Results 9,581-9,600 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I appreciate that. I will deal with the one the Deputy does not want included. Under the programme for Government, we are committed to providing an additional 1,500 public acute hospital beds. The co-location initiative aims to deliver 1,000 of these for public patients through the development of private hospitals on public sites. The intention is to transfer private property activity to...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is expected that the co-located private hospitals will most likely open within three years of receiving planning permission. The board has approved the successful bidder status for Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Sligo and St. James's hospitals. The HSE and the board of St. James's Hospital are working with the preferred bidders to finalise the project arrangements for the sites. St. James's...

Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 2, Appropriation Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage, Second and Subsequent Stages; and No. 3 — Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage, Second and Subsequent Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and Business shall be interrupted not later than 10.30...

Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Yesterday.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is years since an appropriation Bill was discussed at any length in this House, but it is discussed in the Seanad, which is meeting on Thursday to debate the Bill. That has been the practice for the last 20 years. We have a committee system that looks at it. As Deputy Kenny remembers, we used to discuss the budget for weeks on end, but that was when it was bad news. Now the Opposition...

Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is clear the Opposition spokespersons have no difficultly with the main purpose of this Bill, which outlines the roles and functions of the 19 bodies involved. It is imperative to remove any doubt about their vires and, accordingly, the Bill must be enacted. There is no requirement for debate on those issues. We are talking about the provisions relating to the Medical Practitioners Act...

Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Government must put beyond doubt any legal capacity and that includes the Beaumont Hospital and St. James's Hospital co-location agreements. That is the only issue and there is a long night to talk about one issue out of a total of 25.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin will not have to speak tonight because he has already made his Second Stage speech.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is due in 2008.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The judgment must be examined and we will then consider whether we can discuss it.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 135 together. My Department has not paid in advance for works or services that will not be completed or commenced before the end of the 2007 financial year. However, it should be noted that my Department and its agencies are required to pay some suppliers in advance for items such as subscriptions for magazines and journals (hard copy and on-line...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that there are no proposals to decentralise my Department or any of the bodies under its aegis. The Department of Finance is responsible for the overall decentralisation programme.

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I spoke with Senator Kennedy on 7 December when we discussed the issue of immigration in the United States and the undocumented Irish in particular. I emphasised to the Senator that the resolution of this issue has been and will continue to be a priority for the Government and I referred to the strong all party support in this House on the issue.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The National Economic and Social Forum, established in 1993, continues in existence. The First Information Society Commission ceased to exist in December 2000 and the National Millennium Committee in June 2002. Section 10 of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act, 2006 sets out the functions of the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF), as follows: To advise the...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: My officials have been in contact with the family of the person in question and I will meet with the family early in the new year.

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (18 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Department of the Taoiseach is located in Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street. The Department has no offices elsewhere. No specific record of my attendance in my Department is maintained.

Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Under the heading, "Improved Funding for our Schools", the education section of the programme for Government contains the following commitment: "We will ... examine the provision of waste and water allowances to school, with charges becoming effective after these agreed allowances are exceeded." The Minister has explained repeatedly that because of the framework water directive, the...

Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I can only come to the logic that if there is not something——

Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will never be able to answer Deputy Kenny if Members of the Opposition continue to interrupt.

Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I know that Fine Gael Members are very upset that this measure was included in the programme for Government.