Results 841-860 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will have to check for the Deputy.

Northern Ireland Issues: Motion. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I wish to share time with the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt.

Northern Ireland Issues: Motion. (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: —recognises the primacy of the Good Friday Agreement and the importance of both Governments continuing to protect and develop its achievements; —welcomes the progress made to date towards the full implementation of a broad range of commitments made in the Good Friday Agreement; —welcomes the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: No staff member on applying for promotion in my Department since January 2004 has been required to sign an agreement that they are willing to decentralise.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is still before the House. It has not yet passed Second Stage. Discussions are ongoing. The Disability Legislation Consultation Group has been very much involved in the process over a number of years. I have attended a number of meetings with the leadership of the movement and we have discussed the framework for the Bill extensively. The remaining issue of concern prior to Christmas...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not favour rights based legislation that is lawyer driven.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the issue of episodic treatment, if the assessment of needs say it is required that is covered. The Deputy asked me to clarify the rights based issue. We have said all along that the strategy is a rights based approach but it is wrong that the ultimate system is to get a person who has a disability into court in order to get his or her assessment of need. I have met many of the groups——

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The strategy is rights based.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy McGrath is right because that is the issue. What we are endeavouring to do in the legislation is to provide for an independent assessment of needs where a disabled person can be assessed independent of the system.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: When I want to give an answer the Deputies will not listen. There is a statement of services to which they are entitled, there is access to an appeals process to deal with complaints about the assessment of service, there is ultimate access to the courts if that is required——

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, there is.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In regard to the transfer of the multi-annual programme, we have given €2.5 billion in the period up to the end of the decade. Deputy Kenny asked what was the objective of the Bill. The Bill puts in place a framework for the provision of health and personal social services for people with a disability. That is what it is endeavouring to do. It allows for systematic development and...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The issue of the transfer of the documents has not been brought to my attention within the Administration. There was no question of the Government being asked for these papers or of my involvement in these issues. It is totally a matter for the courts but I understand the point the Deputy is making that they cannot deal with this issue but if they had these papers they could be of assistance...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I take the point. I appreciate the importance of the papers. I have read the newspaper reports on it but as I said I have had no request within the system. I have not discussed the matter with either the Minister or the Attorney General. I am not aware of the legal complexities. Perhaps the Deputy's suggestion is a way around it but the best course of action for me is to consult with the...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It was provided for in last year's Finance Bill.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The provisions are in last year's Finance Act so it is not necessary to include them in this year's Bill. For some time the Government has been in discussions with the European Union on the State-aid issue and the methods which we can use to input resources. The Minister informs me that those discussions are ongoing and it is hoped they will be completed. The Minister of State at the...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As the Deputy is familiar with the situation in the other countries he will be aware they have gone through precisely the same procedure.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is a question of approval for State aid. It is an EU State-aid issue. This process must be followed before the Government can invest resources. The other countries have followed this process and Ireland is in the process of doing it. Both the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources have a plan. The power to implement it is...

Social Partnership Agreement. (9 Feb 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. Social partnership has been of enormous benefit to Ireland both socially and economically. Since the programme for national recovery in 1987, the stability it provides has allowed for record levels of growth and enhanced social inclusion. In recent times of more moderate growth, the processes of social partnership have helped...