Results 5,701-5,720 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy's small band of merry men and women in the company would always argue that Aer Lingus should be restricted, kept in State hands and not allowed to develop. They take pride in the fact that Aer Lingus, as our national airline——

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I listened to the Deputy. Democracy works both ways and, like him, I am entitled to speak.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy would prefer Aer Lingus, when the European open skies policy comes into force, to continue to be able to fly into just five airports in the United States and have no opportunity to develop and grow and no chance of enhancing its status. Rather than unions and workers owning some of the shares, he would prefer them to be the slaves of what he sees as the capitalist class. He opposes...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Obviously the Deputy and I disagree on this and we will continue to disagree. I remind the Deputy that, before it was liberalised, the old Department of Posts and Telegraphs was in place when I was first elected to the House. One of the biggest issues for constituents was having to wait four or five years to get a telephone. There were no telephones.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: People could not make telephone calls. Now one can walk into any office or premises and get a telephone on the same day.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is huge competition now.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They would make an excellent Government by renationalising the telephone system to bring us back to the dark past. I suppose they would ban mobile telephones as well.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will say two things because obviously I will not be allowed to speak. Deputy Joe Higgins argued for years — I admire him for this — about how great the countries of eastern Europe were and how we should be the same.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy argued for that.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The truth is always slanderous.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Higgins would tell all the countries that joined the European Union that they were wrong and that they should re-nationalise all the companies they have sold. He believes that but I think it is rubbish and, thankfully, the people in those countries think it is rubbish as well. I reject the Deputy following that course here. Aer Lingus in its current situation can hardly manage to deal...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Please listen. It is not possible to fly people from these locations if one does not have the aircraft. I am sure the Deputy understands that.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Therefore, we need investment to bring people here. If we can bring these people to different regions of the country, it will develop tourism, which will create jobs and allow us to become a modern country.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I know Deputy Higgins does not particularly like that but that is what I want to do for the future. I believe this policy is the right one.

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. A number of Independent Deputies offered invaluable support to the previous Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government. While in regard to this Administration their support is not as critical to the Government's majority, given the support they provided in the past, I have tried, and will continue to try, to be as helpful as...

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is not the strategic objective. The Deputies concerned have been supportive of the Government and it would be wrong, just because we have a majority in the House, not to give them some assistance. The Deputies concerned do not seek preferential treatment. In fact, other Members, including other Independent Members, ask for support from time to time. We try to deal with them...

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Three of the four Independent Deputies who supported the Government in the last Dáil still keep in touch with the Government. They are Deputies Healy-Rae, Blaney and Fox.

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Both my office and that of the Whip assist all Deputies on a daily or weekly basis. Deputy Sargent will appreciate that if I found someone helpful and constructive over five years, I would not just turn over the book and say the numbers are different and we are not interested any more. That is not the way I act because it is disrespectful. It is no more than that. The Deputies do not seek any...

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy checks back he will find a few of them who helped me to get this job on the first day by voting for me. Being the fair-minded person I am, if a Deputy voted to get me into the job and then asks me something, I take notice of it. I never hold that against——

Agreements with Members. (5 Apr 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I appreciate it.