Results 3,341-3,360 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Each Department is responsible for providing information, reasoned opinions and letters of formal notice concerning the implementation of EU directives. With regard to the Department of the Taoiseach, no directives or regulations are overdue for implementation which fall within the responsibility of this Department. This Department is not dealing with any warnings or any other such...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I acknowledge that unfortunately the number of road deaths in 2004 increased to 370 compared with 335 in 2003 when the lowest number of road deaths in 40 years was recorded. The number of fatalities resulting from road collision this year is a major cause for concern. So far this year there has been an increase in the number of road deaths to 353 as of 21 November compared with 331 for the...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have established a dedicated traffic corps, headed by an assistant commissioner, and invested in a huge roads programme. The Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill will lead to a fully resourced body for driver testing and training. The adoption of changes in the circumstances of random breath testing, where the driver of a vehicle can be made the subject of preliminary roadside...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Based on the figures I provided, this issue is a major problem. I do not want to say anything that takes away from that. I and all my Cabinet colleagues have spent an extraordinary amount of time recently trying to resolve some of the issues, for example, the PULSE system and the extension of the penalty points system to more areas. The traffic corps is a dedicated group. The Minister has...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation being discussed in Westminster today arises from a commitment given as part of the Weston Park talks in the summer of 2001. The reason the commitment was given then was that there was an anomaly, arising from the 1998 decision on the Good Friday Agreement to allow prisoners who had committed offences before that date to be released. The anomaly was that people who were not...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte has made a number of points. There are a number of extensions to the Hain Bill. I am not sure of the point being made by the Deputy in that regard. He is probably referring to the extension of the legislation to cover the British army. Such extensions, which have been included in the British legislation, were not discussed with the Government. They are of concern to...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will not have time to respond to all the points made by Deputy Ó Caoláin, although I will bear them in mind. In November 2004, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland issued a report on surgical services at Cavan General Hospital which, it said, were "dysfunctional". The Health Service Executive has since been addressing the issues identified in the report, in consultation with the...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Those bodies have made their decision.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In case the Deputy took me up wrong, I wish to clarify that I said that the Royal College of Surgeons issued a report on surgical services at Cavan General Hospital which it described as dysfunctional. I did not say that; it was stated by the Royal College of Surgeons following its examination of the matter. The Cavan-Monaghan hospital group has come together and decided that acute surgery...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yesterday it was said that an eminent consultant had given advice to which I had not listened. Today, I advise what the eminent Royal College of Surgeons considers is the best option for the people of Monaghan.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is its view.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy does not agree with that——

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am simply relaying what it said. It represents all consultant surgeons in the country.

Leaders' Questions. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I merely stated that the Royal College of Surgeons certify every consultant surgeon in the country. This report is its major examination into this matter. I have no doubt that if Members have a different view, they will take it up with their own organisation. This examination has been under way since November 2004. Therefore, I am sure they have already submitted their views. This is the...

European Council Meetings. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, together. As I said in my last answer on European matters on 28 September, the Hampton Court Palace meeting would be an informal one. There was no formal agenda and as such it did not adopt formal conclusions. I did, however, receive a letter from the UK Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, in advance outlining his thoughts on what the meeting should...

European Council Meetings. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is good that the situation has stabilised following the early September elections in Germany. It is also good that Angela Merkel has been elected Chancellor and that an administration is in place. She has gone to meet President Chirac on her first visit, obviously to show that this strong axis of Europe that has been in existence for so many decades will continue under her leadership. That...

European Council Meetings. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the education issue, I do not mean more is not to be done. I stated that European universities get bad coverage because they are not listed among the top universities. There is a need for more resources and more people. World leaders of all faculties come from European universities and have done incredibly well in building up the business. That is the only point. As more of our young...

European Council Meetings. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: They are, and other countries are re-examining it because they believe it is cost-efficient, competitive, safer, cleaner, and involves new technologies. All of the arguments——

European Council Meetings. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am not. I do not agree with it, I am only explaining that it is out there. I am surprised at how the British Government is moving on it, but that is——

European Council Meetings. (23 Nov 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is the way it is going. I am describing the trend. Battle groups were not discussed but Europe's readiness to deal with humanitarian matters under the Petersberg tasks remains a major issue. Kofi Annan made it clear that the only way to deal with conflicts is to have groups that can take action on a regional basis. He is pressing hard that people engage in this and commit to it. We are...