Results 8,281-8,300 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I answered a question on this quite recently, perhaps more recently than 11 May. I believe it was Deputy Costello who put the question on that occasion. In all cases such as that regarding Seamus Ludlow, I try to ensure the related report is released in as complete a form as possible without any redacting. The legal concern is that names are mentioned and the Deputy will appreciate that this...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As Deputy Kenny would expect, I do not want to pre-empt the question I asked him. He knows my feelings on this. I raised the issue last week in precisely the manner stated here. I do not want to get into a European scene if that can be avoided. I have become an expert observer of the British security scene and have learned how it operates. I wish I knew how it worked on the inside but that is...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not want to be guilty of repetition. Deputy Rabbitte asked all but the last question put by Deputy Ó Caoláin. To briefly restate my reply, I said here a few weeks ago that I would raise the matter with the Prime Minister at my next meeting with him. I did so last Wednesday but our discussions primarily concerned the European Council meeting. I told him that I expect the British...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I accept what Deputy Costello stated on the last point. The Seamus Ludlow case is different to the 1975 Dundalk bombings and some of the other cases but during the summer I will endeavour to get everything to the committee. I accept the Seamus Ludlow report is not the same as earlier ones, the issue being that it must be redacted for legal reasons before we can move on it. I have seen reports...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As I understand it, Mr. Justice Barron's report, unlike many other cases which had suspicion, doubts and fears, names the individuals involved in the assassination of Seamus Ludlow, and naming someone raises complex legal and security issues, which are being worked on. One of these is whether naming someone can be allowed. I am not competent to answer that question, but that is the dilemma. I...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. The costs my Department incurred in respect of the Moriarty tribunal during May 2005 amounted to €511,930. The day to day costs for the tribunal provided for in my Department's Estimate for 2005 amounts to €4 million. However, provision of an additional €6.5 million has also been made to cover costs such as report publication and some...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The date was agreed in the negotiations that took place last year with the outgoing Minister for Finance and the Attorney General. The date for the Moriarty tribunal report is 11 January 2006. As I understand it, that is still the date to which we are working. As the Deputy said, if that is not achieved, the new fee structure arrangement will come into place on the 12th.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is 12 January next. The due date is 11 January, but if the report is not completed and work continues, it will revert to the new fee structure arrangement.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have answered the question on the fees.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As I understand it, the additional provision of €6.5 million will cover costs of report, publication and some element of award of legal costs. In the normal course of events that would be included in the expenses. Provision has been made for that.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Under existing legislation the Revenue Commissioners are totally independent of the Department, never mind the system. If there is a requirement to strengthen that, I presume it could be included in a Finance Bill. If some proposal was forthcoming from the tribunal it could be done in a Finance Bill.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In fairness to the tribunals, when the discussions took place and the then Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, announced the changes he was making, account had to be taken of the outstanding modules of the tribunals' work that were already under way. Changes were made and we passed the legislation in this House. Some of the tribunals had a much longer timescale but others were due to...

Infrastructure Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. The cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and PPPs last met on 25 May. The main agenda items were ports, the CLÁR programme and North-South co-operation on infrastructure. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources made a presentation to the team on ports policy and capacity. The Department of...

Infrastructure Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On that issue, the Minister for Finance has undertaken a review of the PPPs. He has given quite a lot of time to listening to the various participants and stakeholders in PPPs from different perspectives. Many of them felt there were too few projects that were too costly and some of the international companies said that the cost of doing their presentations and then losing out under the...

Infrastructure Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The group made a very positive report on housing, indicating that all of the land and sites have been fully put forward. The roll-out of those houses is moving on apace, comprising something like 3,500 units between this year and next year. In addition, many sites are now rolling out. To be frank, the quick way to complete this process is through land swaps. This happened with the Harcourt...

Infrastructure Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I assure Deputy Sargent the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government takes all issues into account and regularly reports on them. The Deputy should pursue the issues with the Minister, Deputy Roche. The Department is at all times considering new ways, and considering climatic conditions and land and spatial planning issues. On all of those issues, the committee is not just...

Infrastructure Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If our population grows to 5 million, in particular if 2 million of the population are in the greater Dublin area, the use of rail will be the only way to go in the next 15 to 20 years. All of those issues are being considered. The committee is focused on major infrastructural issues. Other issues can be pursued with local authorities in the relevant areas. County Monaghan has been served...

Infrastructure Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The case of particular roads should be taken up with the local council.

Infrastructure Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Ulster canal is one of the topics I always discussed with my good friend, David Trimble. He was a great advocate of it. It is good to see Deputy Ó Caoláin is continuing with that, despite David having moved on.

Infrastructure Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I was very supportive of that long-started and positive project. I am not sure who we will link up with on the Northern side now that David is gone.