Results 5,621-5,640 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We will continue to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio, particularly in disadvantaged areas where in many schools it is as low as 12:1 or even 10:1. These are significant areas of improvement. The Deputy asked me for three steps; I apologise for giving him five.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I wish to correct Deputy Joe Higgins on one point. We are now spending €7.5 billion on education. In his area five new schools were built recently, dealing with the difficulty——

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are five new schools dealing with the issue. We have put enormous investment into the area to which the Deputy refers. The Deputy said there was a problem but it has been resolved. His constituency has more new schools than any other in the country. I accept the population has been growing but people have to live somewhere and I do not think the Deputy has an objection to that. Good...

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The position is the same all over the country. In Laytown, where the Deputy was this morning, the number of schools that have been built there is enormous and the school buildings programme——

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Under the largest school building programme——

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have the largest school building programme in the history of the State——

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are spending nearly——

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: When this Government took office in 1997 approximately six school projects were being built per year. Several hundred schools are now being built. The Deputy should come into the real world. We were spending a handful——

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are not hundreds of children——

Leaders' Questions. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are spending money on hundreds of projects and an enormous amount in Deputy Joe Higgins's constituency, and he stands up and says that is not the case. On the latest list, five schools have been built. Enormous resources from the €1.5 billion are being put into transport infrastructure. A sum of €500 million is being spent on education. Such spending is reflected in individual schools...

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimate, Vote 40; No. 13, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimate, Vote 40, to select committee; and No. 19, Criminal Justice Bill 2004 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall...

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We understand the agreement to which Deputy Stagg referred has been finalised. On that basis, it will go to and be debated in the committee, following which it will return here and there will be a short debate here.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The defamation Bill is almost complete and will certainly be circulated this session. However, it might take another few weeks. With regard to debating the Harris report, I am not sure that it has been published. I believe that I answered on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, some weeks ago, and I will ask the Whip to deal with that. The Department of Finance...

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To my knowledge, it is not a Government Bill, so the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform would not have been involved in drafting legislation.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I stated last week that my information was that the Barr report had gone to the printers and I undertook to check on Deputy Rabbitte's behalf. When I did so last Wednesday morning, I found that the report was still not available. I am told that it will probably be ready by Friday. I have asked that it be circulated in printed or other form. I hope we will be able to circulate the Barr report...

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill has been published for a considerable time. As regards changing the name of the legislation to fit in with the services provided nationwide——

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There may be amendments to it but the Bill has already been published.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill will be dealt with later this year.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My office has tried to obtain the information from the Department and I will pass it on to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill will be debated this week. The child care amendment Bill will be published later during the summer.