Results 9,621-9,640 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I hope there are no conflicting statements. Somebody handed me a newspaper this morning that I was not aware existed. It contained a number of references to me that I found interesting to the effect that I was backing off in the context of these issues. I understand the title of the newspaper is Daily Ireland.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I was told she was an investor in that newspaper but she has informed she is not an investor in any newspaper. On more serious issues, the Government has seen the IMC report and it will be published later this week. If anything, it will go beyond anything I have said on previous occasions. I will leave people to read this independent report for themselves. On the issue of sanctions, when...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I think we all agree with the politics of inclusion. In the last round of discussions in April 2003 and October 2003 the SDLP and the UUP were working together and others were excluded. They were not totally excluded, but the key issues were the two parties. On 8 December the DUP and Sinn Féin were involved because their mandates put them in that position under the Good Friday Agreement. As...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I reiterate that every worker is entitled to the full protection of the law. The workers referred to by the Deputy are entitled to full legislative protection. The inspectorate of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment can apply the full powers and rigours of the law to inspect the records and investigate any breaches. I am aware of some other cases where trade unions have asked...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not know if Deputy Higgins or others have made a complaint to the labour inspectorate about the particular company. The Minister will raise the matter with the inspectorate. I note the Deputy has said he will make the information available to the inspectorate and this will be helpful. I reiterate that every worker in this country is entitled to the protection of labour law. This has been...

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 4, Finance Bill 2005 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted on the adjournment of Private Members' business, No. 40 — motion re Northern Ireland, which shall be taken for 90 minutes at 7 p.m. or on the conclusion of the...

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Abbotstown Sports Campus Development Authority Bill is due this session. I think the matters mentioned by the Deputy are being examined. The second Bill, the family law Bill, is due. It will make provision for pension adjustments in the context of separation agreements and certain other reforms. The Bill is due later on this year.

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste has stated that she is giving priority to a short Bill to deal with this issue. It will be brought before the House as soon as possible.

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The health Bill has been passed. There is a health Bill to provide for the establishment of the health information and quality authority and the Irish social services inspectorate on a statutory basis——

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Does the Deputy mean the Bill to which I referred?

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is due later on this year. It is a different one from the one we have been calling. On the other matter, if I did say anything that was incorrect, obviously, when I am questioned on that issue again, I will correct it.

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The priorities are outlined and the Minister has not changed them. A number of Bills in the Minister's domain are moving through at various Stages and I have answered questions on them. Some of the Bills are due this session and others are being prepared.

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: All the Bills the Deputy mentioned which were due in 2004 are now due in 2005.

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will have to check for the Deputy.

Official Engagements. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The reason is our interpretation of how they are being designed at present — if they were not UN mandated. It is not the intention to have a UN mandate. That has been the case and the Deputy will have heard the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw, and others state they will be done on a UN and EU basis. That restricts us totally. If it is done on a UN mandate, then we could be open to...

Official Engagements. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Through the Departments, officials and the Council secretariat, we have an input into drugs policy. What happens in all these areas is that, through COREPER, we would feed in suggestions, recommendations and changes. At EU level, drugs policy is crucially important because, as everybody is fully aware, the best way to make any real impact on the movement and shipment of drugs and on the...

Official Engagements. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The issue of heroin and other drugs and opiates from Afghanistan did not arise at the European Council. However, it is an enormously important issue. As Deputy Kenny and other Members are aware, the crops have flourished. The Taliban were extremely dangerous and corrupt people in every way but they were opposed to drugs. The warlords have had a field day since the demise of the Taliban regime...

Official Engagements. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Perhaps others have a total security view on Afghanistan and believe the issue can be resolved by force. However, it would take light years to stop this practice through an approach of force. That has already been tried in Colombia where the US and others invested a significant amount of money in an attempt to destroy crops. This had no great effect. President Karzai explained to me during...

Official Engagements. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. As the Deputies are aware, I gave a detailed statement to the House last week on my attendance at the European Council meeting on 16 December last in Brussels, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who also attended the European Council, took a question and answer session at the end of that Dáil statement. I propose to briefly...

Official Engagements. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Not as much progress had been made on the first issue in mid-December but I welcomed the progress that had been made at that stage at the European Council. We were looking forward to successful elections and acknowledged the work the Palestinian Administration was doing to move from the reign of President Arafat to a new reign. This was highly successful. The hand-over was well managed and we...