Results 6,081-6,100 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——and further households will benefit from the rental accommodation scheme. In the region of 13,000 households were assisted through the full range of social and affordable housing measures in 2005 and 23,000 new units of social housing will commence between 2006 and 2008. A total of 15,000 units of affordable housing will be delivered in the same period. This Government was anxious to...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Whatever changes we made did not stop the Minister for Finance this year putting more than €2 billion — double the expenditure — into affordable housing. I hope the Deputy in his next two minutes will outline what efforts his party with its new support in local authorities might make to press them to try to help the Minister's policies.

Leaders' Questions. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will tell the Deputy in a minute.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Having seen a press report on the first issue, I will do anything I can to deal with the issue in Germany re the World Cup and prostitution. On the second issue, early last summer I made it clear inside and outside the House and at some EU conferences I attended on the country of origin principle that major difficulties would be created. I was lobbied by trade unions, small firms associations...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Or working a six day week.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As is mandatory under the rules, we have put forward a position paper. Our success in achieving high employment numbers in recent years means there is an interest in our proposals. Our position paper this year will stress the significant employment gains in the small and medium enterprise sector. Recent reports have shown that approximately 250,000 small business employers have made quite...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Iraq is not on the agenda of this Council meeting. I will take the opportunity to condemn all the violence and the dreadful atrocities carried out against ordinary citizens in Iraq. The General Affairs and External Relations Council meets monthly to discuss these issues. It is up to the coalition forces to make their own decisions. I note today that the UK commander-in-chief has made some...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——as it helps the Croatian economy. Greater numbers of Irish people are returning not only to areas they visited before the wars and the break-up of Yugoslavia, such as Dubrovnik, but to many other regions. All this is appreciated. It is hoped that there will soon be a direct flight from Dublin to Zagreb, which the Croatians and I believe will be beneficial. As I told Deputy Kenny,...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will go back over the issues. The General Affairs and External Relations Council has been discussing that issue. We have co-operated fully with the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. A few investigations are in train under the auspices of the European Parliament. One of those has asked for co-operation while the others have not. However, we are co-operating fully with them. As...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Conservation has become particularly important because of the price of oil, as the Deputy rightly said. It is generally realised that there is no possibility of oil prices reverting to the level of 18 months ago. It seems to be on a new level and I hope that will not reach a new ceiling, but these issues are relevant. As I said before, we will continue to assist in whatever way we can. On the...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No, but they are maintaining existing capacity and putting resources into this area, and that will continue. Germany has taken the alternative view, or at least the last Chancellor did so. I do not think the present Chancellor has stated her position yet. Everything that I have heard at those meetings makes me believe that the British will opt for more nuclear energy, with all the...

Proposed Legislation. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are no proposals to initiate legislation to amend the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 as suggested by the Deputy.

Proposed Legislation. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Two issues arise. On the question whether the Director of Public Prosecutions will disclose, after a trial has taken place, the existence of material which has not been put before a court, the practice of the DPP is not to disclose, after a trial has taken place, the existence of material which was not put before a court because it was inadmissible or not probative of the case. To do so would...

Proposed Legislation. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy is correct that section 2(6) of the 1974 Act provides for consultation between the Attorney General and the DPP from time to time. I have no function on these consultations and do not have the power to direct them to take place, order that particular matters be discussed or request details of the contents of the consultations, which have always been regarded as confidential. I am...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 10, inclusive, together. Last Friday, the Presidency circulated the draft agenda for the European Council in March. The draft agenda focuses on the need for implementation of the commitments on jobs and growth entered into at last spring's European Council. In particular, they highlight the need to maintain momentum across the board. In this context, they...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is what the Minister told me.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: She is doing a good job.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with the Deputy.

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have answered the first question, which related to the European constitution, a number of times. Following the French and Dutch referenda results, the European Council decided to initiate the period of reflection. Deputy Kenny has stated this period is almost complete. Austria began its Presidency quite anxious to make significant progress and the matter was discussed at the foreign...

EU Summits. (7 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will say a few words about the services directive but will not comment every day on the actions of our Members of the European Parliament. If I did I would have to raise many questions with Deputy Ó Caoláin about the bizarre decisions his party members continually make, so I will not go down that road. The Government continues to support a services directive with safeguards to ensure it...