Results 4,081-4,100 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is not acceptable to refuse to acknowledge that significant resources are being invested in the health system by the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive, under the guidance of the Tánaiste. It is well-known in the hospitals system that officials in the HSE and the Department are working every day to improve the system. A number of priority projects, most of...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They are continuing.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am well aware of the difficulties for staff in accident and emergency units. Like Deputy Kenny, I was in the accident and emergency department in the Mater Hospital last Monday. I am sure he forgot to mention that a new 33 bed ward was just opened adjacent to the department to help people.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is 33 new beds. I hope we do not get to a situation when we open facilities in St. Vincent's Hospital, in Blanchardstown, in St. James's Hospital, and 33 beds in the Mater Hospital, that every bit——

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: When we fully staff the hospitals, take on 24 additional accident and emergency consultants, take 1,500 people out of acute beds and when we have an elderly day care package, I hope that is not considered to be nothing. The money is being spent on those facilities.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To try to claim that nothing is happening on these issues is incorrect. There are pressures and there is no doubt about that.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We know that and we see it every day. We have introduced an initiative to create 1,000 new public beds by having the private sector build private hospitals on sites of public hospitals and that is helping. We put in funding for 900 inpatient beds in acute hospitals and that is having an effect. We put in facilities to improve patient flow and we obtained extra staff in almost every accident...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The programmes are useful and are good examples of public service broadcasting. There is no doubt about that. I also think the recent work of the Stardust relatives committee has been good. The first part of that work was examined by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda Síochána and the Forensic Science Laboratory. They concluded, following expert analysis, that...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The recommendations on the fire safety issues were made in 1982. I will not answer for all the policy initiatives from 1982, but more recently an implementation group considered these initiatives and I understand the group has considered the issue of the authority. I cannot say why that did not happen for 20 years. It was decided at the time not to go down that road but more recently the...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Any employers, whether in the construction industry or elsewhere, who abuse the rights of workers with regard to their pensions, occupational health or other benefits are entirely wrong. Their actions are inappropriate. I understand that in some cases contributions were taken but credits were not given. Such cases are illegal. These are serious matters and have been highlighted for some time....

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said, if the Deputy has information about who is in breach of the regulations, he should give it to the ombudsman. With regard to his point, it was this Government that set up the Pensions Ombudsman in 2003, and the office became operational——

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The office became operational in autumn 2003. It is Government action that has led to a position where pension schemes are being investigated and the Deputy should not forget that. The level of the breaches in this area is coming out through the work of the Pensions Ombudsman. It is not true the Minister issued a weak press release. It is true that he has engaged with the construction unions...

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution published its report relating to the family on 24 January 2006. The relevant Departments are considering its recommendations. The Government has acted on most of the key recommendations which have emanated from earlier reports of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution. In...

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first issue, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has already set up a committee. There were already Law Reform Commission reports on the issue but he was also awaiting the report from the committee. He now has that and he recently stated he would proceed with the matter. The committee has indicated that legislative changes are the way to go forward. Deputy Kenny will...

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that. It should be worked out among the group leaders in the Seanad. I do not expect Senator Higgins to resign — I am not raising the issue.

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My loyal councillors.

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: With regard to reports generally, we have had in the past number of years referenda on Cabinet confidentiality, the Amsterdam Treaty, the British-Irish Agreement, the recognition of local government, the death penalty, the International Criminal Court, the Nice treaty, the protection of human life and pregnancy and citizenship issues. Some matters on the Judiciary were prepared but we did not...

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are at least two planning Bills, one published and one not, where a number of issues relating to property rights have been taken into account. Other issues have been addressed in other legislation. I accept the Deputy's point that we are told every year that there will be no more price increases. The affordable housing initiative does not require legislation and we have given the...

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I hope my amended proposal will still be in line with the report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution which was endorsed by this House in May 2003, and will be consistent with the Good Friday Agreement. Deputy Ó Caoláin will accept that I must secure a consensus on the matter. I am trying to frame a proposal that sticks with those principles and I am not abandoning it,...

Constitutional Reform. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The basis of the policies of this and previous Governments led by me has been to create housing for everybody by affordable, social and private means and to reach that position through policies and grants to local authorities, facilities for building societies and other mechanisms. It would be difficult to frame a constitutional right for that but we are putting resources worth billions of...