Results 541-560 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: That is totally incorrect. We are spending €10.5 billion which is a three-fold increase in the health budget. We have 35,000 more people working in it. There is a capital programme in practically every county in the country.

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The reason for giving incentives a number of years ago was an increase in the aged population. It was correctly argued that in order to provide more facilities for elderly people we should involve the private sector, under clear regulations, in building more nursing homes. That has worked. That is how, in the short term, we have been able to provide discharges of 520 patients to assist in...

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: ——more than merely engaging in political chat about it.

Leaders' Questions. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Regarding the hospital system, we continually try to put in better facilities. It would be a good idea if people acknowledged the major improvements in areas of our hospital system other than accident and emergency.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 13, motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Draft Order entitled Adoptive Leave Act 1995 (Extension of Periods of Leave) Order 2004 (back from committee); No. 14, motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 (Additional Institutions) Order 2004 (back from committee); No. 15, motion re Proposed approval...

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: If the Whips wish to discuss having a debate on the report.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The report published yesterday was a good one and if we can find time for a short debate on it, it would be useful.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: An external report on this issue was completed in September. This will now inform the preparation of draft legislation. Matters can proceed now on foot of the availability of this report.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The employment permits Bill is ready and will be taken in this session.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: No legislation is required on either issue. The first issue was dealt with by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs on Question Time.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Bill are expected before Christmas and it will be next year when it is published.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Not at this stage, but it has been dealt with in detail on a number of occasions on Taoiseach's Question Time. If the Whips can find time for these debates, it is fine with me.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Government has not considered this. Although it must be within the next two years, the Government has not yet set a date.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the parental leave (amendment) Bill have been approved and it will be published in the new year. The heads of the family law Bill, to provide for pension adjustments in the context of separation agreements and other reforms, are expected before Christmas and it will be drafted then. I am informed that it is a very detailed Bill. The social welfare (consolidation) Bill will be...

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: It is the same job.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: There was a debate at the time it was published. The Deputy should raise the matter with the Minister.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I join in the best wishes to the Clerk of the Dáil.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (19 Oct 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I assume the audit referred to in the Deputy's question is that referred to in my reply to Question No. 2 of 30 March 2004. To the extent that the audit concerns areas of the Statute Book within my functional remit, it is ongoing at present but has not so far identified instances of legislation of the kind referred to which might require remedial legislative action.

Legislative Programme. (2 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. My Department has two Bills before the Oireachtas this session, the National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002 and the Interpretation Bill 2002. The National Economic and Social Development Office Bill is awaiting Committee Stage. The Interpretation Bill, which has passed all Stages in this House, is awaiting...

Legislative Programme. (2 Nov 2004)

Bertie Ahern: On the legislation of my Department, I assure Deputy Ó Caoláin that whenever we can we put out the proposals in advance and I think we have done that. In regard to the Bills we are talking about, the interpretation Bill and the statute law revision Bill, we have put out the purpose of them and I have answered a number of questions on the record on the detail of them. Some time ago we did...