Results 81-100 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: During my meeting with the Ulster research group we discussed the ongoing difficulties and the attacks on Nationalists. That issue is of ongoing concern. The group is forthcoming in its condemnation, particularly of pipe bomb attacks. It is not always possible for it to control all of these issues and there are disparate groups and individuals. However, the leadership of the group is opposed...

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: In regard to Deputy Rabbitte's question on Judge Cory's reports, we would welcome the publication at the earliest opportunity of Judge Cory's reports in the cases of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright. I expressed the view strongly to Prime Minister Blair that they should be published as a matter of urgency and that the delay in publication is having a detrimental...

Business of Dáil. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I propose that notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the proceedings of No. a18, statements arising from the Mahon tribunal, on the second supplementary Order Paper, shall be taken today immediately at the conclusion of Leaders' Questions for 55 minutes. The following arrangements shall apply: the statements shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 40...

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked two questions. Deputy Cooper-Flynn will make a statement to the House regarding the allegations about her that have appeared in the media. Like everybody else, she is entitled to make that statement. She is neither above nor below the law. Most people would accept that she is entitled to due process and that there should be full accountability.

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Neither I nor anybody else should rush to judgment until we have all the facts. Allegations were made previously. Deputy Cooper-Flynn appealed her case and it was on that basis that the Fianna Fáil Party re-admitted her to the parliamentary party following the general election. We await the result of that appeal. On the second issue, I will speak later when I will explain about the...

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: As I said, Deputy Cooper-Flynn is neither above nor below the law. Most people would accept that she is entitled to due process and that there should be full accountability. Neither I nor anyone else should rush to judgment until we have all the facts. Deputy Cooper-Flynn took a civil action for defamation and we are aware of the outcome. She subsequently chose to appeal the decision. Her...

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: No offer was made.

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I want to do my best to answer all of the questions. Everybody was aware that allegations were being made against Deputy Cooper-Flynn. That is why a whole module of a tribunal is examining the issues.

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: At all times yesterday and today I have attempted to make time available to debate this. There was some debate about how that time could be made available. I made it clear that I wanted to make time available, as I have done several times in this House, unlike what was done in previous years. As regards Pádraig Flynn channelling £50,000 through bogus accounts, there should be no doubt about...

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The tribunals have full responsibility and powers to find out about all these issues and, in so far as I can see and hear, I am sure they are in the process of uncovering them. As to when I first knew about these issues, I was made aware of them some years ago when it was stated that Mr. Gilmartin put it on the public record that he had given Pádraig Flynn resources. The matter has been...

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I have already answered the question on Deputy Cooper-Flynn. I have stated the Fianna Fáil position on this. At the end of the Supreme Court judgment and some of these other matters that are under investigation, Fianna Fáil will reach its conclusion on that. The party has rules and procedures — indeed, it is the only party that has rules and procedures in these matters——

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: ——and we comply with those laws. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and I had no discussions on this. I assume what he believes, as does everyone in the Cabinet, is that if money has been taken in an illegal fashion — I do not know what the situation is until the tribunal is finished — or bogus or offshore accounts have been used in an illegal fashion, such conduct...

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: ——and other parties too, but I will not get into that unless the Deputy would like me to——

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Fianna Fáil took the decision, on legal advice, that on the conclusion of the tribunals we would take whatever action is deemed necessary. In the case of Deputy Flynn, the party sought, through the general secretary, to find out the position. It was made clear that these matters would be dealt with in the tribunal and that we would not get a reply until the end of that inquiry.

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: There have been a few cases, but not many. Fianna Fáil has co-operated fully with the tribunals. Fianna Fáil accountants and legal teams have examined all the issues surrounding these donations. They comprise a small number of cases and all the facts and knowledge available to us have been given. In a number of cases we would have spoken to individuals who gave the money and to people...

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Fianna Fáil took these matters seriously even if others did not. We have, at all times and in all ways, assisted the tribunal and will continue to assist it in uncovering precisely who received the cheque and for what purposes. We have set up a detailed and expansive tribunal of inquiry. I have, at all times, assisted it in every way I possibly could. What I will not do and have not done is...

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I am sorry about that.

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I thought I had answered the Deputy's question but I will do so again. Pádraig Flynn did not comprehensively answer the issue but publicly stated at that time that he would address the matter within the tribunal. That is where the matter rested during the past five years plus, since these matters came to light. While I am not answerable to this House on matters relating to Fianna Fáil, I...

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: That High Court judgment was subsequently appealed and the party, under its rules of due process, allowed that position to await the tribunal proceedings.

Leaders' Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The party's rule on the code of ethics is that the party's committee——