Results 7,721-7,740 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together. Following a detailed analysis of our current arrangements in the procurement of goods and services, a corporate procurement plan has been prepared with a view to improving the procurement function within my Department. The plan sets objectives to improve the way the Department acquires and pays for goods and services. The plan...

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: For many years the OPW has centralised buying contracts and the Department of Finance public procurement guidelines cover that. Most of the departmental costs are under contracts under the procurement policies of the Department of Finance, with the OPW being the centralised buyer in a large range of areas. Expenditure in operating my Department is incurred across a range of goods and...

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is a down side in that one can get the best value for money, but one can affect jobs at home. That is my only argument, but I lose it usually because we tend to play by the rules in this country. The main aim of the national policy on procurement is to achieve value for money while having regard to probity and accountability. While price is important in determining value for money,...

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is a plan across Departments, including mine, to help reduce carbon emissions. It covers a range of areas. I will return to the matter of travel in a minute, but the plan deals particularly with recycling, reusing and how we handle old machines, such as computers, copiers and so on. There is a rigorous plan to comply with the needs. It comes down to the lights policy, namely,...

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I think Deputy Gormley might agree that what we are doing as regards recycling, which comes under my Department, is significant. We have come from very low levels of recycling in this country to extraordinary achievements. We have gone way ahead of our targets and surpassed what other countries are doing. We are way ahead in terms of EU levels. In the climate change strategy as well as...

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am promoting and pressing all of these policies. I was on the DART twice recently and the Deputy is right. I came to realise how much better it is and how much more sociable and efficient than being stuck in traffic. The Deputy was perfectly right.

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I was on the Luas as well and he is right that the standard of public transport has changed dramatically. I have not been on the new buses yet, but I shall try that, too, through the new bus corridors.

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: He is correct in saying these are better ways to travel than being stuck in traffic.

Departmental Expenditure. (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I passed Deputy Finian McGrath the other day while I was in the car and he was walking, so I accept he was giving good example.

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 18, Finance Bill 2007 — Report and Final Stages; No. 19, the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 20, Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and...

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Like Deputy Kenny, I hope there will be a good turnout today and that the political process in the North goes well. Preparatory work on the heads of the Bill is ongoing regarding the education Ireland Bill. This Bill will regulate the body dealing with educational services, including the teaching of English. It will probably be the second half of the year before it is published.

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I had the opportunity to receive a briefing on the first matter raised. The Government's legislative programme published on 30 January 2007 provides for the publication of the property services regulatory authority Bill. This legislation will give effect to the recommendations of the auctioneering and estate agents review group, including the establishment of the property services regulator...

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: They are all linked.

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is a question about whether it can all be dealt with in one Bill. Meetings were held with the Law Reform Commission which has done some work on this matter. I am informed that one piece of legislation will not be sufficient to cover all the areas; it will just cover a number of them. Work is ongoing on the Bill to which I referred. It is a question of including all the aspects....

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not think a complaint was received. The Minister's office contacted me last night. I think the BCI was concerned about the political nature of the commercial because of the petition involved. I have listened to some fairly political advertisements recently which had a ferocious go at me, and nobody seems to worry about it.

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I cannot see how anyone would get so sensitive about this.

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There are two issues in this regard. First, the Minister some months ago gave a directive to local authorities not to continue that process.

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister has given a direction. Obviously, he said if anyone had information——

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I explained to Deputy Rabbitte that a number of aspects are involved. The cross-departmental team is working on the issue but it is broader than what I have stated. On the housing issue raised by Deputy Joe Higgins, the Minister has given a directive for contracts already entered into. That matter must be considered in the context of what the cross-departmental team is doing.

Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We are spending €33 billion on——