Results 4,281-4,300 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That Bill is listed for this session.

Order of Business (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No.

Order of Business (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads have not yet been cleared for the nurses and midwives Bill and it is listed for next year. The heads are approved for the Voluntary Health Insurance Board (corporate status) Bill, the legislation was sent for drafting some time ago and is expected early next year.

Order of Business (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Health and Children is anxious to publish the report on the Leas Cross nursing home as soon as possible. She wishes to see any obstacles to its publication removed as a matter of urgency. The Attorney General's advice was sought regarding the publication of the report under Dáil privilege. This advice has been received and is being considered in consultation with the...

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In respect of Deputy Kenny's first question, as I explained today, I did not consider at the time that I was in breach of any legal or ethical requirements applying or intended to apply to Ministers and gave reasons for this belief. It was an error of judgment, notwithstanding the fact that my actions did not breach obligations. It was open to construction and capable of misinterpretation,...

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: One of the issues which came out of this is that while we introduced an enormous amount of legislation, such as the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, the Electoral Act 1997 and the later electoral Act, it is still possible for somebody to receive a substantial gift from a friend or a loan and not declare it. That point was made here and elsewhere on a...

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte asked three questions. I do not have to comment on his comments on what was stated at the press conference today.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I already gave as full information as I have about Manchester. I answered the questions fully. I paid £180,000 for my house. I had a mortgage of £150,000 and £30,000 from my own accounts. I put all of that information in the public domain. Regarding whether I paid this, that or the other tax, I am entitled to state what tax I paid. It extraordinary that I am being asked during Leaders...

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are no changes. Keep to the facts.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No, €150,000.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I gave the figure last week that the house cost me €180,000, that is exactly the same figure as I gave last week. That is the same the figure.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The mortgage was €150,000, I did not say €100,000, I am just looking at the note of what I said last week. I have put out all of the information. By the way, I do not know anyone else's mortgage in this House. If the issue here is to find out how much someone's mortgage is or who ate a dinner and who did not and who ate a sandwich instead, we should get real. I have answered a level...

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not consider I caused a problem. I did not leak anything from the tribunal, the tribunal asked me questions about Mauritius, about whether I got €15 million from O'Callaghan and about a range of other things. I gave my facts in answer to those questions and someone leaked those facts. I do not know who did it or how but I must answer those issues. This is the level that the House...

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I can confirm that nobody in any way either lent me money or that anyone who was at a dinner to the best of my knowledge——

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——did anything corrupt or involving a corrupt act.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Can I answer? In the middle of my answer, if people start saying I am not answering the question how can I answer it?

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I heard the question. I said there was nothing corrupt nor were they looking for contracts nor were they doing anything wrong.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have been responsible for most of the legislation in the last nine years. We set up the Standards in Public Office Commission, a group that did not previously exist, to deal these issues. We have changed the Electoral Act for national and local elections.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We built in a substantial number of procedures and I think it has worked.

Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The evidence is there that it has worked. The amendment we now have states no one can receive a substantial gift in any way from friends that could be linked with any perception that it is wrong and the Standards in Public Office Commission would have to arbitrate on that before anyone could accept it. If it finds that it is not permissible, it is illegal to ignore that. That is as strong...