Results 61-80 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: We will agree with what the Deputy wants. It will be an hour later.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: We agree that it should go on a bit later.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Precisely.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I am giving it to discuss the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of No. 14 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 11.30 p.m.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I will comment on just two points. The Minister, Deputy McDowell, made it clear that he sought to change his rota last week but it was not possible to do so.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: He did not do other than report the figures as they should have been reported. It was done properly and correctly. He did not seek to give misleading information. The Minister had to attend an important meeting which made it impossible for him to be here. We have had many debates and suggestions in this House on the matter of Dáil reform. Some years ago when Deputy Brennan presented a...

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I still await meaningful discussion. The Government, through the Government Whip, would be glad to involve itself in real reform.

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: My Department is reviewing its statutory instruments in respect of which it is the Department with primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of Bunreacht na hÉireann in the light of the recent High Court judgment concerning the Immigration Act 1999.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I met representatives of the Ulster Political Research Group on Monday, 26 January last. I have long held the view that the opening of a dialogue with representatives of the loyalist community is important. The meeting was a logical follow-up to my meeting with the Loyalist Commission last June. I recognise the real concerns that loyalists have about issues that affect their communities,...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I met representatives of the Ulster Political Research Group on Monday, 26 January last. I have long held the view that the opening of a dialogue with representatives of the loyalist community is important. The meeting was a logical follow-up to my meeting with the Loyalist Commission last June. I recognise the real concerns that loyalists have about issues that affect their communities,...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Explaining the role and work of the Irish Presidency to the public and the media is a major task for the Government and the Department of the Taoiseach. My Department plans to communicate Ireland's EU Presidency to the Irish public in many ways, which I will outline. A Presidency press office has been set up in my Department to handle EU media queries from the national, provincial and...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Since the Assembly elections in November 2003, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, and I have had a range of contacts and meetings with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Murphy, and the political parties. I met the SDLP, the Ulster Unionist Party, Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party in London on 17 December. I met the Prime...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: There are no canteens or restaurants in my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I will outline the amounts paid by my Department for 2003. The total amount paid for car mileage expenses was €106,269. The amount paid for rail ticket expenses was €2,655. The amount paid for bus ticket expenses was €2,038. The amount paid for car mileage expenses includes a total of €44,106 paid to delegates of the National Forum on Europe and the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 31, inclusive, and No. 172 together. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the extraordinary contribution of John Hume to political life on this island and, on his announcement that he will not seek his party's nomination for the European Parliament elections on this occasion, in particular his contribution on the European stage. Throughout his...

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Various comments have been made about the DUP proposals. They are interesting and constructive. They certainly differ from what the party has said over the years. What must be focused upon above all is that any proposal that is not inclusive and does not allow for power sharing and total participation by all sides will not work. These are strand one proposals which open up the debate. A...

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Two major issues are involved, as regards the first question. I will repeat what I said earlier. As we get into the discussions the litmus test must be whether any proposals meet the test of partnership, where there is cross-community consent, support for people working together in a devolved executive and in an Assembly. That is the crucial issue in all of the statements. The proposals being...

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I will take the last question first. I have no difficulty with the proposals agreed in the last Dáil and we should get on and try to reach agreement. The only caveat I would add, which I have stated repeatedly, is the true meaning of parity of esteem must be taken into account and this facility must be open to all parties. That must be agreed by the House. The original report was agreed some...

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Naturally that is what I would like to see in the negotiations. We can see an ending on all sides. There is a willingness in this regard but there are some people on the fringes — the loyalists recognise this — who do not have total control or even a means of exercising such control. Regardless of whether it is republicans, dissident republicans, loyalists or whoever is involved, we must...