Results 1,421-1,440 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Rule 42 was not the issue of the debate in 2001 and Deputy Rabbitte is incorrect in that respect. Eircom Park was rejected by the FAI. It was not considered. It voted democratically on that issue, as the GAA did last week, and voted against Eircom Park. As a result of the Government supporting it with taxpayers' money to the tune of more than €100 million, Croke Park has been redeveloped. I...

Leaders' Questions. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Tomorrow, many of these issues will be discussed at the Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, under the chairmanship of Deputy Ardagh. The committee is having a full day's hearing on many of these issues and Deputies will no doubt debate them when the committee meets tomorrow at 9.30 a.m. I agree with Deputy Sargent on the concept of children going to school at 7 a.m....

Leaders' Questions. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Regarding Deputy Sargent's first point, it was because the groups who looked at the issue four years ago were unable to reach an agreement on a scheme that the Government decided the best way forward was to put resources into child benefit. That left child care decisions with families. A person who reared a child at home all of the time got increases in benefit at the same level as others....

Leaders' Questions. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: No. That is the current figure.

Leaders' Questions. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Many families still have difficulties because the private schemes are costly. That is why the interdepartmental group is looking to see if there are other ways in which the State can alleviate the burden for those people who opt to work, and pay for private child care. Those discussions are ongoing.

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest sympathy to Deputy Kenny and the Fine Gael Party on the death of Michael O'Higgins. I join Deputy Kenny in welcoming Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins to the House. Michael J. O'Higgins was the son, son-in-law, nephew, brother and husband of Dáil Deputies. He came from a family steeped in Fine Gael tradition and the legal...

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 8, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the convention on social security between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; No. 9, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the accession by Ireland to the Rotterdam Convention; and No. 15, Disability Bill 2004 — Second...

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Like Deputy Stagg, I understand very few Members who wish to speak on the Disability Bill 2004 have not yet done so.

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: They might have an opportunity to speak before 7 p.m. this evening. The amount of time spent on consideration of the Bill to date is three times greater than the average.

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The House has spent almost 20 hours on consideration of the Bill. Nobody can suggest that the amount of time provided is insufficient when most Bills are considered in one third of that time. I am aware that the Chief Whip has held discussions about the amount of time to be allocated to Committee Stage. I intend to proceed with the proposal.

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Work is continuing on the Bill. As I have said previously, it is a very complex Bill because of the old arrangements on charitable donations but work is continuing. I hope the Bill will be forthcoming but it is complex.

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is the hope.

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Mid-next year, a Cheann Comhairle.

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It will be this session, a Cheann Comhairle.

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This session.

Order of Business. (19 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It will be the beginning of next year.

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will not go through the numbers. I have already explained how many people go through our accident and emergency units. I am glad Deputy Kenny has distinguished between ones that are overcrowded and those that work extremely well. That is the position. As I said previously, the action is that this year alone we have put a substantial part of both the capital and revenue budgets into...

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——in Beaumont as part of this year's plan. We are providing acute medical units in Tallaght, Beaumont and St. Vincent's Hospitals. This will mean that people who go to hospital with problems and medical conditions such as respiratory illness or diabetes can be assessed and observed without waiting for long periods in accident and emergency units. Other hospitals around the country have...

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Kenny, these acute medical units have begun. They are positive actions.

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not mind, a Ceann Comhairle. This is the disruption we get every Wednesday.