Results 5,181-5,200 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It would be under any of the laws relating to sexual crimes.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The answer to Deputy English's question is that all the relevant Acts — including the 1993, 1998 and 2001 Acts, the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, the Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act and Part 12 of the Children Act — are still law and are not affected by the striking down of section 1(1). This relates even to other dangers in the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have listened and I would like to answer. Deputy Rabbitte asked me about confusion, but there is no confusion.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte accused me unfairly of not knowing the number of prisoners last Wednesday morning. I stated in the House that I would know by lunchtime, and I did. He took an unreasonable position. I stated there was no blanket rule, as the advice had been that there was no blanket rule. That is the reason we opposed the case yesterday. We fought the case, the court ruled as it did today in...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I hope the Deputy knows what is going on. There is a separation of powers and the DPP could not do that.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte has accused me of slithering and sliding, of stating that I will be out of the country and of indicating that we will look into the matter next week. I did not say any of those things. I stated that for the limited time I will be out of the country, those who are working with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Attorney General will try to complete this...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Will Deputy O'Keeffe stop interrupting? If Deputy Jim O'Keeffe has all these answers, he was there from 1994 to 1997. Why did he not solve this problem then?

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy was a Minister in the Government then. Why did he not solve it?

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am trying to answer Deputy Rabbitte. Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's party had its chance and did not do it.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We will try to have the Bill by the weekend. I cannot say to the legal people working on this that they must have it. The Deputy knows this. We will try to have it by then. If we have it, I have stated that I will consult the Opposition. I will be back on Friday. I will not be gone for too long. The work will go on. The relevant Cabinet committee can meet over the weekend and we will deal...

Official Engagements. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Genetically modified food is not on the agenda; it is an issue for the EU Agricultural Council. We support the EU agreed approach on agricultural issues, to be discussed at the World Trade Organisation talks which will seek balanced but ambitious measures across the core areas of the Doha development agenda. The main focus has been on obtaining tariff reductions on agricultural and industrial...

Official Engagements. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The President was asking for the Deputy. On the European constitution, the issue is that 15 countries — the figure will soon be 16 or 17 — have ratified the constitution. France and the Netherlands have strongly indicated their positions. The Netherlands have said they will not return to the matter, while France said it would in certain circumstances, but it did not outline those...

Official Engagements. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I had two short discussions with President Chávez. I did not include them in my reply as comprehensive meetings. He is anxious to see the European Union working with him on some of the central issues he wants progressed. He would hold the view that Europe has not done that to a sufficient degree. It is an issue on which he campaigned strongly before and since the LAC meeting. On issues of...

Official Engagements. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 22, inclusive, together. The June European Council will consider a wide range of issues. In particular, it will examine how Europe listens and works for its citizens and how the future of Europe debate and the period of reflection on the European constitution are to be carried forward. I expect to receive the finalised agenda following discussions on the...

Official Engagements. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte asked a number of questions. On the constitution, following the French and Dutch referendums, the June 2005 European Council decided to initiate a period of reflection. It will clearly be a significant item on the agenda. While the matter has not been circulated yet, it must come back to the Council this June. The intention was for member states to avail of the opportunity to...

Official Engagements. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It will not take effect until 1 January 2014 but all of those issues must be faced. It will be a fundamental review; there is no doubt about that, as I have said consistently to agriculture groups here for some years. It is important that people do not think there is some way to avoid it. The agriculture lobby is now a small group and it will be even smaller when President Chirac steps down...

Official Engagements. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first issue, I am not aware of the legal costs around it, but it was the right thing to do. The reason we took the case is obvious. Both the United Kingdom and Ireland are parties to the convention and, as correctly urged, we were proactive in this matter. If we are party to a convention we should abide by the convention and our view was that the British were not doing that. It is not...

Official Engagements. (30 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Much progress has been made since the beginning of this year on the services directive. Most of the issues we were concerned about have been addressed. We continue to support at the meetings the services directive with safeguards to ensure there will not be a race to the bottom. That was our central point throughout. The directive, as amended by the Commission, is now being considered by the...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (24 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My Department does not fund any projects under the RAPID programme.

Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill were approved at Christmas time and the Bill is due before the House this session.