Results 1,941-1,960 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If a copy of the code of conduct is not in the Oireachtas Library, it is not a secret document. The code applies to office holders, namely the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Ministers and Ministers of State, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Dáil and the Seanad. It is a public document and I think there is a copy in the Oireachtas Library. With regard to the other question which I have been...

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It was not something that could in any way be considered dodgy.

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: This is public evidence so I have no difficulty answering the question. I was clearly told that what Mr. O'Connor gave to another friend of mine was for me. Twelve years later, however, he has said it was not. I believe I know why that has happened, given the way it was paid. However, the only thing ever said to me was that it was given for me.

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have answered that question many times. The code of conduct does not stand in isolation. It is part of the wider ethics framework established by the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. Section 10(7) of the Standards in Public Office Act binds office holders to have regard to and be guided by the code. The code is linked directly to the powers of...

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will not give my views on individual cases. If one does that with one and not with others, it is unfair. The review will be carried out by the Cabinet secretariat. Obviously, I will have a say in that and I will raise the issue I raised today. The Cabinet secretariat will do the review in consultation with the Standards in Public Office Commission. I feel strongly about this matter...

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is a point to be considered in the review. It is not there at present. In my experience, I have not seen any former civil servants being advised that they should not take up positions. Members will note they all move on very quickly and the best of luck to them. The answer to the question whether the former Minister of State Mr. Parlon asked me or the Government is "no". He had no...

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: He would follow the ethics issue of the day. I note that many office holders have functions and golf outings at which they do precisely that and declare them. As Deputy Shatter knows, nowhere better than the legal profession——

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: A Minister today must abide by the code and legislation and obviously one cannot do that.

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I stated that with regard to friends. Deputy Shatter put it in a different context.

Standards in Public Office. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, Deputy O'Rourke and anyone else would now follow the code of conduct and the legislation. That is what I would do also.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 11, inclusive, together. I received the final report by the Commission of Investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974 from the sole member, Mr. Patrick MacEntee, SC QC, on 12 March last. Under the Commissions of Investigation Act, I was obliged to consider certain legal issues prior to publication. As such, I sought advice from the...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: In relation to the man who stayed in the Four Courts Hotel, I have, as outlined in my reply, forwarded the relevant material to the appropriate authorities for their consideration. Regarding Justice for the Forgotten, there have been comprehensive examinations and all the work regarding Mr. Justice Hamilton, Mr. Justice Barron's report, the commission of investigation and the examinations...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Obviously, issues around the Finucane and other cases are continually raised with the British Government. At a meeting just before the summer I raised these issues with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. There is no substantive discussion on collusion in the MacEntee report. It was the clear view of the Oireachtas committee that the issue of collusion could only be properly addressed by an...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (10 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I convey my sincere condolences and those of my Fianna Fáil colleagues to Seán Keegan's wife Mary and his children, Marie, Nan, Nuala, Tom and Gearóid on the sad loss of our former colleague and a loyal servant of the people of Westmeath. Seán was a stalwart of our party, on the county council, in the Seanad and here in the Dáil. He was a committed republican and a politician who took...

Order of Business (9 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We will have to return to the issue in the context of troops and we could give more time to that debate. However, the purpose of this motion is the appointment of Major General Pat Nash as Operations Commander in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic and I suggest we proceed with it.

Order of Business (9 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the constitutional referenda, if agreement is reached in Lisbon next week and ratified at the Brussels summit in December, ratification for us should be prior to the next European election, which means it should be next year. My view is that it would be better to hold both referenda on the same day but I am open to other views. On the criminal justice miscellaneous provisions Bill,...

Order of Business (9 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I can provide a list but, to be brief, there are a number of Bills listed on the Order Paper. They include the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, the Charities Bill — which we are ordering today — the Control of Exports Bill, the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill, the Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Bill, which is in the Seanad, the Fines Bill 2007, the Land and...

Order of Business (9 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I take the point that we should avoid rushing legislation in the last fortnight. Already, there are a dozen or 14 measures before the House. I would like to see all those passed. We have cleared a Bill today and there are a few more coming through. We could give a fairly accurate assessment of when and how we will deal with this legislation over the next two months. There is no...

Order of Business (9 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The matter should be discussed but it has not been the convention of the House, which dictates we have Question Time mirrored to each Cabinet Minister. We have always followed the convention.

Order of Business (9 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That will be early next year.