Results 8,961-8,980 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That was out of a total of 166 Deputies.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Is 22 one third of 166?

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am here to answer questions. If I were on the opposite side of the House I would probably be far more aggrieved. Twenty-two Deputies out of a total of 166 were given speaking time whereas other Deputies from the major parties were squeezed and needed two minutes of shared time in order to make a contribution while 22 Deputies were given more than one third of the speaking time.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am just speaking honestly. I have been in the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery in many parliaments and I do not think there is a parliamentary system that would give the same amount of time and representation as is given in this House. Far from being aggrieved, the Deputy should come in here every morning and thank the system that is so kind to him.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will do so through the committee system.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It would be unfair of me not to acknowledge that Deputy Stagg has been working on this matter for a very long time.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I had experience of his good work in the past. I worked on the issue of Dáil reform a long time ago with Deputies Stagg and Barrett and former Deputy Mervyn Taylor and others. I agree there should be a dedicated television channel. I am not sure what is involved but I have spoken to the Chief Whip and he supports the proposal. I told the new joint administrative committee that a...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We have a concept here that if the House is sitting the whole infrastructure and architecture of the House has to be present. There is no reason we cannot discuss a report here on a Friday or a Monday but it should not have to require the whole structure and formality of the House. As long as we continue to do that we will never get it right. I will have been dead 100 years and it will not...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Maybe there needs to be some, but I have been very forthcoming in assisting RTE over the years in a very healthy package of a licence fee and for public service broadcasting. If showing the Oireachtas and its relevant committees is not public service broadcasting, I give up totally. If the idea is to cost the project and put it back on to us, that is not very bright. I was in here on...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is not a difficulty with that. Perhaps the committee could be televised because it is a good committee on which much dedicated work is put in by people on all sides of the House. I do not have a problem with providing some dedicated time. To reply to Deputy Stanton, I defend the House as entirely interesting viewing on television, as against much of the other tripe on TV. Other than...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On being answerable for agencies, I can never understand that question. I hear Deputies say they table questions and that they are ruled out because of procedures. People are worried that questions are not answered about the ESB, the HSE and so on. I am here every day answering all these questions. This morning I was responsible for 120,000 people in the HSE. Tomorrow it will be probably...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am asked about everybody, including the NRA.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I must examine the Standing Order some time but obviously it is written in such a way that excludes the Taoiseach because I answer questions about everything. Maybe all the other people get away with this.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Only one.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: RTE and all of the other networks are in a huge period of change in technology and that will have its own reform difficulties for them. Deputy Coveney spoke about a very simple technical proposition. What Deputy Higgins is saying may be right. I have never looked into it, but to do it separately would be incur a big cost factor. On the other points he made regarding the operation of our...

Order of Business. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 7, Supplementary Estimate for Public Services — Vote 6, back from committee; No. 11a , statements regarding cancer services and the implementation of the HSE national cancer control programme; No. 12, Charities Bill 2007 — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 1, Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad] Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding...

Order of Business. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I would like to clarify that I am being asked that the debate would start following the Order of Business, run until 1.30 p.m., resume following Question Time until 6 p.m. and be followed by questions between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Order of Business. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Agreed.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The amount spent by my Department on Travel and Subsistence in the first nine months of 2007 is €442,220 compared to total spend of €541,393 for same period in 2006. This shows a reduction of total expenditure in this Subhead of €99,173 in 2007 compared to 2006 for the months January to September.

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. Since the inaugural plenary meeting on 15 February 2007, several meetings have taken place with the social partners in relation to the implementation of Towards 2016. I attended and addressed the ICTU biennial conference on 4 July at which I emphasised the basis for confidence in Ireland's economic outlook while, at the same time,...