Results 2,581-2,600 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If the residents of Donabate have concerns, I have no doubt that they will put those concerns to their public representatives. Those concerns will be dealt with by the planners and engineers of the appropriate councils who are well used to listening to people's concerns. Hopefully they will come to a satisfactory resolution. The Deputy must acknowledge the dramatic improvements in water...

Leaders' Questions. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have stopped that and must make sure we do not go back to that situation.

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 15, inclusive, together. The last plenary meeting of the social partners, which I attended together with the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Finance, took place in Dublin Castle on 14 July and included an assessment of the overall progress that has been made in the implementation of Sustaining Progress, including in...

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Irish Ferries dispute shows precisely the value of social partnership. I expressed the view in the House that the behaviour of the company in refusing to engage with the Labour Court and other industrial relations machinery, and its being intent on an apparent breach of obligations under Sustaining Progress, was unacceptable. The national implementation body correctly recommended to the...

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte is right. That is a major grievance. I have met, as I am sure he has, many of the individuals concerned. That was comprehensively dealt with in the Labour Court findings. Every one of us who has met any postal workers during the course of the year would have heard that issue raised but it has been dealt with. I agree that many An Post workers are not highly paid. The company...

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That was just one aspect of what I said, that incomes policy was a large part of the agreement. We must keep our incomes at rates we can afford. I opposed the idea of trying to chase the secondary costs that would come from some aspects of energy, although perhaps they will not be as bad as I thought at the time. Social partnership should not just become a race on incomes, which is what...

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yesterday on Leaders' Questions I spelled out the policy on seafarers. This country, being an island, has always tried to have as many qualified and trained seafarers as possible and to maintain employment for them. I believe the National Maritime College, which, unfortunately, I have not visited, is considered internationally to be of the highest quality. Some €50 million of taxpayers'...

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I suppose it does not rule out EuroMed, for example, trying to reach some understanding on how one can achieve what the Deputy proposes. It is not an easy issue to address. I have been given information in the past week on what is happening in respect of all the operators, not just Irish Ferries. The information concerns not only those operating on the Irish Sea but also to those operating on...

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I hope they take serious note of that. A decision has not yet been made on the recommendations but the Minister will consider them and come to a conclusion on them. An interdepartmental report took into account the NESF and NESC reports and also some of the other reports. A host of reports have been presented on child care and the interdepartmental group is considering them collectively.

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I pointed out the difficulties in terms of the seafarers issue and what is said by both sides. The Government did not agree to immediate access to the Irish labour market by citizens of new member states in order to displace Irish workers.

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I would be concerned if people did that, either inside or outside the EU. If they are outside the EU, they cannot come in without permits. A small number come in from outside the EU, so there is no difficulty in that area. I recognise in broad terms and from looking at many companies the commercial realities and competitive pressures that will impact on employment here that are not...

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A process is there which allows anyone to present his or her case. It is considered within the existing structures.

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have not blocked any of them. Some people come in, others leave. There is a structure between the organisations. I do not get involved with who is in or out of the fourth pillar. While working out the last social partnership agreement, about ten organisations left and about 15 came in. It was negotiated between the groups. I am not against that.

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am uncertain as to what SIPTU want us to do on this issue. It is currently before the Labour Court and will come before the Labour Relations Commission within the next few days. The process by which we had asked it to be dealt with is being followed. This has been ongoing for a long time and there are frustrations at all levels. The company can make quite a good case in terms of how long it...

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am unsure whether the Deputy heard what I have said on this idea of trying to find ways around problems and the generality of legislation. People involved in all sides of the seafaring business tell me that it is impossible to try to regulate this on an EU or Irish basis. They say that it is a global business and will not be regulated. The Spanish, Norwegians and others have tried this over...

Social Partnership Agreement. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Even if a new EU directive was there, it would not control this on an EU basis. Since last week, I have seen the companies involved at a European level, their flags of convenience and where their staffs come from. Subject to correction — or I will receive ten more letters from it — Irish Ferries was planning to register in Bermuda. Many other companies are registered outside the European...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I would like on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party and on my own behalf to extend my deepest sympathy to Deputy Kenny and the Fine Gael Party on the death of Liam Burke. Like Deputy Kenny, I am delighted members of his family, his wife, Noreen and his sisters, Mary and Kitty, are here and I also extend our sympathies to his daughters, Emma and Catherine. I was lucky to know Liam very well and I...

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 22, Social Welfare Consolidation Bill — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to adjourn after two hours, if not previously concluded; No. 1, Interpretation Bill 2000 — Amendments from the Seanad; and No. 21, Railway Safety Bill 2001 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages. Private Members' Business shall be No. 48, motion re Report of the Comptroller...

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not think so. I assume it is covered by the Health Act 2004.

Order of Business. (5 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Right across the system there has been an enormous number of changes in how contracts are procured and how work is done. On legislation, there is the infrastructural Bill, which will speed up some of the issues. As far as the accountability and control of public expenditure is concerned, in the past few years there have been significant changes in addition to the recommendations made by the...