Results 9,281-9,300 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: While this committee discusses information on one or other group of terrorists there is no particular or specific threat to this country. There is always information about the movement of certain individuals associated with different organisations who at times move through this country. They are small in number compared to their numbers in most other European countries. There is ongoing...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I repeat that the national security committee meets periodically and its members stay in touch on an ongoing basis. The committee's role relates primarily to classic security issues, particularly international terrorism. That is the purpose for which its members come together, namely, to examine information from Europol and Interpol in a broad sense, which would not be dealt with in the...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I state for the third time that the high-level group is not involved in day-to-day issues. The relevant procedures involve the Department of Transport for civilian aircraft and the Department of Foreign Affairs for military aircraft. The authorities' procedures, which have been laid down for 50 years, are followed in such cases and are updated along the way. International security...

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Perhaps it would be helpful if I gave a short reply. There are procedures laid down on prisoners and munitions, for example, as I have already stated. If these procedures are breached, of course we would be concerned about it. I do not have any particular issue with the point raised by the Deputy. He has asked a question and I will pass it on to be examined.

National Security Committee. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I very much doubt that although I could not be certain they did not. I doubt the group went into that much detail.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take questions Nos. 6 to 11, inclusive, together. I thank the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights for their work in preparing the final report on Mr. Justice Barron's report into the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, which has been published. I am grateful to the sub-committee for the timely way in which it prepared its...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked a number of questions. On the 1974 bombings, we again took up that issue directly with the British Prime Minister, restating our previous position. That was done in my original letter of 17 November, to which the Prime Minister replied on 10 January, and again we put our position and made a statement to him on 1 February. I raised the matter last week.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, we provided a report by hand——

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister, Deputy Ahern, made those points again last week at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. The terms have not changed since 17 November. We are still making the same points. On the second question, everyone felt that the best way to deal with the issue was to get a Cory-type investigation, an investigation that emanated from the Weston Park talks. It was felt that kind...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Mr. Justice Barron has two outstanding issues to complete in his work — the bombings in Castleblayney and Dundalk — and he will complete them in April. That will be the end of his work. The answer to the question on the Garda Commissioner is "Yes" and I welcome the statement he made when he addressed this issue. The Garda has now established liaison arrangements with victims and those...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On 16 December the Tánaiste said she had asked for the report to be delivered by 1 March. The Government received the report this morning at its weekly meeting. It is a long, detailed and very important report, which the Government discussed this morning for the first time. It is a report into the handling of charges for persons in public long-term stay places of the Department of Health and...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment on the report in advance of its publication other than to express my thanks and that of the Government to Mr. Travers for undertaking the investigation.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Obviously the measures to be taken in respect of charges that were levied remain to be determined.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Government will proceed to take appropriate decisions on the issue, having regard to the Travers report, at the earliest possible opportunity.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Last week, Opposition Members taunted me that I would not publish this report before the by-elections. They have now changed their position.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The system whereby the Government receives a report at 10.30 a.m. on a Tuesday and must issue it within a few hours is unfeasible.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There seem to be 20 Deputy Kennys all of a sudden.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I listened very carefully to Deputy Kenny without any interruption from Members on this side of the House. The concept that a report should just appear and that I should immediately be answerable for it is not reasonable. It is sometimes a good idea to read reports and that is what I would like to do.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Government must study the report and there will be a debate in due course.