Results 10,381-10,400 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: ——because of corporate governance and time commitments. The political identity of a large proportion of people appointed to State boards would not be known, and rightly so. The appointees are appointed on the basis of their expertise in society, and this is increasingly the case.

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: There is a bit of that too, but only on the basis that they are highly competent people.

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: To be frank with the Deputy, in respect of all the main boards — most of them are smaller boards now — one would not survive on a board for too long without the necessary expertise and competency. I refer in particular to the commercial State-sponsored boards, which are the main boards. They have large budgets and staffs, audit committees and high governance levels, and it is difficult...

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: A number of people on boards have raised this question with me over the years. I do not want to get into names but I have seen a number of them step aside. However, overwhelmingly, whether they did or did not, it would be entirely wrong because most of the insinuations made about them subsequently — usually not long afterwards — turn out to be wrong. There are a few cases in point at...

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I totally exclude myself. I am thinking more of boards and the like. In the seven or eight I know of — I am talking about ones in the past that are gone and finished — I think in all cases they were totally innocent of anything that was said about them. That would have happened across the party political system. Obviously for something that is very major and is very clear-cut, then...

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I wish to add that that should not rule out members of committees.

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I have said this before but it may be worth repeating. The view on State boards, for which I have been responsible for the past 11 years, is mistaken. One could take any State board as an example. The National Statistics Board is chaired by Professor Brendan Walsh of University College Dublin and also includes Dr. Patricia O'Hara of the Western Development Commission, two officials from...

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It is an ongoing issue to try to improve the gender balance on State boards. I acknowledge that the broad social partnership process has improved on this in recent years. The percentage is far higher than it was. In the cases of NESC, the National and Economic Social Forum, NESF, the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, NCCP, which are all under my Department, the gender...

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Burton is correct to state it is an extremely important position, which is the reason it is set down in legislation and practice. I do not believe the appointment will be made for some time to come. While there is a process, I cannot recall exactly what it is. Ultimately, when the process takes place, the Minister for Finance will recommend the individual to the Government, followed...

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I hope Deputy Burton will agree that the appointment of the current Comptroller and Auditor General was very good.

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I made that appointment 14 years ago and he has been in his position since then. The same system will be followed when the new Comptroller and Auditor General is appointed. The process has already commenced, although it will not be completed for some time.

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It is actually the responsibility of the Department of Finance but I will ask that Department to send a note to the Deputy. On the other issue, that would be unfair. I know of at least two State boards to which individuals have been appointed who everyone believes are aligned to the Deputy's party. They may not be, however, and I do not think it fair to ask them. They are very good people...

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. The procedures I outlined to the House previously in regard to use of the ministerial air transport service, MATS, most recently on 6 March 2007, have not changed. The position is that my approval is required prior to the service being used. Procedurally, requests for use of the service are made by Ministers' private secretaries...

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We recommended it.

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Kenny on what aircraft are available, the Gulfstream IV jet is still in operation. That was acquired in 1991 and all of my colleagues know my views on it. The aircraft is 16 years old and has flown more than 11,000 hours. I am told there is not an aircraft in the world, or the Third World, that has flown that number of hours.

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: My colleagues know what I believe is the alternative to it but I do not think it is a great idea for it to go on and on. The Learjet, which we bought at the beginning of the Presidency in 2004, was a replacement for the Beechcraft Kingair and provides a service for short and medium haul flights. It has proven extremely reliable and has been used on the European missions. It has its faults...

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: ——and it does not have a toilet but it gets from A to B for which I have been very grateful many times. Following two minor fires I do not believe the Beechcraft has been used much in recent times.

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The CASA is used now and again and if one has earmuffs on that is very useful, but the aircraft are all very useful. The one aspect of them that is perfect is the staff. I thank all of the staff who fly them all. As to whether they could be improved, that would be a good idea for the next Taoiseach.

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: A number of questions were raised by Deputy Kenny. On the case of Mrs. Margaret McEntee, which I think is the case to which he referred, I was very concerned by reports regarding the time which this lady spent in the accident and emergency unit of the Mater Hospital. The HSE advised that the patient presented to the hospital on 14 April and was admitted on 17 April. As I have said...

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: A Cheann Comhairle——