Results 8,681-8,700 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am not sure what happened in the first round — I think 7,000 or 8,000 people moved at that time. In this round, 20,000 public servants will be moving, which is a good thing. It is good for the public service and it is good for individuals to return to their own areas. It is also good for this city. Obviously, there is a cost involved. We have spent €4.5 billion on schools and we...

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: People pick up on this point. The Deputy should say to the people he meets from BIM that they should consider the arrangements now being negotiated between ICTU and the Department of Finance, and that if they do move down to Clonakilty, which is a beautiful area of Cork, they will be immensely happy.

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do, a Cheann Comhairle, because I opened the offices of the Department of Transport and they are top-class efficient offices——

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——with proper telephone systems. Maybe they are not answering Deputy Sheehan for some other reason — that is a problem I have often had with Departments — but I will put in a word for him.

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will ask them to go down and meet the Deputy on Inchydoney Strand and they can have a stroll around his constituency. It is a beautiful place, beside the Department.

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: These are questions for the line Minister but, as I stated earlier, if the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the decentralisation implementation group can come to an understanding on the agencies issue, it will certainly help in these areas.

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am not aware of the individual case, but overall approximately 40% of the staff due for decentralisation have moved into their new positions. Of course there is a transition period where people must move and be retrained in new Departments or in new sections of Departments that are decentralised, but I understand that has gone fairly well. The reason the group is trying to get an agreement...

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If ICTU responds, it is likely to state that 1,000 of the 11,000 want to move. Although I do not want to answer for ICTU, I think it would be reluctant to agree with anything that is compulsory. It is clear from its submission in the Labour Court case that it is prepared at least to think about voluntary decentralisation for those who wish to go. ICTU has stated that it will resist any...

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That happens all the time, for example, when an assistant principal is promoted to principal officer or an EO is promoted to HEO and moves to a different section of a Department. Such moves are ever-present in Departments. This involves 4,000 or 5,000 people over three or four years and that should not create an excuse. It raises the old question of whether people want to embrace this and...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Before I read the Order of Business, it has just been announced in Rome that Archbishop Seán Brady has been nominated by Pope Benedict XVI to the College of Cardinals. On behalf of the Government, I extend my warmest congratulations to Archbishop Brady. In honouring Archbishop Brady, Pope Benedict has acknowledged the transformation that has occurred in Northern Ireland. The success of...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 8, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimate — Vote 30, subject to agreement; No. 13, Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); 8b, Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007 — motion to instruct the committee, to be taken at 3.45 p.m. today; No. 14, Markets in Financial Instruments and...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: He was here yesterday.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy McManus raised this point last week or the previous week. I said then I would check it but that it was necessary to bring forward a Supplementary Estimate. What we are doing today is seeking leave to introduce the Supplementary Estimate — Vote 30. I can read the entire briefing note if that is required but it is preferable if the Minister deals with the matter.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Estimates statement is tomorrow. The heads of the national monuments Bill were approved by Government some time ago. The Minister announced plans for a major review of archaeological practice and policy, which only began this autumn. With regard to the issues in Brussels, the Government will state its case and put forward its view of the correctness of our position. The nursing home...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have no other information but it is due this session.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No Bill is listed on the competition issue. Obviously, the legal advice will have to be considered but no legislation is listed at this stage. A number of points arise with regard to the joint committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. There have been many discussions in recent years. There was an agreed position some years ago on a committee chaired by the Minister,...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That was the agreement we reached in the discussions. The view was that if we were to invite MLAs, we would have a very large committee. The MPs will be invited on a cross-community basis but the idea is that we would not invite 50 or 60 MLAs into a committee of 15 to 20 Members. That is not what the House wanted so membership is restricted to MPs. However, the parliamentary forum will...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We will invite them all. One never knows nowadays — perhaps they will all attend.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We do not have those yet.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It has not been listed yet.