Results 8,121-8,140 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No.18, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council Decision on the exchange of information and co-operation concerning terrorist offences, back from committee; No. 19, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Regulations 2005; No. 28, Veterinary Practice Bill 2004 [Seanad] — Report and Final Stages (resumed); No. 2...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As I stated previously, I would like Ireland to be the number one subscriber to overseas development aid in the world. We lie at about number seven or eight in the world. This is an extraordinary achievement for this country and everybody should be proud of it. We subscribe the better part of €600 million towards overseas development aid, more than the entire capital programme for health in...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I would have liked to have——

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——had the ability to reach the target of 0.7% but——

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——because of growth levels and all the necessary adjustments, we would have had to be contributing sums of approximately €200 million to achieve it.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am trying to answer the Deputy's leader's question.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputies should respect their leader and let me answer the question. The reality is that this country has slipped back far less than any other country. The United States of America, the biggest economy in the world, has no target.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The United Kingdom——

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Soundbites get in the way of facts. People hate facts in this House.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The United Kingdom, which is being held up in lights at present in respect of the G8 summit — I wish them well — has a lower target than ours. It is not contributing the kinds of resources we are contributing, nor has it made the kinds of strides we have made. France is totally ambivalent. This country——

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This country should be very proud, as I am, of its record on overseas development aid.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I look forward to the discussion on the millennium goals in September and to reporting that Ireland, which has 1% of the population of Europe, can stand as one of the highest in Europe in terms of its ability and achievement regarding overseas development aid.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have delivered substantially to overseas development aid. Some €150 million had been delivered when I came to power, and this figure is heading towards €700 million which is a huge achievement. There has been a commitment of €1.8 billion over a three year period which helps NGOs do their job, enables them to provide services and allows us to go into new countries such as East Timor....

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy's party had the worst record with regard to overseas aid. It was absolutely terrible and did nothing.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am confident this country will remain at the highest level, and will be one of the first to achieve the target of 0.7%.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will go back over some of the facts again.

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In February 1999, Assistant Commissioner Carty was appointed by the Garda Commissioner to investigate allegations that gardaí in Donegal had engaged in criminal and unethical behaviour. In July 2000, over a year later, Assistant Commissioner Carty submitted his report, which was the investigation file, to the Director of Public Prosecutions who is independent. A few months later, in August...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Attorney General, when he was asked for advice, said that a tribunal would be best but that it could not be held in public while cases were pending. I do not know why Deputy Rabbitte persists with this issue because all of the records, dates and information are available. I can make a list of these publicly available for people to see. I read the full Dáil debate on the matter last night...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have given the facts as they are, from the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I can do no more than that. I have read the Dáil debate and Deputy Rabbitte has quoted only one line from it. In a section of the debate approximately one minute before the line quoted by Deputy Rabbitte, there is an exchange between...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is quite clear that the former Minister states that he has the report.