Results 6,861-6,880 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Diplomatic Representations. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Foreign Affairs did. There is no point in my doing everybody else's job.

Diplomatic Representations. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A few weeks ago, I told Deputy Kenny that I would give him the contents of a note I had and I will do so. It was not the constitutional advice of the Attorney General. Deputy Sargent referred to the idea of a truth and reconciliation commission. As he knows, I have supported that for some years in some format, although I never prescribed that it should be on the South African model. There are...

Diplomatic Representations. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will try.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As the House knows, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will make a statement on this matter in a while. He made a comprehensive statement last week by way of a reply to a parliamentary question. The Minister has at all times kept the Government fully briefed on a matter of great importance touching on the issue of security of the State. He has acted with good authority in...

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have stated that the Minister has acted properly at all times. The issue of a newspaper asking a question about——

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Finian McGrath put down a question and he received a reply. I ask him to allow me reply to Deputy Kenny.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On his own initiative and without any urging from anyone, the Minister said he wished to make a statement to the House today and take questions. I do not understand why people will not wait until the Minister has answered the issues.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny has an issue when a newspaper raises a question——

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy did.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not see what is incorrect about a Minister being asked by a newspaper about bogus documents that were used in a case. I want to answer the question but people do not really wish to listen to the answer.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: For the third time, I make the point that I do not see what is wrong when a newspaper asks a Minister about information concerning something that was in the public domain several years ago, namely about Mr. Connolly travelling to Bogotá in April 2001 using a false passport. I do not see how giving evidence of the use of bogus documents can be wrong. For instance, last week Deputy Kenny was...

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There is no right of confidentiality for a bogus or false passport application form and I wonder who would claim such a right — hardly a person seeking to perpetrate a fraud on the State. In answer to Deputy Kenny's question, all these things were linked. Last summer people were very concerned and rightly so about issues to do with Colombia and I had to return from my summer holidays to...

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——he is entitled to do that.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister has asked that he make a statement on that and he will deal with the issue.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am, yes, but the Minister is going to deal with it.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will not try to deal with the question in a few seconds. The Minister, whom I support fully, will outline the issue shortly.

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If there was no statement, I would answer the question, but the Minister has asked to make a statement and I support what he will say shortly. There is public interest in the disclosure of criminal activity, particularly where that disclosure is intended to protect the State's interest in maintaining the integrity of the passport system and the upholding of the relevant laws. The Minister is...

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I say for the third time that the Minister will speak on behalf of the Government and will give its collective position on this issue. He will not speak as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, but for the Government and he will outline the facts. There is no Garda file, the Minister does not have the Garda file. The Deputy is under the same misapprehension as others, that the...

Leaders' Questions. (13 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister was not dealing with a Garda file, he was dealing with a bogus application over a period, over the past few months. It is always the same here, something big happens in the height of summer and everybody then wants to forget about it. I was called on by all sides in this House some months ago to return to the House and deal with the issue of the Colombia Three. There were...