Results 1-20 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (20 Nov 2002)

Bertie Ahern: I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for your welcome and thank the House for the invitation to speak on Northern Ireland in what is a interesting time in its development. This is the eve of the commencement of the round table session in the North. On Friday, the British-Irish Council will meet in Scotland and next Tuesday sees the first meeting of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation for several...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (20 Nov 2002)

Bertie Ahern: There was unanimous agreement to this in the consultations with the participating parties and groups, reflecting the universal respect for the effectiveness, independence and commitment shown by Senator Hayes in his role as chairman of the National Forum on Europe since October 2001. That forum is ongoing. On 14 October both Governments issued a joint statement expressing our disappointment...

European Presidency: Statements. (20 Jan 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I am delighted we have the opportunity of a special sitting of the Dáil to debate Ireland's sixth Presidency of the European Union. Today's sitting of the Dáil provides us with a valuable opportunity to discuss the issues on the European Council's agenda during our Presidency. A number of these issues will impact on us for many years to come. One of the challenges facing the Union is the...

European Presidency: Statements. (20 Jan 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I will not comment on that.

Seanad: European Presidency: Statements. (29 Jan 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I apologise for holding up the business of the House but my colleague, the Polish Prime Minister, was running a little behind schedule. I am delighted to have the opportunity to address the Seanad on Ireland's Presidency of the European Union and developments in Northern Ireland. Last September, I had the privilege of appearing before the Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform. At that time, and in...

Seanad: European Presidency: Statements. (29 Jan 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I thank all speakers from all parties and groups for their comments. Food safety is a key issue for our Presidency. The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Walsh, answered questions on it recently in the European Parliament. I take the Senator's point on the labelling issue. I have spoken before about the standards of food safety in Asian countries. While I am not glad to see the...

Seanad: European Presidency: Statements. (29 Jan 2004)

Bertie Ahern: This decision will affect Aer Lingus as much as Ryanair because Aer Lingus has successfully managed itself as a State company to become a low cost operator. Therefore, yesterday's decision might not have the same knock-on effect around the world because Ryanair is fast becoming the largest airline in the world, and fair play to it. That decision will also affect Aer Lingus in a significant...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. The 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings were terrible outrages which left 34 people dead and more than 240 injured. Many people never recovered. For many others, the legacy of pain and suffering remains and some still suffer from their injuries to this day. Like everyone else who watched the proceedings of the sub-committee...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has asked a number of questions and I will do my best to answer them all. The first question he raised was whether I recall his making the case to the British Government and senior British officials. Yes, I do. As he knows, I made that point strongly and I know he added to it. I think that has been noted in the British system. Obviously, I cannot comment on the reply he received...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte's questions can be divided into two sections, the first of which relates to the information the British have given. I have said in this House on many occasions that while I cannot guarantee 100% co-operation in respect of the records held by the Northern Ireland Office and within the British defence system, the level of co-operation has been good. Those involved have genuinely...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: My answer relates to the British side, which was the first aspect of the Deputy's question. I do not think the position will change in that regard. Having watched the British dealing with a number of other inquiries and being familiar with the way the system works there, I do not think that there will be a change. I do not think we could appoint someone in a higher position to do the job —...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Over Christmas Members had a chance to read the report and consider its annexes. We now have substantially more knowledge than we ever had before. One can piece together through the documentation what may or may not have happened. It is no longer woolly. There is much information available. The Deputy asked whether any more information is available. All I can tell him is that I do not think...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I am not being flippant when I say the files have vanished. If the Deputy wants me to phrase it better, I can say that files in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, that were indicated to exist at one time, could not be found after extensive searching of the Department's records and archives. That matter was examined, as was the Garda issue referred to by Deputy Rabbitte. A...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: We will see what happens at the end of the process. However, we must let the committee come to its judgment and report to the House. The Government has not considered the end position until it has been reached, as to do so would be irresponsible.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: There can be no fast-tracking this issue. It has already taken five years to get the process to this stage. Deputies may want quick public inquiries, but if there is one thing I have learned in almost seven years as Taoiseach, it is that there is no such thing. Deputies will find this situation no different. We may not get anywhere quickly but we should receive the committee's report quickly...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I am aware of everything Mr. Justice Barron has said and of all the meetings which were set up. I have already answered questions on those matters. I am also aware that some people who have contributed to the public hearings have made comments on the issue of a public inquiry and on the form such an inquiry might take. There are serious, complex issues involved and the sub-committee's...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I am sorry if I did not make that clear. I thought I did. When it became clear some years ago, the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, instituted a full examination and investigation in the Department while the Garda Commissioner carried out an examination of Garda files. They did not uncover the whereabouts of the files. It was not established how, why or...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I have answered this question already. I based this judgment on a far more difficult decision when we came to the Bloody Sunday tribunal, and Prime Minister Blair, against the advice of everybody in his administration and elsewhere, pressed ahead to set up the inquiry. On another terrible incident the Government, through a former chief justice, made a similar request of him. The Deputy is...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: This was a call made by the justices, based on the information supplied by those who responded to them. They spent several years on this and I am sure they interviewed as many people as they could. I cannot say what information or evidence Mr. Donlon would have had. However, it was open to people to submit statements and many did so. Even people living abroad who were not interviewed...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (3 Feb 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I opposed the war last year. MI5 or MI6 information would have nothing to do with Northern Ireland. We do not talk to MI5 or MI6 and I do not have any great information on them. The Deputy asked about the international element of the inquiry and by and large we were satisfied with the arrangements for the Bloody Sunday inquiry. From the Government's perspective, the Justice Cory inquiry has...