Results 2,681-2,700 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Ministerial Staff. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: None of the six appointees is a civil servant. They all must leave when I leave.

Ministerial Staff. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Secretary General in my Department made a speech about that over the weekend. He put forward the circumstances and the case as to how it could be done on the basis of public service reform. I had a chance to read half of his speech. As far as bringing in expertise from the private sector is concerned, he made the point that while it has been carried out in a limited way for many years and...

Ministerial Staff. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I was trying to balance my comments. There are many morale and industrial relations issues throughout the public service. Deputy Rabbitte and I have both spent much time dealing with the service in one way or another. I know the system and how its members other than the top 1% think. It would be difficult to implement what the Deputy suggests. Exchanges take place at present, in which people...

Ministerial Staff. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not disagree with Deputy Rabbitte's analysis. It is a fact that we do not have the expertise in certain areas, sectors and disciplines. That is undoubtedly true. We saw recently that in IT we do not have the type of expertise that can design a system afresh. I am sure Members of the House are aware that in the private sector, developing and enhancing the quality and content of what a...

Ministerial Staff. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The National Treasury Management Agency commenced its operations when I was Minister for Finance, when the national debt/GNP ratio was frightening to say the least. The resources of the State were being gobbled up, as the Deputy knows, and matters had to be managed in another way. What the Deputy said is correct. We were able to use top-class people who not only had previous experience but...

Public-Private Partnerships. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 13, inclusive, together. The interdepartmental team on housing, infrastructure and PPPs has met eight times this year and is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, 9 November. The team generally meets on a monthly basis and is scheduled to have one more meeting in the remainder of 2005. While the agenda for the November meeting has yet to be finalised, it...

Public-Private Partnerships. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: They should be kept out.

Public-Private Partnerships. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will try to answer the Deputy's questions quickly. On the last issue, it is policy to try to have interchangeability in transport. The aim is to move to having one card which can be used on everything. That is what we are trying to do. In relation to stamp duty, thankfully this year the attractions of the stamp duty exemption, particularly for new house owners, has led to more young people,...

Public-Private Partnerships. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, we had a lot of discussion on this issue. The new initiative is aimed at accelerating delivery of PPPs for key infrastructural projects in central Government areas. The new centre of expertise will be located in the National Development Finance Agency. Its role will be expanded to include the procurement function on behalf of Departments in addition to its existing role as adviser to...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I join Deputy Kenny and the Tánaiste when she raised the matter earlier in extending my sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Patrick Walsh of Carrickmacross who died at Monaghan General Hospital last Friday, 14 October. The circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Walsh will, as we heard from the Tánaiste earlier, be the subject of an independent review to be undertaken on...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is, but those were the circumstances and the Tánaiste outlined them in great detail. The death of a person is regrettable, but it is important that the examination and recommendations with regard to what is now necessary are quickly dealt with. I am not here to answer for medical or clinical decisions as to why Mr. Walsh was treated in one hospital and sent to another when an intensive...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The death of Mr. Walsh is a tragedy and I will not bring that into arguments about other circumstances. The Deputy posed the question as to why Mr. Walsh was transferred when he was in a hospital since 21 September and when there was a bed in Cavan. Why did this happen? Why did they check with Beaumont Hospital? Did they check with Beaumont? To inquire into these and all the related questions...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have tragic circumstances here that will be investigated. The report will be published as we will all have an interest in it. I will not accept that there should be political accountability every time a person dies anywhere in our health service.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny may wonder why the bed was not used. He began by saying that there was no bed at the inn. We now know that a bed was very close.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A bed was available in Cavan ICU.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have too much respect, sympathy and concern for the family to argue this issue.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I wish to unearth the facts as much as anybody else, and we should do so.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste referred to the 378 beds earlier in her answer to a question on the issue. She also pointed out the range of issues of the ten-point plan on accident and emergency departments that are being implemented. A number of them have been implemented while others are on the way. The acute units are being extended in hospital accident and emergency departments to help in the assistance....

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is precisely what I would like the inquiry to find out. We have five hospitals in Cavan, Monaghan, Drogheda, Dundalk and Navan with considerable resources. They should be able to work together to try to deal with the issue. The Deputy said there were no resources.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: When I spoke the other night to the members of the group from Monaghan, who were very responsible and put their case to me even though the tragedy had happened hours earlier, they told me that to have the additional facility, they would need two extra nurses as they had the infrastructure and the medical personnel. We spent €12.4 billion, so I do not think it is a question of resources.