Results 3,641-3,660 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That peer review should help reduce the risk of sub-optimum outcomes, cost and time overruns and unexplored long-term maintenance issues. I have answered on this matter in the House and the review has been put in place.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste answered on that issue. She said there is an examination of why——

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: She has clarified the matter.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is clear the project needed to be scoped properly at an early stage. It should have avoided trying to achieve business and organisational change through the means of an ICT project which should have properly involved users and properly piloted the system before its introduction. The difficulties encountered in terms of the project getting bigger, costing more than estimated and taking...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In particular, the Comptroller and Auditor General has highlighted the need for gateway reviews at various points in the life cycle of a project. We moved on this on 11 October last. The new system will ensure that all future major ICT projects will have the benefit of expertise from across the public sector and beyond, if necessary. With regard to PPARS specifically, it is worth pointing out...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It has made over 600,000 payments, amounting to over €950 million.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: What is necessary is to get the remainder of the system workable so we can move it on as part of the health reform of one unified agency.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am not sure to whom Deputy Rabbitte is referring when he states that somebody is holding up the settlement as a great victory for social partnership. Deputy Kenny and I did not say that so it is obvious he is talking about somebody outside the House.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I did not make any glib remark about responsibility.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I made it clear that major issues arise, with which we must deal, with regard to this and other ICT projects. I also make the point that the PPARS project began seven years ago in four health board areas. Governance of all activities of each body, including the PPARS project, were pursued on a conjoined basis between the boards and remained with the staff of each of the boards. No board ever...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We will take ministerial responsibility. However, if one looks back at the reviews, which are also being considered as part of this, it will be seen that the health boards and Members on all sides of the House have a responsibility. That is not a glib point.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have carefully considered the Comptroller and Auditor General's report. Before he began his report, we comprehensively examined the deficiency in this system. The system was initiated to deal with one particular problem on the payroll of the health boards, and began with four health boards. It moved on to take in human resources and approximately 6,500 different systems. The project did...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In fairness to these people, they attempted to put a good scheme together and got the best ICT experts they could.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: They paid for the resources. Billions are being spent every year, and they are trying to get a system that could bring coherence between thousands of different grades.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Not so long ago, the health boards did not even know what their staff was and could not say how many people worked in them. They did not know the grades or the conditions. An effort has been made, and is partly made for a large amount of the staff. They have to grapple with the complexities concerning the other issues. It is the correct action to get a proper integrated system of ICT in the...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I was not asked a question this time.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: To fill my time, the Comptroller and Auditor General has highlighted some very important areas where the issues which arose with this project should not have happened. While it began in 1998 spending only €1.3 million, it moved in stages to €4.8 million, €5.8 million, €8.6 million, €13 million, €31 million and €47 million, to a total of €117 million. They did not benchmark...

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: At no stage did the Minister, his Department and the health boards and the political members of the health boards, not believe the system could be made to work comprehensively for the entire staff of the health boards.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This was stated in all reports. The project could have been stopped half way through, but it was not.

Leaders' Questions. (14 Dec 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If that line was followed we would not have probably the best revenue system in the world, one of the best social welfare systems and one of the best passport systems. One has to try with these issues. I disagree that good accountability in terms of the public service or Ministers means if one does nothing one will not get blamed.