Results 6,521-6,540 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I gave the figures at the outset. Deputy Rabbitte has asked me if I agree we must continue these policies of assisting areas that are marginalised and disadvantaged. Of course I do. The point I must make is that we have had significant success because of the formation of the budgets we have introduced in the last number of years, where the less well-off people have got huge increases under...

Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I addressed this at some length earlier this year, in the spring. The HSE has been indicating to the Government for the last year or so that it has changed its process and procedures in public hospitals with regard to MRSA. It recruited one of the international specialists in this area, an eminent person involved with the issue on the international stage, to bring our standards up to that...

Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Coroners Bill is being prepared. I understand there is no difficulty preventing the coroners giving the full reports, but I will raise that issue because the families should be given the full facts and details and there is no reason that should not happen.

Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation will be before the House shortly and Deputies will be able to put their points of view. The Health Service Executive authority has made it very clear to us that it has put together and is endeavouring to implement inspections and hygiene standards to defeat infections and cross infections, to implement protocols for gowning, washing and transfers of food covering a range of...

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Order of Business shall be as follows: No. 17, Citizens Information Bill 2006 — Second Stage, resumed; and No. 4, Industrial Development Bill 2006 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Private Members' business shall be No. 56, motion re the establishment of a patient safety authority.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: He said I should tell the Deputy to table a question and he would get an answer from the Minister.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will be more helpful to the Deputy. The Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, will meet Kerry County Council on 17 November. We will await the outcome of that.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I would say the bars will be long closed by then.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The debate on the Morris tribunal report was put back because the Opposition's spokespersons and others were caught up in the Judge Curtin issue. There were three separate reports and the Tánaiste is ready to debate them.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have asked the Minister to deal with the Harris report and have asked the Whips to arrange a debate. Operation Freeflow will commence on 28 November.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have outlined our position over recent weeks. The Minister for Finance has met the parties and given a detailed speech in Derry outlining our position. We have also made clear our position on the Ulster Canal; the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs has met the parties.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Yes.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Earlier this year Members called for a campaign to update the electoral register. More than 1,500 field workers carried out the most extensive process we have had in 20 or 30 years. A related publicity campaign was also conducted. This is the result of what people called for.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The work is done.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not know how anybody can say, when 1.25 million households were called on, information was circulated, there was an extensive publicity campaign——

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: A register will never be accurate because the day after it is finished, somebody will move house or move to another area.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Let us be frank. The people who did not respond, or who should not have been on the register, were removed from the draft register.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is still plenty of time for people to get on the register if they wish. They can do so.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation has been here for some time. We wanted to have a constitutional referendum to deal with these issues some years ago. That Bill has been with the Judiciary for some time. A number of models for dealing with it have been put to the Judiciary and the Minister intends to bring legislation forward shortly.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The issues on the legislation are not yet complete. If the legislation were brought forward in its draft form, it would provide for an election in the spring, probably late February or early March.