Results 9,241-9,260 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We took money from people for years——

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——that everybody accepted we had a right to take but we had no legal base for taking it. Everybody believed it was right, but we did not have any legal base for doing it. Now we have to correct that. The politics of it and all the comments about people may continue but——

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——we have to sort out this difficult issue. We will do that.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will be as brief as I can.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will answer them. Deputy Rabbitte is correct that in all of those periods the matter was discussed as much as it was during the periods I mentioned earlier. People believed at all such times that the existing procedure was fair and that they had a right to take the money.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The problem was that there was no legislative right to do so. The Supreme Court said it was wrong to take the money in the absence of such a legislative basis. That is what created——

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That was there since 1976.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is the position. I would like to speak about the 2003 meeting mentioned by Deputy Rabbitte yesterday. First of all, the issue was listed at that meeting as just an item to be mentioned.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Martin was mentioned.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The minute is in the public domain.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The officials said at that meeting——

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am certainly not trying to rise any heat or to dodge any issue. As I have said, at the conclusion of that meeting the Department had conflicting advice and decided to seek legal advice. That is the only point I will make about the matter. Can I conclude by reminding Deputy Rabbitte of something? I do not want to get into an argument about the matter. I agree that there should be a debate on...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Can I have 30 seconds to speak about the matter? I am going to the United States next Tuesday morning. I will be there until Friday. I will work about 19 hours each day.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, I agree. I will be back on Friday, 18 March. I will not stay in the US for an undue length of time. There is a European Council meeting the following week.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I resent Deputy Rabbitte's insinuation that I am going to Butlins on my holidays.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In fairness——

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am not trying to dodge anything.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is a health issue.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I would not front such a debate. I will be here — I will be around — but I will not front such a debate.