard.

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the constitution question, obviously matters have not proceeded at the speed we would all have wished so the workload at that end has not materialised as it should have. The Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, usefully co-ordinates closely with the ten new member states. They are at an early stage of membership and there is a great deal of engagement with them at different levels. He...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte will not be surprised to learn that is not the way any member of the Government sees it. Yes, the Opposition has put forward all types of bright and wonderful suggestions, as has the Government, but there has to be compromise on issues. I do not know why we cannot get agreement on some of the simple matters. However, there has to be give and take. It is not just a question...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (15 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister of State has dealt with that elsewhere.