Results 5,001-5,020 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The point of having a separate summit does not really arise because we raise the issue at every summit. In so far as the question of what the British Prime Minister says is concerned, the British at every level — from the Prime Minister down — have the same answer, that their Inquiries Act is adequate to deal with this situation. We do not accept that position. I already replied on the...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I stated in reply to Deputy Kenny, I have made them aware of all the motions. They are well aware of all the motions. We must see if pressure will increase. Last year I got the American President to raise this issue directly with Prime Minister Blair. We must continue to press this issue but while I understand what the British are at in this case, I do not for a second accept it. I...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first question, the latest date is the end of the month. We have been given a few dates and they have changed, but it is still expected very shortly. I cannot be certain about that. It is long finished and it is being examined by a number of groups. With regard to Judge Smithwick, all the preliminary work is under way on the basis of the paperwork I have seen and the questions that...

Northern Ireland Issues. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It does not. If it did, a public inquiry would not be needed. However, I have always felt there was collusion at a high level. I would like a public inquiry into this because of who Pat Finucane was, the work he was doing and the way he was gunned down based on whatever level of collusion. It is not a black and white situation but there was collusion in the case. On the first issue, it has...

Departmental Staff. (20 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, together. On 19 May 2006, the chairman of the Standards in Public Office Commission wrote to inform me of the decision of the commission on this matter. The commission concluded that the complaint did not warrant the commencement of an investigation under the ethics Acts. The commission, however, was of the view that it was not appropriate...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As the Deputy knows, the recent report also showed 100,000 young people have been taken out of consistent poverty in recent years. We remain firmly committed to eliminating consistent poverty, combating social exclusion, ending marginalisation and creating a fairer society. We have significantly reduced poverty levels. The last major report in this regard, the UN human development report of...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked what we will do in the future. We will continue to work to eliminate poverty, particularly child poverty. The next national action plan to combat poverty and social exclusion is due to be published later this year and will reflect that strong commitment. Next year we will achieve a new benchmark level of €150, in 2002 terms, for social welfare payments, which is hugely...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——by helping them with education, with employment schemes such as those administered by FÁS and by tracking them under the Youthreach programme when they leave school. We have put in place structures to ensure all these measures are being implemented. An examination of the figures and what we have achieved shows we have made enormous strides in this area and will continue to do so.

Commemorative Events. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. There are two further formal State commemorative events planned for the remainder of the year. These are the ceremonies to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July at the war memorial in Islandbridge, which will be followed by a reception in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, and the national day of...

Commemorative Events. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: For a number of years up to the 150th anniversary of the Famine most of the commemorative initiatives of my Department were dedicated to Famine-related projects, so they have received a large part of what is a small allocation of commemorative funds. Deputy Rabbitte asked for a national day to commemorate the Famine. I am not sure how that could be done — perhaps it could be linked to other...

Commemorative Events. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said, we are looking at how we can do it. I have received submissions and my Department is examining them to see what is the most appropriate way of dealing with the matter. I want to make the point that every year very good cases are made for commemorative events. There are at least two or three a year. That was why, in 1986, they moved to an all-party group which established a national...

Commemorative Events. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have answered the question about the Famine commemoration. We will examine the matter to see if we can find a suitable way of commemorating it, as we did for five years before the 1798 bicentenary. The Government was involved in the commemorative event which marked the passing of John de Courcey Ireland. Last year, we helped to fund some of the projects which were most dear to him. I am not...

Commemorative Events. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Admiral Brown society is an active group, which I met. My Department has funded a number of related projects. For the commemoration of Admiral Brown next year, the society intends to build a memorial park, for which we have provided resources. There have also been contacts with the Department of Defence, although I am not sure from where they came, and the Department of the Environment,...

Commemorative Events. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have heard the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, refer to this matter. I am not sure exactly what projects are involved but I understand some issues arise. No application was made to my Department for a commemorative fund or, if it was made, it did not go through the official vetting system. I will raise the matter with the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív,...

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 13, inclusive, together. The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution published its report relating to the family on 24 January. The relevant Departments are considering its recommendations. The Government has acted on most of the key recommendations that emanated from earlier reports of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution. In all, this...

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first issue, the Minister for Foreign Affairs said he had some sympathy with the view that had been expressed by many groups and organisations. I did not differ from that but said that all these issues should be examined by the all-party group, where people would be able to reflect their views. However, we do not have a plan at this stage to have a constitutional referendum in the...

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is one of the options that can be examined but all of them should be examined in the context of an all-party committee. To try to do it separately would not deal conclusively with the issues.

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Of course he had spoken with me.

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: With regard to the constitution, I spoke to the Austrian Chancellor, the President in office of the European Council, Wolfgang Schüssel. At the meeting on Thursday night and Friday it will be decided to push the reflection period out further, as I have been saying for a long time. It is unlikely there will be any change until the French and Dutch elections next year. Based on that, I doubt...

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The majority view in the committee was that a referendum that proposed to extend the definition of family would be divisive and, having created division, would not necessarily carry majority support. Rather than put our community through a divisive campaign the committee decided to examine whether the problems presented in the submissions might be dealt with by a combination of other less...