Results 1-20 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Michael Ahern: Many people ask me what the Bretton Woods system is about. It took its name - like the Maastricht treaty, for example - from the location in which the agreement was reached, in the United States in 1944. Its aim was to rebuild the international economic system and, to that end, it established a system of rules, institutions and procedure to regulate the international monetary system. It...

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Michael Ahern: They tell us that they are one party, North and South, in the whole 32 counties, but they seem to be acting in two different ways. Sinn Féin should tell us the truth about where they will get the money and what their real policies are. I commend the Bill to the House.

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Michael Ahern: It is Doherty.

Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Michael Ahern: Deputy Doherty has made a great impression on Deputy Fahey.

Order of Business (16 Dec 2010)

Michael Ahern: Calm down, Michael.

Irish Banking: Statements (18 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: We are disappointed.

Irish Banking: Statements (18 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: How much will it cost?

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: Question 141: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will set out capital allowance allocations to Mallow General Hospital for the years 1993 to 2009 inclusive [43237/10]

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: The main reason I want to speak on this is that I have had numerous telephone calls over the past week or so from individual depositors with different institutions. Because of the statements that have been made by members of certain political parties, they are afraid their deposits are not covered. I was glad to hear Deputy O'Donnell emphasise that deposits up to €100,000-----

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: It has been said numerous times by the Minister and the Taoiseach that deposits of up to €100,000 are covered under the deposit guarantee scheme and that amounts higher than this are covered under the eligible liabilities guarantee scheme. It is important to get that message out to individual depositors. I have heard a number of Opposition spokespersons say that what the Government did in...

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: It is easy to come along afterwards and say we should not have done something. All we have to do is to listen to what the Opposition parties were saying for the five years prior to the last election. They said we were not spending enough on education-----

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: -----or on health, social welfare or local government.

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: Suddenly, they have switched around.

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: Deputy Durkan was one of the leading advocates of more expenditure.

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: Where would we be today if we had done that? We must also remember that although the Government provided the guarantee to the banks, it was not free. As the Minister of State said, €1.3 million has been received from the banking institutions in this regard. It is important to get that message across. In August and September of this year, €10 billion in deposits left Bank of Ireland, and...

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: Fianna Fáil was founded in 1926 and we are still here. We have not gone away yet as some other parties have.

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: One should never throw stones when in a glasshouse. Deputy Brian Hayes should not forget that some of the big hitters in AIB, Bank of Ireland and other institutions were not supporters or card-carrying members of my party; I will say no more. When negotiating it is important to keep one's cards close to one's chest. That applies whether trying to get rid of a leader or selling cattle at a fair.

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: It is important that Members on the other side-----

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: -----should understand that, as I am sure Deputy Durkan does.

Bank Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Ahern: The young Members of Fine Gael have a lot to learn about negotiating if they believe what they were saying. I welcome the Government's decision to renew the guarantee scheme for a further period. It is important that it be done to ensure there will not be outflows from the banks over the next period until we settle down. I commend the motion to the House.