Results 10,201-10,220 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Departmental Expenditure. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I see the merit of the proposal provided the political parties were to agree to allocate part of their political allowances to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission so that it would provide a bigger, more centralised media monitoring service for everybody. That is a valid suggestion which would merit consideration. However, we are discussing a different issue, namely, the Civil Service...

Departmental Expenditure. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The material is purely a synopsis of the headlines of the day. The unit does not count the number of articles or give any reflections. Its role is straightforward. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission could take up the matter if it wished. However, the service is already provided to the political system, in large measure through the party leaders funds. Any information gathered in...

Departmental Expenditure. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: While I do not have a difficulty with the Deputy's suggestion, I believe the Civil Service code states that any data collected or collated by civil servants should be treated in a similar manner.

Departmental Expenditure. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The information, opinions or reflections given by civil servants across a range of issues are not released. That Civil Service protocol is the reason the information would not be circulated. However, it is regularly released under freedom of information legislation. People have stopped submitting FOI requests because they have seen that it amounts to no more than I described. They have...

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 26, inclusive, together. The programme for Government agreed between Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and certain Independent Members of Dáil Éireann is a comprehensive blueprint for the country's future. It is fully costed and makes it clear that the budgets over the lifetime of the Government will be kept in broad balance and...

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: When the programme for Government was put together last year, each individual section of it, and particularly those new elements that were outside the national development plan, which was costed at €184 billion, or ongoing programmes such as the commitments we made to overseas development, which were fully costed, the science and technology fund or the research and development fund, which...

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will explain it to Deputy Bruton but he understands it very well. This year——

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will answer the question. The Deputy wants me to tell him what we will have achieved by June 2012.

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will tell the Deputy that in the summer of 2012.

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: For the Deputy to ask me now to tell him what exactly we will do——

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy did ask that.

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked if important matters of advances in education and health, which he claims are cock-and-bull, will not be implemented. It is the Government's wish over the period, within the resources we have, to implement these programmes. We have set our budgets for this year. Tax revenue is down and I gave the figures on this last week based on the two-monthly tax take projection. This...

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Next year could be different. If economic circumstances improve, we will be more able to increase expenditure in some areas. If not, we will not have that ability. That is the answer to the question.

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On Deputy Ó Caoláin's question, the overall strategy on the Irish language is set out in the programme for Government. A 20-year strategic plan will be developed with support for the introduction of a language Act in Northern Ireland, as provided for in the St. Andrews Agreement. I was involved in those discussions and, as the Deputy stated, we have hit obstacles. It was part of the...

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will raise it with the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, and ask him to come back to the Deputy. The economic and tax targets, as I said earlier, are commitments in the programme for Government but are based on the proviso that resources permit and we stay within the parameters established in the Stability and Growth Pact. The Government intends to stick to those fiscal targets. If resources are...

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Sheahan, any provisions for the Independents, as I have said a number of times, are based on what is in the Estimates or in the national development plan. It is a matter of additional expenditure for items that are already covered in the budgetary process.

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It may be quicker to pursue it this way.

Programmes for Government. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has, to his credit, been to the fore in pursuing the issue of cluster weapons in Europe and internationally. In reply to Deputy Higgins's question, the Minister has stated clearly that the current ethical guidelines for the protocol on cluster weapons should go further. He has also stated that based on what happens at the Croke Park...

Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 6, Supplementary Estimate for Public Services [Vote 28] (back from committee); No. 7, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2008 (back from committee); No. 8, motion re reports on cancer services; and No. 14, Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005 [Seanad] — Order...

Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister and I have some time difficulties. I suggest that we end the debate at 5.15 p.m. but start questions at 4.30 p.m. This would give three quarters of an hour for questions. Is that reasonable?