Results 6,241-6,260 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The range of issues Deputy Kenny mentioned were factual at the time.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They were closed down and dealt with. In regard to the legislation, there have been regulations since 1993 and the care and welfare regulations are addressed during inspections.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The new HIQA Bill will be in the House next month and will govern quality standards across the health service. The factual position is that the training programme for inspections teams has been developed, resources have been identified for dedicated nursing home inspection teams, and the 32 elder abuse officers are being recruited. The working group on nursing home inspections and...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte quoted parts of the Minister's statement. The Minister, however, went on to point out that he was increasing the number of units to assist the over 600,000 people who would be severely affected by the large increases in energy costs. These increases, mainly due to the price increase of gas from Russia, have been internationally imposed. Ireland imports 86% of its gas...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister did not announce those increases in the last budget but several weeks ago when it became clear the regulator, the legislation for which Deputy Rabbitte's party supported——

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte is not. It is not my role to defend the ESB or Bord Gáis Éireann, but the Deputy should be fair and at least give the factual position. BGE made a profit of €90 million last year, an increase in its profit from the previous year despite growing sales of €100 million. The CER allows BGE to make a margin of 1.3% on its gas sales, a very small percentage.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Up to 86% of our gas comes from the UK. If BGE does not receive a price increase to reflect the increase in the UK wholesale price of gas, it would have a €50 million negative impact on BGE's profit next year, over half of its annual profits from this year.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If I am being asked to undermine BGE and the ESB and damage the staff in both organisations, then let us be honest and say so.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: BGE has a debt of €1.2 billion which is the subject of strict price covenants. Breaching those covenants or downgrading BGE's credit rating would lead to large penalties and difficulties for the company. We must be honest in this argument.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: International energy costs have risen sharply. We have protected old people from them.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have to allow BGE and the ESB to be protected as companies. The Government is not going to undermine either but we will protect old people, which we have done.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In every one of its budgets, this Government has helped the less well-off significantly and over the rate of inflation.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In the past two budgets, the Minister for Finance gave exceptionally large increases to those on social welfare payments to bring them to a level discussed at the partnership talks. It is our position to continue this. For the over 630,000 people who are vulnerable and include the elderly, rather than wait until the budget we moved immediately to protect them on the calculation given by the...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: BGE's dependence on gas imported from the UK is over 86% of national requirement. It is, therefore, not possible for us to keep prices lower than the UK wholesale price.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Perhaps with the Corrib gasfield, we might change that.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In the meantime, we must face the reality that we are importing most of our gas. If we had it ourselves, it would be different. The Government recognises that the Deloitte & Touche report which we recently published points to the need for an in-depth examination of electricity providers and of the dynamics of the electricity sector. We have stated that we recognise the fundamental role...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The accusations Deputy Ó Caoláin made about a certain company have been denied by it. We have had private medicine in this country since the second half of the 17th century. I understand it was introduced by Dean Jonathan Swift and it has developed ever since.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is incorrect to say private health care is only now being introduced.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin objects to the proposal that private beds available only for private use in public hospitals should be replaced by public beds for the use of public patients. I had expected most Members, particularly Deputy Ó Caoláin, to see the significant benefit in having all public beds in public hospitals available fully and exclusively for public use. I thought that was a...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Health and Children will provide these private beds on the same campuses as public hospitals at half the cost of the conventional provision of new beds and in a far shorter timeframe. This means we will have a better mix of health care. It is a progressive approach and will accommodate more public patients. I also take this opportunity to point out the significant increases...