Results 2,741-2,760 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: No personnel files have been copied or given to external parties, nor is it the practice to do so.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The following table details the number of staff in my Department who availed of leave of absence in excess of two months for education purposes since 2002. Year Number of Staff Educational Courses in excess of 2 months Details 2002 1 Career Break for Study purposes Special Leave without pay for a period of not less than six months and not more than 5 years 2003 2 Career Break...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together. The information sought by the Deputy about the proportion of the training budget spent and details of courses funded by the Department of the Taoiseach in the last three years is set out in the following table. The Department of the Taoiseach continues to work towards the target of 4% of payroll being spent on training and development as...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The total amount spent on briefcases by my Department since June 2002 is €836.81. No refunds were made to staff in respect of purchases of briefcases. Six staff members have received briefcases. The largest single amount paid for a briefcase was €173.51.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are 47 personal digital assistants, PDAs, allocated to staff in my Department. The costs of the devices vary depending on the model. The most expensive device cost €474.74 but was purchased in 1999. As with other IT equipment, costs have decreased significantly over the years. The most recent device purchased cost €198.44. Expenditure on PDAs in my Department over recent years is...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: No such exemptions apply to any staff in my Department nor is it the practice to offer such exemptions as the Deputy describes to staff.

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We had a long debate about this yesterday, but I wish to express again our sincere sympathy to the family of Patrick Walsh, who died tragically in Monaghan last week. Deputy Kenny is right in that all the facts are not known. That is precisely why the Tánaiste announced yesterday — I reiterated it later — that Mr. Patrick Declan Carey, consultant surgeon at Belfast City Hospital and an...

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Who was in the hospital at the time, who was watching and monitoring will all come out in the report. I will not comment on that. Professor Drumm has already stated that the issues around the hospital have been the subject of some considerable debate and that the HSE is working to solve them. My view is that to give political directives on these issues is wrong. It is not for us to direct. If...

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is very sad when anyone dies, but it is wrong to intervene politically. It is right that we provide resources and staff, and we have a policy unit in the Department that works with the HSE. However, although Deputy Kenny might believe that the solution to every problem is to give political directions, I will not go down that road.

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As for the two points raised, while I do not take issue with Deputy Kenny, we should wait to find out what happened——

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——in Monaghan that night. The Deputy has made an assumption and I do not blame him for so doing. He has assumed as he stated in his earlier contribution, that the consultants were present watching the man die. We should wait to find out what were the circumstances. We should wait to find out if protocols or a policy direction from either the HSE or the Department had an effect in this...

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The second point has some validity and I have answered on this issue previously. As far as the hospitals of Monaghan, Cavan, Drogheda and Dundalk are concerned, for many years we have heard different people on the health boards as well as Members from all sides of this House talk about the issues, debates and occasionally arguments pertaining to that region. People have argued for their own...

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——given the population base and what specialties can deal with. These arguments have been fairly well thrashed out. As late as last year, a steering group unanimously approved the present basis. Finally, there are no protocols or directions from the HSE, the Tánaiste, myself or the Department to prevent a doctor acting in the best interest of a patient——

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——in a certain set of circumstances. If the doctors were present and were challenged, I am confident they will explain that and the full facts will become available. I wish to end as I began, by stating that the tragedy is that Mr. Patrick Walsh is deceased, which I deeply regret.

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister is very anxious that the truth comes out. As I understand it, he is very satisfied that the inquiry, as constituted, will allow Mr. Hartnett the powers to summon witnesses and examine them under oath and all aspects of the arrest and detention of Brian Rossiter. He may require that any serving or retired member of the Garda be called to answer questions under oath, which is not a...

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There is no argument about the last issue Deputy Rabbitte raised. All I can say to him on the information I have, and I will check the point he made, is that the inquiry, as constituted, will allow Mr. Hartnett to summon any witnesses and examine them under oath on all aspects of the arrest and all aspects of the detention of Brian. He may require any serving or retired member of the Garda...

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As Deputy Jim O'Keeffe knows, we use legislation here every day that goes back years.

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If all these powers are available, what is restricting Mr. Hartnett in any way from taking up the point? I have heard what Deputy Rabbitte said and will raise the matter with the Minister but, on the information I have been given, it seems that Mr. Hartnett is not restricted.

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am aware of the old system which, as the Deputy outlined was that the council would not take charge until the developer, builder or contractor was completely finished building the estate. That worked effectively. Many years ago it took a long time.

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy mentioned areas such as Kilnamanagh, which took 20 years to be taken in charge. Many others took an extremely long time.