Results 2,861-2,880 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is not the evidence of educationalists, people involved in sports or the scouting organisations. I accept people are addicted to drugs but let us not try to use figures for those who might have sampled drugs once in their life and accuse them of being addicted. Under the national drugs strategy, there are a number of dedicated school programmes aimed at tackling drug abuse. We should...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Government set up the Office of the Minister for Children under the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to deal with all issues affecting children in an increasingly complicated world. The issues of yesterday reinforce that point. I accept Deputy Kenny's point and, if the boards of management and the schools do not object, I have no difficulties...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: One aspect of Government policy is to increase the number of beds, which is needed. There are 52 acute hospitals and there is a problem with seven or eight, and two or three at any one time, where we require more beds so that acute hospitals can refer patients who do not require intensive care to other locations. We must deal with the bed situation, the biggest problem in the health...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Under the terms of their contracts they can do that. It works very effectively. I do not see a difficulty in that happening. In modern life to have co-location of senior staff is an enormous help.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It creates equality for public patients not inequality.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not see an extension of that being anything other than helpful. In fact what has happened recently, whether with Whitfield in Waterford, the new private hospital in Galway, or private hospitals——-

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: These hospitals are increasingly using their facilities for public patients too.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: When the Opposition Deputies do not like the argument they interrupt.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The consultants use the facilities in private hospitals for public patients. Last week I attended an event in the Mater Hospital for the arrival of new cancer equipment. This equipment is not available anywhere else on these islands, not in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It has come first to the Mater Hospital. One quarter of the patients using it will be public patients....

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will answer that question.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I apologise for not answering Deputy Rabbitte's first question. I am not aware of any contract. The Deputy can table a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health and Children. I am aware of no contract at any stage of negotiation. I am not suffering an ideological problem, but Deputy Rabbitte is.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I listened carefully to Deputy Howlin's leader can he please just give me more than ten seconds without interrupting? We have a good medical service——

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——and a good health service for public patients.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The advantage in our system is——

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The advantage in the system is that medical consultants can work in private and public hospitals. It is my absolute conviction that the public patient gains most out of that system. A high-powered consultant who has worked anywhere in the world, comes back to this country and operates in public and private hospitals in our system. The fact there is co-location on the site whereby some beds...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is a pity the Labour Party does not even know how a public hospital works in this country.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputies laugh because in their ignorance they do not understand the system.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Some of the most eminent consultants in this country, and it is not for me to argue their case because I am negotiating trying to change a contract with them but that is another point, give their service in public out-patient clinics looking after Joe and Mary Bloggs day in and day out. I would like them to do more of that and we are trying to negotiate a contract on it. Deputy Rabbitte...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If Deputy Rabbitte has announced this morning, and I believe he has, that he is opposed to it and that if he is elected his position is the current——

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have said I have no contracts.