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Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern giving evidence today at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in the House of Commons. PA

Protocol row ‘isn’t rocket science’, says Bertie Ahern in call for solution

The former Taoiseach was speaking today at the Northern Ireland Committee at Westminster.

DEALING WITH CONCERNS around the Northern Ireland Protocol “isn’t rocket science”, and a solution must be found, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said.

Ahern said the current stalemate which has plunged the Stormont Assembly into flux is “beyond comprehension”.

He emphasised that with a bit of flexibility it can be resolved.

“I really, really believe that this isn’t rocket science,” he said.

“When you think of the things that we resolved, we got the IRA to decommit their arms, we released prisoners … we reformed the old RUC to now a very competent international PSNI.”

He said yet now “we can’t find a way of working out how sausages and rashers” can move between Britain and Northern Ireland.

“It’s beyond comprehension, there has to be a solution that is unique to Northern Ireland,” he said.

Ahern was speaking to MPs as he gave evidence to the Northern Ireland Committee at Westminster around the workings of the Good Friday Agreement.

He emphasised that compromise is the only way that Northern Ireland will work.

Ahern served as Taoiseach during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations in 1998.

national-archives-papers-released Tony Blair (left) and Bertie Ahern signing the Good Friday peace agreement on 10 April, 1998. PA PA

Chairman Simon Hoare said Ahern was the first either former or serving Taoiseach to give evidence to the committee.

Talks remain ongoing between the UK and EU over concerns around the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The DUP has insisted it will not re-enter government at Stormont until unionist concerns are dealt with.

Ahern said compromise is needed to find agreement.

“I do not believe that’s impossible, it does require some compromise,” he said, rejecting reports that a deal is close.

“There are still difficulties.”

Ahern said unionist concerns “cannot be railroaded” but also said the demands of unionists “can’t be fully adhered to”.

“If we don’t get compromise … then we run into a position where for the longer term … we haven’t got a solution and we don’t have (Stormont) institutions.

“In the absence of compromise, we’re building a future that will be on quicksand, and that’s my concern.

“I am 100% for compromise, 100% for trying to accommodate the concerns of people but I don’t think we can long finger this into the dim and distant future.”

Ahern also emphasised that he “has heard nobody on the island of Ireland say the solution to this is to ignore the concerns of unionism”.

“People might take issue with whether these things are constitutional or whether they’re not, but the issue is that we must find an accommodation moving forward that puts everyone in a win-win position,” he said.

Ahern extolled the benefits of the Good Friday Agreement, particularly on the economies of both Northern Ireland and the Republic, but expressed disappointment at how often the political institutions have been down.

The Assembly could not function for three years from 2017-2020 following the resignation of then deputy first minister Martin McGuinness, and is again in flux since last spring following the resignation of first minister Paul Givan.

Ahern said it is “disappointing and unsatisfactory” that the institutions have been down so often.

“Let’s blame nobody and blame everybody, but we haven’t been able to run it,” he said, agreeing that a review of the working of the institution is due.

“I can’t think of another country in the world that has had institutions have been up and down as much, and that’s not good, it’s not good for investment, it’s not good for the people.”

Closing the session, Hoare said the horrors of the war in Ukraine has “contextualised” the size of the problem.

“If the sophisticated, mature statecraft of Brussels, Westminster and Dublin can’t solve this, then I think we all have to begin to wonder what the hell are we all doing,” he said.

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    Mute Emer Daly
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    Nov 15th 2023, 12:38 PM

    It’s only a television company why is everyone on massive wages there anyway

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    Mute F2yxfluD
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    Nov 15th 2023, 4:42 PM

    @Emer Daly: What do you call massive?

    6
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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Nov 15th 2023, 5:06 PM

    @Emer Daly: “everyone on massive wages”…,really ?
    Enlighten us, what is the ordinary worker in there earning, you must know.

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    Mute Paddy C
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    Nov 19th 2023, 5:33 AM

    @Emer Daly: they are on a lovely gravy train been that way for so long now it’s unfair to try slow it down or change it’s trajectory

    3
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    Mute Pat the Baker
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    Nov 15th 2023, 1:27 PM

    RTE is packed full of insiders with a colossal sense of entitlement.
    Public service broadcasting should be representative which RTE is not.

    274
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    Mute John Ryan
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    Nov 15th 2023, 1:08 PM

    Now audit the HSE ,consultants on a million euros for playing golf

    243
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    Mute
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    Nov 15th 2023, 3:32 PM

    @John Ryan:
    Look at the county council’s, also these are in serious need of independent auditing also.

    135
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    Mute F2yxfluD
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    Nov 15th 2023, 4:44 PM

    @John Ryan: You should name these consultants who are on a million euros for playing golf

    12
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    Mute Pat the Baker
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    Nov 15th 2023, 1:29 PM

    Also, all public service roles should be transparent wrt to salary – taxpayers have a right to know what we are paying for.

    I never watched the late late once Tubridy started presenting it – zero charisma just someone’s son.

    126
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 15th 2023, 12:52 PM

    Very good article, I do feel that one of RTÉ’s main aims is to get the licence and taxpayers and ultimately their paymasters back onside.
    One sector I would suggest that savings could be made is in the amount of personnel covering sports events. I am a sports addict by the way!

    107
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    Mute Mick Duvanny
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    Nov 15th 2023, 1:42 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: What sport do RTÉ have left? Most of it has gone to Virgin

    53
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 15th 2023, 2:42 PM

    @Mick Duvanny: Ok Mick, well any that they do have. They normally have three pundits and a presenter in studio, two commentators and a pitch side interviewer, not including camera personnel and tekkies. Far too many for one event!

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Nov 15th 2023, 2:48 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: Dee Forbes and other directors of RTE were also directors of GAA Go ….Forbes and some of these directors have left RTE…, but there was certainly a conflict of interest in the decisions of which matches would be shown on RTE and which matches were given to GAA Go .

    46
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 15th 2023, 4:21 PM

    @Donal Desmond: the fact that some of these directors or board members have resigned is an indictment in itself and should be seen as such. Guilty

    27
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Nov 15th 2023, 1:40 PM

    “And what of the TV licence fee? There are only two things certain in life, we are told, death and taxes. Yet the licence fee now has all the appearance of a voluntary contribution. Thousands are opting out. What does the government propose to do about the recidivist rate? Can I now inform the revenue commissions that I am opting for a lower rate of PAYE next year, or perhaps that I’ve decided to stop paying my property tax?”

    So he wants us to continue paying into a very very corrupt organisation? I can inform you here and now that I will never pay it again. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

    126
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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Nov 15th 2023, 2:08 PM

    @David Corrigan: Where did he say that he wants us to continue to pay? He is simply pointing out that payment has plummeted and that the government have an issue to resolve as a result. No need to be telling him to put anything in his pipe – whilst he’s an ex employee, he has no skin in the game, and has simply written an opinion piece. Get off your high horse

    36
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Nov 15th 2023, 3:06 PM

    @SYaxJ2Ts: Oh here he comes again. Captain Carlsberg and his condescending rubbish.
    I will tell him or you or anyone what I think If you don’t like it, then get back in your box.

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Nov 15th 2023, 3:14 PM

    @David Corrigan: haha hilarious- you accuse the author of saying something that he clearly didn’t. I know 12 year olds who have better comprehension skills than you

    20
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Nov 15th 2023, 9:45 PM

    @SYaxJ2Ts: I have asked you on numerous occasions to stop twisting my words to suit your agenda. It’s not working and it’s making you look foolish. I won’t ask you again.

    6
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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Nov 16th 2023, 7:17 AM

    @David Corrigan: I’m not twisting anything. You said the author wants us to continue to pay into a corrupt organisation. I pointed out that the author said no such thing. It’s not difficult David. You need to own your words as they’re here in black and white.

    10
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    Mute Chris O'Brien
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    Nov 15th 2023, 1:32 PM

    Loling that Willie here thinks RTE has some massive talent pool which is only there because of their insanely high salaries.

    It’s like saying, ‘golly our TDs must be the best in the world because of their outlandishly high salaries, cars, expenses, etc.”

    Turns out that something costing a lot is NOT the same as something being good.

    A concept utterly alien to most Irish people.

    Quality – instead – creates its own value. But unless you’ve been exposed to good, you’ll assume whatever garbage you’ve grown accustomed to is amazing.

    So what Ireland needs is better QUALITY – and more access to world class alternatives to home grown rubbish.

    Imagine if Ireland made its own cars. Then one day Japanese cars were suddenly allowed to be imported.

    Would the Irish car industry adapt – ie make better, cheaper cars – or would it simply demand more tax money to subsidise its worse output?

    C’mere, we all know the answer.

    They’d demand billions from government, and then their owners would be on RTE attacking ‘lazy workers on the dole’. In a 2000 euro suit bought for him by taxpayers.

    We’ve broken our society, and no one paying attention thinks anyone paying attention will live to see it made better.

    117
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    Mute Toyo Ke
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    Nov 15th 2023, 1:59 PM

    Pay caps can be worked around, just ask RTE. Maybe a car, or transport allowance? I’m sure high earners will find a way not to be at too much of a loss.

    76
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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Nov 15th 2023, 3:29 PM

    I have a serious question. Sooner or later my TV licence is up for renewal. If RTE are being bailed out with govt money (taxpayer money basically) because many aren’t paying their licence fees, and if I pay my licence, then I am effectively double paying as I am also paying the bailout (albeit a minute bit, but it’s still there). That’s inéquitable and a tax applied like that is just dysfunctional. I’m seriously considering not paying the licence fee on the grounds that I cannot see it being a fairly applied tax. The question is, would that be correct? If the bailout is cheaper than enforcing the licence fee should we not just scrap the licence altogether?

    72
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    Mute F2yxfluD
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    Nov 15th 2023, 4:56 PM

    @TheGood Feign: Yes, the licence fee should be scrapped and in future RTE should be fully funded from two sources : 1) a line item in the annual budget which is paid by the taxpayers and 2) a tolerable level of advertising revenues. A situation where some people are paying their licence fee and others are not should not be allowed to continue

    30
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    Mute Stephen Purcell
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    Nov 15th 2023, 4:25 PM

    I know this is facetious, but i got a letter today threatening me with legal action for not paying my TV license. This is coming from the government, so can i claim refugee status as the government is threatening me?

    52
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    Mute F2yxfluD
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    Nov 15th 2023, 4:58 PM

    @Stephen Purcell: Yes but you’ll have to flee somewhere

    14
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    Mute kkjLtYn1
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    Nov 15th 2023, 3:07 PM

    They’ll just outsource the work of those leaving to private contractors who won’t be subject to the pay cap. Just playing for time in the expectation that a new licensing structure that benefits them will be put in place.

    43
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    Mute kkjLtYn1
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    Nov 15th 2023, 4:18 PM

    I’m sure Willie was happy enough to ride the gravy train while he was in Montrose? Didn’t hear him complaining during his time there.

    42
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    Mute Kevin O Brien
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    Nov 15th 2023, 2:21 PM

    Are Israel funding RTE is appears that way from the “Israel said” it must be true reports

    38
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    Mute Pato
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    Nov 15th 2023, 2:50 PM

    Willie – there is a difference between between “earning” and “getting paid”.

    33
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    Mute The Black Horse
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    Nov 15th 2023, 3:51 PM

    Will they fiddle the figures again

    33
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    Mute had the same problem with them here
    Favourite had the same problem with them here
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    Nov 15th 2023, 1:07 PM

    Create a public service app for all Irish phones if they think it that important and get rid of this waste of time and money.

    39
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    Mute troolll balonius
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    Nov 15th 2023, 2:08 PM

    This entire piece is fatuous garbage and intellectually dishonest regarding most of the points made.

    46
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    Mute Peter McCormack
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    Nov 15th 2023, 3:47 PM

    Tubrity has a lot to answer for.
    Can RTE not go back to the way it was before..

    15
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    Mute F2yxfluD
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    Nov 15th 2023, 4:58 PM

    @Peter McCormack: Ryan Tubridy did nothing wrong

    14
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    Mute Tony O'Neill
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    Nov 16th 2023, 2:25 PM

    I’m simply furious to hear that RTE staff are to be allowed reduce their “working time” to stay within €250,000 pay cap! SCAM!!!
    Not acceptable at all Mr Bakhurst!

    11
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    Mute Steven Schulz
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    Nov 15th 2023, 5:17 PM

    If no one can be paid more than the DG, are they going to be reading the news?

    I, for one, wouldn’t let my salary be dictated by such a promise.

    RTE should continue as it is, threaten to declare bankruptcy and shutter, and force the government’s hand.

    As for the licence. Pay or prison, like taxes.

    6
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    Mute John Doyle
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    Nov 22nd 2023, 9:50 PM

    They can’t make us watch it.

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    Mute Max
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    Nov 19th 2023, 5:43 PM

    Good man, Willie. Have you been over to Ottweiler recently? A lovely spot indeed.

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