Results 2,401-2,420 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: For those who may not know Gerry Hickey, and I thought there was a rule that we do not mention people who are not present in the House, he is my adviser who worked with the company ten years ago.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that, but he worked with the company ten years ago and what influence he would have on Mr. Rothwell or any of his colleagues now is irrelevant. The company states that it has a serious problem with its cost base. It is in all our interests that be addressed urgently. I urge the company, as I would any company that has a problem with its cost base, to work with the unions, to engage...

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am answering Deputy Rabbitte, and speaking to the company at the same time if I can do that, which it is perhaps useful to do. We have a collective industrial relations system and it is not done by diktat or Government enforcement. It is and has been done since 1946 on the basis of people coming together and it has worked fairly well for almost 60 years. That is what happens. On the...

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As usual, Deputy Joe Higgins knows that what he says is not true.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Most of what the Deputy said. They got the consents under the Foreshore Acts, Gas Acts, Continental Shelf Acts——

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——Energy (Miscellaneous) Acts, Mayo County Council and An Bord Pleanála.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: All of those permissions were given by Acts that were passed by this House of which the Deputy is a Member. He is making a poor show of playing to the Gallery in trying to say that Shell moved without regard to these Acts.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am answering the question. As regards the second issue raised by the Deputy, the five people concerned are in jail because of a High Court decision. There is a separation of powers in this State between the Executive and the Judiciary and despite the Deputy's attitude, I would not do anything to breach a decision of the courts. As regards helping through mediation, I have already answered a...

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Because the Minister believes the men had a point on the safety issue, he ordered a comprehensive safety review of the onshore, upstream gas pipeline to be carried out by Advantica, independent, internationally recognised experts.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The safety review will examine critically all the relevant documentation relating to design and construction.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The safety review will examine critically all the relevant documentation relating to the design, construction and operation of the pipeline and the associated facilities, which was the point that Deputy Joe Higgins made.

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Advantica has been asked to identify any deficiencies concerning safety and to make any recommendations on how to deal with these if they can be identified and remedied. The Minister has brought forward the review due to all the issues of concern that people had. A particular issue of concern to the local residents has been the proximity of the pipeline to inhabited dwellings. This will also...

Leaders' Questions. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If anything can be done constructively on a mediator, we will certainly do that. However, it cannot be done by people being released first. If we can help, we will.

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The cost arising to my Department for the Government meeting in City Hall, Cork on 8 June 2005 was €5,811. This is accounted for mainly by support staff accommodation, overtime and expenses. The cost of the other Cabinet meeting held outside Dublin during this Dáil in Emo, County Laois on 3 September 2003 was €3,739. Holding...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I believe they are all fulfilled, including the roads at Ballinasloe, Sligo and Kinnegad. No other meetings are fixed for this year. By and large any of the ones we had were around some occasion to show respect to some event that was going on. The one in Ballaghaderreen was to open up the new BMW offices and the one in Cork was because it is European Capital of Culture. There are no specific...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Whether it is held in Dublin or elsewhere, I do not see a Cabinet meeting having anything to do with party political issues. The Government normally holds such meetings if there is some good reason. We held a meeting in Louth at the time of the foot and mouth disease outbreak, one in Cork as it is the European Capital of Culture and one in Waterford as it was an important year in Waterford....

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Having meetings of the Government around the country from time to time is very useful. In this case very few officials need to move. I do not see the difficulty. More and more I see modern technology being used for meetings. I am sure the Deputy sees it himself when he attends corporate offices. Not alone do their meetings take place around the country but around the world. I recently...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We are moving well in that regard also. They have adequate technology in most places in the country.

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not believe that in the old days it used happen that every time a meeting was held 44 officials were required. I put a stop to that. There is no need for that number of people parading around the place at all hours of the night. Much of that stuff was unnecessary. Modern techniques, modern management, the Public Service Management Act etc. have led to far more streamlining. There are...

Official Engagements. (28 Sep 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy's party has no difficulty in that regard because I regularly meet its representatives. When I am not with them at meetings, I meet them outside the door protesting. Last week in my constituency, when, along with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions I attempted to launch a book on James Connolly all the Deputy's people battered me with posters.