Results 1,661-1,680 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am not sure what question was asked other than the last one.

Leaders' Questions (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No. I am going to let him get on with the job. That is the important thing.

Leaders' Questions (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: He will not do what he likes. He will try to do his job to the best of his ability and he is doing that.

Leaders' Questions (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Road Safety Authority's plan for 2007 to 2012 was approved by Cabinet and was launched by the Minister, other colleagues and me last week. The primary target of that strategy is to reduce road deaths to no greater than 60 fatalities per million population by the end of 2012. This would equate to an average of 21 road deaths per month or 252 per year. The average number of road deaths...

Leaders' Questions (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No, I do not agree with any of the Deputy's points. The Road Safety Authority brought forward the comprehensive proposals, as it has done for some time. The authority is doing excellent work. The range of measures and the resources we have allocated to them, including the traffic corps, have achieved an enormous advance from the previous position, where there was carnage on the roads. As...

Leaders' Questions (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We are clearing the backlog.

Leaders' Questions (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That position could not be changed over two or three days. For that reason, more time had to be given.

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I attended the Intergovernmental Conference, IGC, and the informal European Council meeting on 18 and 19 October in Lisbon. I was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European Affairs, Deputy Roche. While the purpose of this statement is to inform the House of developments...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with Deputy Kenny that we need to co-operate closely on tactics for the referendum. I will consult him on its timing. Summer is probably the best time but we must reflect on a number of issues between now and Christmas. The formal advice of the Attorney General must be sought. That can now be done based on the treaty, even though it has not been signed. The treaty must be signed;...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Not all travelled with me. A few joined me on the way. Regarding whether this will impose restrictions on travel between Great Britain and Ireland, which is the issue that concerns us, the answer is "no". The e-border system is a consequence of the heightened awareness of security risks associated with international travel and is born out of a desire to prevent security risks from entering...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is a British system. The proposal was put forward at the end of 2005 as part of Britain's response to international terrorism and the global difficulties that has created for the UK. They provided us with a preliminary outline of the proposed e-borders programme in the first instance. They indicated that a consultation document would be produced and they have done that. We have...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I imagine that those who will design the British system and our system will take account of that. I am not a designer of electronic systems but I am sure they will take these issues into account.

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We will leave them at it. We can design our system to deal with people who move into our country but there must be a relationship between our system and the British system.

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: While this is the main issue for us, Britain, Spain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Belgium, Finland and most of the other states are considering similar systems. Ultimately, either through Interpol or Europol, these systems will have to work together. Our difficulty is our land border. In the development of the British and Irish systems those involved...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The memorandum with the full detail of our system and the British system will not be provided to the Government until the new year.

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I said that we will need further Border controls.

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Regarding Deputy Costello's point, in recent referendums we prepared a document that was sent to every household. We have not decided whether that will be done by the Forum for Europe or the Department of Foreign Affairs, which dealt with it previously. We have put much effort and resources into the Forum for Europe in recent years and it will be an important vehicle for the referendum. One...

EU Summits. (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: In response to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, the project team is only commencing its work. It would make sense to co-operate with the UK authorities on this matter and try to operate on an all-island basis, as far as possible. I see this an opportunity for deeper co-operation rather than the opposite. In terms of costs, our naturalisation and immigration service have been examining the issue and...

Order of Business (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 10, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimate [Vote 6]; No. 10a, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimate [Vote 6] to select committee; No. 9, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 10b, motion re appointment of ordinary Members to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission; No. 10c, motion re referral to select committee of proposed...

Order of Business (24 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the first question, I do not know that information. I will check to see whether there is pending legislation. I understand the Deputy's concerns that there is no inspectorate or control in the area. I will raise that and bring the publication of the report to the attention of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív.