Results 2,561-2,580 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I accept Ministers are responsible for Departments and in turn I am responsible for Ministers. However, in this case——

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The reason we amalgamated the health boards——

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——and moved from 11 health boards to a unified health system properly structured under the HSE was to move away from issues of waste in the past. This was highlighted in the Hay consultancy report. It stated that a reduction in the costs of absenteeism, which currently stands at €350 million or 5% of the total bill, would result in projected savings of €56 million.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A reduction in staff turnover would also make——

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Why is it necessary for the Opposition to ask questions and as soon as I begin to answer, they need ten people to answer?

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is not the question. I was merely quoting what the Hay Group consultants said, that a reduction in absenteeism would lead to savings of €56 million.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If the Opposition Members continue like this, these questions will not be much fun, because my colleagues will make as much noise as them.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Opposition Members should listen.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If the Opposition will not listen to my answers, I will stop restraining the Government Deputies.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The review that has been taking place for the last number of months is to establish how the objectives of this system might be achieved. The objectives were too advanced. Too many good and correct ideas, from their perspective, were incorporated in a system which they could not then make workable.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is what happened. Although the consultants believed it was possible to implement it, they have had difficulty in doing so, as has happened in the Bank of Ireland and a number of other companies.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Tomorrow, the HSE will decide, having brought the system to a certain point, what is the best way for it to implement a complete system, to both save money in the future and to have a good management system.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte should note that to build a Tallaght Hospital today would cost in the order of €800 million, not €1 million.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Sandymount plant scheme mentioned by the Deputy was a great work by the engineering section of Dublin City Council, working in partnership with the private sector to bring about a totally modern scheme. I am aware there have been some difficulties in trying to deal with all the problems. While I am not a member of the city council, my understanding is that the council's engineers have...

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is under investigation.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The issue of the treatment plant in Sandymount pertains to the air filter. The difficulties are being examined.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The city council has been endeavouring to deal with the air filtering system and some other technical problems which its engineers pointed out last year, after conducting some surveys.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As for the second question, the legislation is necessary — in dealing with the EU, all these matters are necessary. However, the Deputy is aware that we have spent approximately €1.5 billion on 75 new waste water treatment schemes around the country, which has brought a major improvement to the quality of water in rivers and lakes. New waste water schemes are being provided with secondary...

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It has been stated by the European Commission that some of the work done on this has led to extremely high quality water. The Water Services Bill 2003, which is before the Houses, will consolidate and modernise the code of water services. We could not have done that if we had not invested the money we did in these waste water schemes.

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If they work better, then they should be discussed at council level.