Results 8,601-8,620 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Freedom of Information. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: While I cannot speak for other Departments, the reports of the Information Commissioner are followed up in my Department. To the best of my knowledge, they are implemented in all cases but certainly the advice is followed. The charter for dealing with the public that was discussed in the House last week sets out the regulations and the procedures to be followed in making every effort to...

Freedom of Information. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The reason I do not have information on other Departments is that I am not the member of the Government designated to deal with FOI. The entire system is regulated by the Department of Finance. However, every Department, including the Department of the Taoiseach, must follow the guidelines set down in this area. In my Department, each section has designated officials, separate from the...

Freedom of Information. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Over the past few years the Department has averaged around 50 cases per year and this year the number will rise again. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 there were 45, 61 and 54 cases, respectively, and this year so far there have been 55, so there are already more cases than there were last year. The final figure probably will be around 70. When the FOI system was first introduced, the Department...

Freedom of Information. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It does stop people from making "trawling" requests across several Departments, which was common at the start. Rather than making targeted requests, they submitted large numbers of requests in order to dig up information that could be used commercially. When the fee of €15 per request was introduced, they were persuaded not to do this.

National Security Committee. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. Having regard to the confidential nature of the work of the National Security Committee, it would not be appropriate to disclose information about the dates of individual meetings nor any of its proceedings. The committee is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government and comprises representatives at the highest level of the...

National Security Committee. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the general situation, with issues such as that which occurred in the UK during the summer, the security committee, particularly the Garda and the Army, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Defence, continually monitors these issues. Most of the information on an international level comes from Europol and Eurojust. I do not want to discount the matter,...

National Security Committee. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We have made overflight and landing facilities available to the US authorities for over 50 years. That covered many crises and military confrontations, several of which involved the US taking military action and most, but not all, of which had UN endorsement. I refer to Kosovo, Vietnam and other places. We have never withdrawn or suspended these facilities at any stage during that...

National Security Committee. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am talking about the international dimension, not home-grown people who——

National Security Committee. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: While I am not in the justice brief, I know enough to know that any one case can take quite a lot of effort in a given year.

National Security Committee. (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy would need to see how some of these people operate. I am sure the Garda would gladly provide him with a security briefing at some stage. On the international front, we are dealing with quite a small number of people. I am talking about those people moving around this country who are involved in international terrorism and who attract the attention of Europol and Eurojust, as...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: This is breast cancer awareness month. The Department of Health and Children, the Cabinet committee on health and the HSE management work closely together. It is a big service that spreads throughout the country. Deputy Kenny has raised different aspects of it. I will confine my reply to breast cancer services. The development and improvement of diagnostic and treatment services for...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: BreastCheck is currently available in 15 counties in the eastern, north eastern, midland and parts of the south-eastern and western regions. BreastCheck has reported a very high volume of screening activity in 2006. Approximately 64,000 women were screened last year. That is a significant increase on the previous year. Screening has detected several hundred cancers. The Minister has...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I followed what she said about how her diagnosis was handled given that she was a public patient and not a private patient, an issue about which she felt strongly. It is regrettable that the system did not live up to the standards in that case, as has been clearly put forward.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I extend my sympathy to the family of Susie Long on her death.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to the Deputy's first question, I have given the facts in regard to the resources that have been allocated and the policies of the Department of Health and Children. Far from cutting back on breast cancer services, we have approved 111 additional posts, recruitment for which is under way. On the capital side, two new clinical units, seven additional mobile units and...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The construction of the two static sites in Cork and Galway, approval for which was given a year ago, is under way and they will be completed this autumn. On the overall question, clinical decisions on cancers are made by consultants. I cannot say what clinical decisions will be made in any particular hospital.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The HSE administration cannot do that either. The clinical and medical directors make such decisions. The HSE recently announced the appointment of Professor Tom Keane as the interim director of the national cancer control programme. His function is to lead and manage the establishment of a national cancer control programme. The delivery of cancer services on a programmatic basis will...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have read four or five such notes today.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is not a cutback when a body goes over its budget of €14 billion. The HSE has a service delivery budget.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am not involved in individual cases but, at times, people look around to find the emotive angle rather than any other. We are talking about the HSE being 1% over budget. With the small amount of resources involved, for a short period in the year, everybody should do their best to ensure sensitive services, of which cancer is just one, are not affected.