Results 8,041-8,060 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Advantica has been asked to identify any deficiencies concerning safety and to make any recommendations on how to deal with these if they can be identified and remedied. The Minister has brought forward the review due to all the issues of concern that people had. A particular issue of concern to the local residents has been the proximity of the pipeline to inhabited dwellings. This will also...

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If anything can be done constructively on a mediator, we will certainly do that. However, it cannot be done by people being released first. If we can help, we will.

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The cost arising to my Department for the Government meeting in City Hall, Cork on 8 June 2005 was €5,811. This is accounted for mainly by support staff accommodation, overtime and expenses. The cost of the other Cabinet meeting held outside Dublin during this Dáil in Emo, County Laois on 3 September 2003 was €3,739. Holding...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I believe they are all fulfilled, including the roads at Ballinasloe, Sligo and Kinnegad. No other meetings are fixed for this year. By and large any of the ones we had were around some occasion to show respect to some event that was going on. The one in Ballaghaderreen was to open up the new BMW offices and the one in Cork was because it is European Capital of Culture. There are no specific...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Whether it is held in Dublin or elsewhere, I do not see a Cabinet meeting having anything to do with party political issues. The Government normally holds such meetings if there is some good reason. We held a meeting in Louth at the time of the foot and mouth disease outbreak, one in Cork as it is the European Capital of Culture and one in Waterford as it was an important year in Waterford....

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Having meetings of the Government around the country from time to time is very useful. In this case very few officials need to move. I do not see the difficulty. More and more I see modern technology being used for meetings. I am sure the Deputy sees it himself when he attends corporate offices. Not alone do their meetings take place around the country but around the world. I recently...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We are moving well in that regard also. They have adequate technology in most places in the country.

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not believe that in the old days it used happen that every time a meeting was held 44 officials were required. I put a stop to that. There is no need for that number of people parading around the place at all hours of the night. Much of that stuff was unnecessary. Modern techniques, modern management, the Public Service Management Act etc. have led to far more streamlining. There are...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy's party has no difficulty in that regard because I regularly meet its representatives. When I am not with them at meetings, I meet them outside the door protesting. Last week in my constituency, when, along with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions I attempted to launch a book on James Connolly all the Deputy's people battered me with posters.

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Is that what they were doing?

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy's friends from ETA almost damaged a State car, which would have cost more than €3,000. The resources for setting up useful Cabinet meetings with groups of people are low. We have held such meetings with farming groups, chambers of commerce groups and unemployed action groups, We have gone to Knocknaheeney and to working class areas such as referred to by Deputy Sargent, where...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 38, inclusive, together. The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, visited Dublin on Thursday, 30 June. I had a friendly and comprehensive meeting with the President which covered the broad range of issues on the European agenda including the European Constitution, enlargement and the ongoing negotiations on the financial...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: With regard to overseas development aid, we have tripled the amount of aid. What this country has done is enormously appreciated by all sectors. I am aware the NGOs in this country continue to press for further funding but groups such as the World Bank and UNAIDS appreciate what this country has contributed. It is untied aid. Some argue that a few other countries contribute untied aid but...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: One never knows. An interesting fact about ODA is that in bad times one gets there quicker. That is what happened in recent years when the economy grew by 10% and 12%.

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is not. All of the groups who deal with ODA understand that well. They understand matters of hard cash and that this country has moved from an amount of approximately €100 million not that many years ago to a firm commitment of €750 million.

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not agree with having a legislative base. If we travel down that road a future Government or Governments or this House will be nailed down to figures in many areas. I assure the House that alongside the figure of 0.7 are other groups with other figures and they would want a similar commitment. Governments should honour it as best they can. I was disappointed we could not achieve what we...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We did.

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It went from €147 million to €775 million.

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On church-State dialogue, in the context of the constitution for Europe, Christian churches and non-confessional groups on a European basis requested meaningful and open dialogue. It is considered that the French and some other countries do it well. It involves all of the churches within a State in open meetings without any being in a special position. Churches across religions and...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: From my discussions with this Pontiff I would state he will not make too many trips.