Results 8,941-8,960 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am not here to answer for the consultants in this country when they are in their operating theatres, doing a perfect job. It does not do this House much good that I am reading out some of the clinical and surgical diagnoses of individual patients. That is not what I should be doing. We provide modern facilities to very well paid people in this country.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The vast majority earn far in excess of what I do in terms of salary.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: One of the individuals the Deputy mentioned, to the best of my knowledge, has a huge private practice along with his public practice and the best of luck to him.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If Deputy Gilmore expects me to come in here every single morning and say that the 120,000 people working in the health service — every one of them, whether in an operating theatre or out in the community — have performed to the highest standards, I cannot do that.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I must say, though, that they are well facilitated by this State and I hope they provide that service——

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——and we will continue to do our best, as a Government, to improve that service.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As I said yesterday and numerous times in the last week, our work must be to try to help the people who are affected by this and not to get lost in all of the other details. Obviously, for those seven people and some other cases mentioned here over the last few years, the services did not work, for one reason or another. I am not the expert to write the reports. There is a person appointed...

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: People are entitled to due process in this investigation.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We will do all we can. I would say to Deputy Gilmore that before I took this position, there was not even BreastCheck in this country.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Before I took this position, the 2,000 people annually who had breast cancer were not being treated in the excellent way they are being treated today where 75% of them get top quality breast surgery in this country. We have a huge success rate in breast surgery.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We are doing a top class job for those women which did not happen in the past. I am very proud of the fact we are doing that and of the resources we are putting into our hospitals to do that. Some €0.5 billion per year is being allocated to the capital programme to improve the hospitals.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Time and again we have provided additional resources for more staff. I totally reject Deputy Gilmore's view that the health service in this country is inferior to what it was a decade ago because that implies the 30,000 additional staff, along with the 90,000 already there, are, in some way, not doing their job. They do their job well but I am not in this House to say every member of the...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. As the Deputies will be aware, the matter of Dáil reform is essentially one for the House which, under the Constitution, has responsibility for making its own rules and Standing Orders. While the Government parties are committed to progressing any commitments contained in the programme for Government, it is ultimately the...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with Deputy Kenny on two points and I am aware of the Ceann Comhairle's efforts to progress reform issues. There is an agenda to which I am open and ready to move on. We could do a lot to improve how we run the House even within the existing hours. Recently I looked at the figures for last year. With Leaders' Questions, Question Time, the Order of Business and the Adjournment...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin will appreciate that we have always tried to introduce Dáil reforms based on agreement. That is necessary if new structures are to work satisfactorily and not be a source of division in the House. Everything we do is aimed at improving the way we do our business. It is obvious that every party has made an input into the reform process. I have been amused by some of the...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If I were in here all the time, I would have nothing to answer questions about — I would not be outside doing my work. It is logical, I have to go outside the House to do some work so I can then come in here and answer questions about it.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Some people do not understand that I have to be actually doing something to be able to answer questions on it.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That is what I spend the other 80 hours a week doing. We have examined the proposals which have been made by various parties about the d'Hondt method and other issues. Deputy Ó Caoláin asked a specific question on the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. My view on this issue has not changed. I did not write the all-party report, but I agree with it. The...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Ask me again.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has made many suggestions. I am not averse to these issues being discussed between the Whips and in the committees which are examining new arrangements which may be agreed on Dáil reform. Deputy Ó Caoláin would have to acknowledge that the rules of the House have achieved a fair balance regarding Question Time and questions to the Taoiseach. I have been present in the...