Results 6,681-6,700 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The reason for the proposal is to try, over the next few years, to increase by 50% the capacity of the M50 and remove the toll plaza without getting rid of tolling, without which we would not be able to complete the kind of investment we require. We already spend much more than the European average on infrastructure. This year, we will spend €1.6 billion on main roads and approximately...

Leaders' Questions. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy is calling NTR crooked, he will have to stand over that.

Leaders' Questions. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am just explaining the factual and legal position with which I am trying to deal, namely, a contractual arrangement made in good faith. As I indicated, I would like the toll plaza to be removed quicker and do not understand the reason it will take two years to do so. We will try to proceed quickly. The first phase will involve completing the study by October. If a new freeflow electronic...

Order of Business. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 10, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 11, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the draft Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 (Prescribed Accountancy Bodies) Regulations 2006; No. 14, Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 15, Competition...

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 22, inclusive, together. I visited Budapest on 25 November for a meeting with Prime Minister Gyurcsany. At the meeting, we discussed issues on the EU agenda and, in particular, the negotiations on the financial perspectives for 2007 to 2013 and the development of Ireland's economic relations with Hungary. While I was in Hungary, I also launched the...

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the financial perspectives, particularly the elements dealing with agriculture, the overall agreement was excellent from our point of view because we expect that, over the next period, our receipts will amount to about €14 billion, while our payments will be €13 billion. We will not become net contributors until the very end of the round, based on present projections, and we...

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They are linked. If a person is in receipt of the new payment, he must be in receipt of child benefit. Our figures were based on that. The numbers are not huge as of now but we must protect the position. We are talking about a small number of thousands. In child benefit cases, we would be talking about less than 2,000, while benefit might be double that. I was aware of this and discussed it...

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To briefly return to the other issue, it always matters how EU regulations are applied in different member states and how people handle them. It is a regular occurrence that EU regulations are administered slightly differently in different jurisdictions; they are curtailed in some ways and extended in other ways. We have always had an open position and we transpose EU directives far quicker...

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I discussed those issues at the meeting I had on 9 December, not at the summit. As the Deputy will recall, the Prime Minister had very little information and was not able to cast much light on what was happening. Subsequently, with my ministerial colleagues, I discussed this matter with PSNI Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, discussed it...

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said last week, Dr. Rice stated that Irish airports were not used in any way related to these issues, for planes or people or anything else. She has been absolutely, categorically clear that Irish airports were not used. Her reply was re-stated through the Embassy last week. On the question of the Council of Europe investigation, it has made a number of recommendations and issued...

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Different prime ministers expressed different views on the European constitution. The Government's position is that we made an agreement last year that we would have a period of reflection, which would come to a conclusion in the summer under the Austrian Presidency. We are abiding by that decision. As part of that process, other countries' governments are entitled to state their views about...

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, but I divided the questions and that will be in the second question.

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Joe Higgins, matters are moving along well. The socialists and the hard left around Europe are firm in their view in favour of a constitution. Most of them believe——

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——as Deputy Joe Higgins does, that the original proposal I negotiated was the correct one and they are ready to support it. However, opinion on the right is more difficult and we must see how that works out. Nonetheless, I know the Deputy and I will be on the one side if there is a campaign on this issue. The nitrates directive——

Official Engagements. (31 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——-was not discussed at the European Council. It was discussed at both the Environmental and the Agricultural Councils. I think the Deputy knows that Ireland has been way behind other member states in reaching agreement on this issue. I have given the House a clear picture as to what the United States has said. It was not based on the European issue. Other countries are concerned about...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together. The public appointments made by my Department since 1997 are detailed in the following tables. Table 1 gives the appointments up to June 2002 and Table 2 gives the appointments since that date. There are no current vacancies. Table 1 — Appointments made between 1997 and June 2002 State Board/Agency Name of Appointee Date of...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Government remains fully committed to the peace process and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I will meet the British Prime Minister tomorrow with a view to reviewing recent developments and giving momentum to renewed efforts to restore the democratic institutions. There will be a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmenttal Conference on 1 February, which will be...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The "Stormontgate" case, along with a number of other issues, contributed to the collapse of the power-sharing Executive in 2002. However, the primary focus of the Governments and parties must now be on the future and the priority of restoring the devolved institutions in 2006.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The total funds spent by my Department on consultants, legal experts and external advice from June 1997 to the end of 2005 are detailed as follows. The number of reports produced following such contracts and numbers of reports implemented by my Department are also detailed. It should be noted that a report would not have necessarily been produced as part of each consultancy engagement, for...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The non-Civil Service advisers employed by my Department are as follows: Name Title Salary Scale Gerry Hickey Programme Manager and Special Adviser Secretary General to the Government Gerard Howlin Special Adviser Assistant Secretary Úna Claffey Special Adviser Assistant Secretary Brian Murphy Special Adviser Principal Officer (Higher Scale) Katherine...