Results 7,501-7,520 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We are still way under the EU average for cars. If one talks to the people who are usually right about these matters — perhaps somebody can stop them — there will be more rather than less. On that outer orbital route both in terms of size and scale we need to look far beyond the box and that is what I have been driving towards within the system and at the committee.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If they continued to all fly like that in the 1980s, we would not have needed the road. People started to stay, and that is why they got the figures wrong.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has asked me an enormous range of questions. There is €16 billion in the national development plan, and there was €9 billion in its predecessor for public transport initiatives. I am in favour of bus corridors, increased buses and rail cars. The first 12 out of 60 trains are coming on stream and there are more than 100 buses. An order has been put in for another 100 buses...

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have told the Deputy that it is the view of the entire technical and engineering crew——

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If I ignored the experts, the Deputy would be in here next week telling me I had caused the problems by ignoring the advice.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: They have done that. They have lifted it for an hour on several occasions to see what the effect might be. As I said, the M50 upgrade is underway, with phase 1 from the N4 to the Ballymount interchange to be completed by mid-2008 along with phase 3 from the M3 to the N4. The full upgrade will be completed in 2010. It is a massive infrastructural project. It will not be done overnight or...

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I gave the Deputy my honest assessment.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will not go back over what I said earlier but I draw a distinction between what can be achieved in other areas such as transport and some areas of education where PPP projects were approved. When dealing with a PPP, whatever about the cost and other arguments which I have gone through, the difference in terms of time and scale is enormous. One need only consider the Whitfield project in...

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am not familiar with every individual capital project in the health area. A difficulty is that by the time the capital programme is prepared for the building, which is linked to staffing levels, equipment and all the procurement issues, the time span in too long. With regard to any of the commitments made, the Deputy will find that the projects are moving through the system but as against...

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I cannot have the detail of every project, but if it is a PPP project, they tend to be very successful.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy should table a question to the relevant Minister. In the case of PPP projects if they are approved and moved through by the Department of Finance, they tend to be completed very quickly.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The cross-departmental team comprises key officials in the various Departments. The guidelines set down in terms of cost benefit analysis are subject to independent scrutiny. The central expenditure evaluation unit in the Department of Finance, a question on which I replied to earlier, is charged with promoting best practice in project appraisal and checking compliance with the capital...

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is efficient in the housing area. Our construction sector is second to none.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Kenny report deals with the issue of land, but that only affects price rather than quality of construction.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Every project goes through a line Department and every major health project goes through the capital assessment unit of the Department of Health and Children. Every project is bound by appraisals and examinations that follow good accountancy practices. There are also State agencies involved, such as local authorities, the NRA, the Dublin Airport Authority or whatever. The officials in the...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Order of Business shall be No. 7, Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007 — Second Stage, resumed; and No. 8, Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage and Second and Subsequent Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted not later than 10 p.m.;...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the first issue, that is a fairly old and limited report. It is three years old and was conducted on 140 students. I understand the matter is being addressed to the colleges. I do not think it is necessary for the House to debate a report of that nature. On the question about the referendum, I stated my view yesterday and on Monday. We have listened to the views of the Opposition...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We would prefer if they were taken together, whenever that is. If there was an argument about the two questions and if two referendums were held in the one year, it might be questionable whether young people could be expected to become actively engaged. I invite the Deputy to make his views known in a referendum debate in order that there will be interest in the issue and a good turnout....

Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am not ruling it out now either.