Results 9,561-9,580 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This session.

Order of Business. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will ask the Whips to look at that. We have received the three reports on which we were waiting. I will ask the Whips if we can have the debate this session.

Northern Ireland Issues. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I said earlier that the bank robbery in Northern Ireland brought into sharp relief the need to address and resolve the key issues if trust is to be restored. That applies to assaults on people or other aspects which damage the process. I think everybody agrees with that. I do not want the forum to meet if there is no great purpose in doing so. If people believe that forum meetings with an...

Northern Ireland Issues. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I acknowledge what Deputy Ó Caoláin has said about the murder of Mr. McCartney, reiterating what the president of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams, has said. That is helpful. On Connolly House, I recall raising the issue on the day in September at Leeds Castle when the device was handed over by the Deputy and his colleagues. We raised the matter then and made it clear that the idea of using bugging...

Northern Ireland Issues. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: To answer Deputy Joe Higgins's question first, if we follow the process over a number of years, and I say this in a serious way, it was a process of trying to get away from a situation where people on all sides were being killed almost nightly and where there were incidents of maiming, burning and other serious issues, and trying to build a peace process. That was done. We then tried to build...

Northern Ireland Issues. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 34, inclusive, together. Last week, in the course of Private Members' business, we had the opportunity to address comprehensively developments in the peace process, and the agreed motion received the overwhelming endorsement of the parties in this House. Without restating the text of that motion, it is clear that we all want to protect and develop the...

Northern Ireland Issues. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Government considered and discussed the IMC report last Tuesday, before its publication. These reports are normally given to both Governments some days beforehand. Obviously, the report highlights the need to keep the implementation process on track and to continue with all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement, even if it takes some time to make progress on the political issues, given the...

Northern Ireland Issues. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will take the questions in reverse order. There is no change in the position on the latter issue. I can see that people want to nail things down to the last degree. I do not have a changed position. I do not want to engage wordsmiths on this but it is off the table and that is it. On the Criminal Assets Bureau, assets accumulated through criminal conduct by persons involved in paramilitary...

Northern Ireland Issues. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte is correct on the McCartney issue. Anything that involves people using heavy-handed action is wrong. I want to remain consistent with my statements. The PSNI refused to comment on the basis that the investigation is ongoing. The only two statements the Chief Constable has made on this, or that have been passed because they were in the public domain and were not in any way...

Northern Ireland Issues. (15 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As to where we go from here, a number of issues are being dealt with. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, is preparing the agenda for the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. We are trying to get as comprehensive an agenda as possible. At this stage that is the only forum in which we can progress matters with the British Government, and we want to progress a number...

Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The broadcasting authority Bill will come before the House this year.

Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The defamation Bill is scheduled for later this year.

Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The electoral (amendment) (no. 2) Bill will be taken in the coming weeks. The energy (miscellaneous provisions) Bill will be taken later this year.

Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will check that for the Deputy and inform her about it during the day.

Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Government is engaged in the preparation of the Bill. We are considering the many legal issues surrounding it and hope to discuss those with the parties during this session. We may not have the legislation but we will discuss the issues.

Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Irish Medicines Board (miscellaneous provisions) Bill were approved last autumn and the Bill will come before the House in this session.

Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It will be next year.

Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We can debate that with the party Whips to see whether it is possible to discuss this matter some time.

Social Partnership Agreement. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. Social partnership has been of enormous benefit to Ireland both socially and economically. Since the programme for national recovery in 1987, the stability it provides has allowed for record levels of growth and enhanced social inclusion. In recent times of more moderate growth, the processes of social partnership have helped...

Social Partnership Agreement. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The community and voluntary pillar is larger now than it was but some groups are not involved. Some years ago, for example, the ICMSA did not approve the programme and left the process. On another occasion, the IFA pulled out for a period. In social partnership the people on the group are obviously the people who sign up for the agreement. If one does not sign up, one is automatically not...