Results 2,161-2,180 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has asked me to answer one particular question and I will do so. We are recruiting additional staff.

Leaders' Questions. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We are aware that additional staff is required in this area and the Tánaiste has given resources for that. More consultant staff are required for many of our specialist services. We have significantly increased the number of staff in the health service to more than 106,000 people and we will continue to do so. The provision of services for cystic fibrosis patients is an important area. I am...

Leaders' Questions. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Our standards are internationally recognised. Our consultants and medics are considered internationally to be of a very high order. The Deputy and his colleagues seem daily to find an issue somewhere around the country about which they can complain. These people are out doing their best——

Leaders' Questions. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We acknowledge the improvements that are required and it is the reason we have put an additional €1 billion per year into the health service.

Leaders' Questions. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is the reason the Tánaiste last night announced an extended capital programme of more than €600 million that will improve the health service throughout the State.

Leaders' Questions. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That should be acknowledged in this House now and again.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. Mr. Justice Barron previously reported on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974 and on the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973 and other events prior to 1974. Those two reports were subsequently examined and reported on by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. The report on the murder of...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I answered a question on this quite recently, perhaps more recently than 11 May. I believe it was Deputy Costello who put the question on that occasion. In all cases such as that regarding Seamus Ludlow, I try to ensure the related report is released in as complete a form as possible without any redacting. The legal concern is that names are mentioned and the Deputy will appreciate that this...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As Deputy Kenny would expect, I do not want to pre-empt the question I asked him. He knows my feelings on this. I raised the issue last week in precisely the manner stated here. I do not want to get into a European scene if that can be avoided. I have become an expert observer of the British security scene and have learned how it operates. I wish I knew how it worked on the inside but that is...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not want to be guilty of repetition. Deputy Rabbitte asked all but the last question put by Deputy Ó Caoláin. To briefly restate my reply, I said here a few weeks ago that I would raise the matter with the Prime Minister at my next meeting with him. I did so last Wednesday but our discussions primarily concerned the European Council meeting. I told him that I expect the British...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I accept what Deputy Costello stated on the last point. The Seamus Ludlow case is different to the 1975 Dundalk bombings and some of the other cases but during the summer I will endeavour to get everything to the committee. I accept the Seamus Ludlow report is not the same as earlier ones, the issue being that it must be redacted for legal reasons before we can move on it. I have seen reports...

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As I understand it, Mr. Justice Barron's report, unlike many other cases which had suspicion, doubts and fears, names the individuals involved in the assassination of Seamus Ludlow, and naming someone raises complex legal and security issues, which are being worked on. One of these is whether naming someone can be allowed. I am not competent to answer that question, but that is the dilemma. I...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. The costs my Department incurred in respect of the Moriarty tribunal during May 2005 amounted to €511,930. The day to day costs for the tribunal provided for in my Department's Estimate for 2005 amounts to €4 million. However, provision of an additional €6.5 million has also been made to cover costs such as report publication and some...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The date was agreed in the negotiations that took place last year with the outgoing Minister for Finance and the Attorney General. The date for the Moriarty tribunal report is 11 January 2006. As I understand it, that is still the date to which we are working. As the Deputy said, if that is not achieved, the new fee structure arrangement will come into place on the 12th.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is 12 January next. The due date is 11 January, but if the report is not completed and work continues, it will revert to the new fee structure arrangement.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have answered the question on the fees.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As I understand it, the additional provision of €6.5 million will cover costs of report, publication and some element of award of legal costs. In the normal course of events that would be included in the expenses. Provision has been made for that.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Under existing legislation the Revenue Commissioners are totally independent of the Department, never mind the system. If there is a requirement to strengthen that, I presume it could be included in a Finance Bill. If some proposal was forthcoming from the tribunal it could be done in a Finance Bill.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In fairness to the tribunals, when the discussions took place and the then Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, announced the changes he was making, account had to be taken of the outstanding modules of the tribunals' work that were already under way. Changes were made and we passed the legislation in this House. Some of the tribunals had a much longer timescale but others were due to...

Infrastructure Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. The cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and PPPs last met on 25 May. The main agenda items were ports, the CLÁR programme and North-South co-operation on infrastructure. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources made a presentation to the team on ports policy and capacity. The Department of...