Results 4,321-4,340 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have answered the question about the position regarding the former Tánaiste. The former Tánaiste knew that I was answering letters from the tribunal. She would not have seen those letters. She would only have been aware of broad facts about them. I believe she was aware that I got loans from friends. She was not aware of where I bought my house from. She was not aware of other...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In so far as it has painted a connection that Michael Wall was somebody who was at the Manchester function, he was not at the Manchester function.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, but he was not a donor. He was not a contributor. That is the fact. Deputy Joe Higgins asked me another fair question, whether there was anybody at that function whom I might have done a business deal with or whom I got money from in another way. The answer is no, and the reason I know that is there was nobody else whom I got money from. It is not a question of not being able to...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I would——

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I would like to answer the Deputy's question. I have tried through several phone calls — not a few phone calls — to people I know in Manchester over the past week to ask whether they were definitely at the function. People told me they were at this function, that function and the other function. People told me: "I remember a function where we raised a lot of money." I asked what...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I said in the House the other day that when I can get these names, I will gladly give the names to the tribunal. I said I will give all the names to the tribunal if I can get the names, but I cannot piece it together. I can piece together individuals in Manchester whom I met at various times, but as to who was at one function as opposed to another, I just cannot do that. That is the...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I paid all the taxes relating to my house.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will say a few words about the Aer Lingus IPO and the Ryanair bid. The Aer Lingus IPO was priced at €2.20 per share and conditional dealings commenced on 27 September. Admission to the stock exchange and unconditional dealing commenced on 2 October and without any notice other than some phone calls this morning, Ryanair announced a take-over bid. The bid price is €2.80 per share....

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Ireland's strategic interest in aviation is best served by the maximum number of regular, safe and cost effective air services linking the country to key business and tourism markets, and that remains the case.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: From the outset of the Aer Lingus IPO, the Government has been committed to ensuring that our strategic interests are protected. It was always the intention to retain a significant minority shareholding for this purpose and the State's shareholding is 28.3% of the company. As a result of the IPO, Aer Lingus has the means at its disposal to fulfil its potential and to contribute positively...

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The last point I made was that it would be more appropriate if we did that next week because the Minister for Transport is consulting his advisers and will have to evaluate all the strategic and policy issues arising from the position.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I also said about the approach, in the first instance, it is a matter for the board of directors of the company to evaluate the Ryanair offer. Having a debate today about it in the absence of those facts is not, in my mind, the best use of time. I would not have a difficulty with allocating time next week.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 2, Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 — Second Stage, resumed; and No. 3, the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

Order of Business (5 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I offer my apologies to the House that I am back for the fourth day out of five to answer these issues. I can only answer them to the best of my ability. I will answer all the questions without taking too long. I believe I have answered every question I have been asked in a full and frank manner over the past number of days. I believe I have answered them in a very complete way but I will...

Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation will be taken this session and the matter can be debated at that stage.

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I spent two hours 20 minutes answering questions here yesterday and I spent an hour last week. At every opportunity where members of the national media asked questions over the past two weeks, whether that was in Clare, Cavan or Dublin, I answered. I gave comprehensive answers yesterday so I will not go on each day rehashing the same questions. The only question of substance the Deputy...

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Government and the House have brought in a range of stringent legislation over the past decade which governs this House. This includes the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. We all make our annual returns. I appreciate Deputy Kenny's previous statements that he does not want to go in to my separation issues. I have explained that the accounts...

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——if one is going through a separation, life is not particularly easy. That is all I did. I did no more than that.

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is irrelevant.

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are all governed by the standards applying to political accounts and donations. The Minister, Deputy Martin, made that clear. I stated that I have attended many functions and social events in Manchester. To try to piece together a list of every person who attended each individual event from the time I first began going to Manchester as a councillor, a Deputy and a backbencher is...