Results 3,421-3,440 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Why, when I try to reply to Deputy Rabbitte, does the rest of his party make noise? I just want to explain to Deputy Rabbitte, who asked a good question, that it is fundamentally unfair to force a person to use his or her savings and income and I think the Deputy would agree. We are trying to design a system for the future that will make sure there are equal——

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I ask Deputies to listen.

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: People will be treated equally——

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——in all ways and while a person would make a contribution to a capped amount, it could not be taken during his or her lifetime. We could debate that point but the basis of what we are doing is to end the situation in which an old person in one part of the country is treated fundamentally differently from someone in another part of the country on the same income and in the same circumstances.

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is what we are trying to do. If we have not got every little bit of it right, we have plenty of time to legislate.

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are trying to bring prices——

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Stagg could learn if he listened. We are trying to work on a number of fronts to provide better regulated and inspected accommodation and to find better home care packages, more home care hours and better facilities for the elderly. We are going to spend €1 billion on that, while at the same time providing a system in which people can have certainty. We will have a legislative...

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Is that not a good idea?

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am aware that this problem has arisen at this time of the year, in particular, over recent years. This important issue has to be considered in this country and other countries. I do not think there is a wall of silence in this regard. At this time of year, representatives of hospitals in various parts of the country often issue statements to the national and local media, explaining that...

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are people in isolation units, such as intensive care facilities, in every one of our acute hospitals. I refer to people who have had operations in recent days, having suffered from various ailments. That is a fact. Deputy Ó Caoláin asked about isolation units and said we should have such good facilities for people with serious ailments who might be at risk of getting or spreading...

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The issue of infections which are associated with health care is an important one. Deputy Ó Caoláin's point relates to whether we can feel comfortable about the fact that people are going into hospital with certain ailments and then picking up separate infections in hospital. Nobody can defend that. The Deputy asked me a fair question about what the HSE is doing about this problem. I...

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: A Cheann Comhairle, we should make priority time for interrupters — perhaps an hour at night.

Northern Ireland Issues. (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. On 29 November, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights published its final report into the bombing of Kay's Tavern in Dundalk in 1975. This is the last of Mr. Justice Barron's reports to be considered by the committee. The findings in this report are deeply troubling and a matter of most...

Northern Ireland Issues. (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has asked a number of questions. We had a meeting at which all the points raised by the Deputy Ó Caoláin were included in a submission presented to me by the family. They give me an oral presentation of the facts and they have also been communicating with my officials. We have taken their submission in its entirety, which includes all the points the Deputy raised, and I have...

Northern Ireland Issues. (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has raised a number of issues. On the question of a planned debate, it would be useful if it took the form of a motion. It might take place in the second half of February or early March when there tends to be a focus on Irish issues in the broader world. It would be a idea to have it then. On the broad issue of closure, I have said previously to the Deputy that I am a supporter...

Northern Ireland Issues. (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte has asked me the first question a number of times. I probably told him that it was the last report, but further information came about. I can understand the delay because of that, but it will not help us if we keep going on about the issue. I hope it will end in February, but I cannot be positive about that. Our historical inquiries team is different because of the volume...

Northern Ireland Issues. (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The first report was the work of Mr. Patrick MacEntee, SC. The second report was on the 1972-73 bombings and the third was on the death of Mr. Seamus Ludlow. Then there is the current report. There is definitely strong evidence of collusion and the British Government is very much aware of our concern in this regard. The Miami Showband tragedy is one of many incidences. I spelt out...

Order of Business (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 21, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2004; No. 22, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2005; No. 6, the Social Welfare Bill...

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Again, I sympathise with the families of all of those killed in recent times, in Kilkenny last week, Dublin yesterday and as a result of the overnight gang activity on the Border. In reply to Deputy Kenny, the Government has at all times given the gardaí full resources and statutory powers to deal with this issue, particularly the gang warfare that has been going on since the summer of 2005....

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In fairness to the Garda, the Government and the House have done their job in legislative terms. The Garda has been told by the Tánaiste over the past 18 months that there is no difficulty or question about resources.