Results 1,561-1,580 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Let us hope not. The statistics show that 86% of accidents are caused by people not taking care. I ask people to drive with safety and with respect for others.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Since this matter was raised yesterday, approximately 3,300 people have been through the accident and emergency facilities. Thankfully, 90% of those people did not require trolleys but unfortunately 10% did. I regret that some people are spending several days on trolleys. It shows the system is not as perfect as we would like as we would like it to be 100%. I outlined to the House yesterday...

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Facilities at St. James's Hospital and at St. Vincent's Hospital will open shortly. The Mater Hospital is an acute hospital and will commence building a new hospital shortly even though it has taken the hospital some years to commence building. The Government has provided the resources.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I informed the House yesterday of all the improvement initiatives being undertaken this year by the Government rather than waiting for the longer term.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Home care packages are being provided to support an additional 500 older people and which will free up beds. Step-down care beds are being purchased in the private sector for those in acute hospitals who are suitable for such care which will make beds available. Last December the Minister for Finance announced funding of €70 million. It is to be hoped the hospitals will get on with those...

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Howlin's question yesterday the capital programme will be finalised in the next few weeks.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Government is endeavouring to deal with the acute problems in hospitals as speedily as possible. In answer to Deputy Rabbitte's question I do not believe the nurses are protesting other than that they believe there is a problem. Approximately 1,000 nurses work in accident and emergency departments and they deal with the daily problems. The Government needs their goodwill in order to...

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: These are industrial relations issues and hopefully the nurses and others will help us. Work cannot stop at 6 p.m. because people do not stop being sick after that time.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We can talk about many issues but I am concerned with areas in which practical help can be given. I will not leave one point go.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: From the time this issue was raised yesterday, approximately 3,300 people have used our accident and emergency facilities. Some 90% of them did not have to be accommodated on trolleys.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is regrettable that it was necessary to accommodate 10% of accident and emergency patients on trolleys.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This is why we are investing excellent resources to try and improve the situation. In many hospitals, including Cork University Hospital, Roscommon Hospital, Naas General Hospital, James Connolly Memorial Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital and the new building in the Mater Hospital, we are constantly trying to improve facilities.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The home care package is there to suit the needs of patients in order to facilitate their move from hospital care.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In total, this initiative will provide support for an additional 500 older people this year. People are already being moved from acute beds into top-class nursing homes, private facilities in most cases. The Government will continue to work in this regard. We are buying beds from the private sector for step-down care. Provision is being made now rather than next month or the month after for...

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I said yesterday that proposals are being finalised in regard to improvements in acute medical units for non-surgical patients in Tallaght, St. Vincent's and Beaumont Hospitals. Hopefully the hospital management teams will work to best use the money given to them by the Minister for Finance for the initiatives announced by the Tánaiste. We have also tried to improve access to GP services, an...

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The package we have put forward, including the provision of MRI facilities for diagnostic tests and the screening facilities in Beaumont Hospital, represent practical actions. We are trying to take action that will help the situation rather than holding a protest.

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As the Deputy knows, because he has worked with us on this over the last number of months, we have been endeavouring to deal with the outstanding issues on all the points he has raised. The first objective is to complete the work we have been involved in for several weeks in negotiating with Gama's legal advisors who are currently our only contact with the company. This is not the best way to...

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We are trying to bring resolutions to the outstanding issues and to devise an acceptable verification process in regard to the transfer of funds to the personal accounts of Gama workers. We are actively engaged in this regard. A number of employee accounts have been processed including those of the workers who have returned to Turkey. Certain issues were raised with the company last week and...

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Some 118 workers were involved in the first instance and approximately 100 in the second. We are endeavouring to make progress in this matter and it will be helpful to put the matter to the Labour Relations Commission. We have no problem taking the actions suggested by the Deputy in trying to assist the verification process. However, it is an industrial relations issue and must be dealt with...

Leaders' Questions. (27 Apr 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I understand the welfare issue is under consideration. I hope the company will not dare to evict those workers on stoppage for whom it provides food and accommodation. I have already made that position clear to the legal representatives of the company, and I do so again here today. Such actions would not be acceptable. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment is involved on a daily...