Results 3,521-3,540 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Departmental Expenditure. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste has a programme manager who is based in my Department.

Departmental Expenditure. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No, his name is Mr. John O'Brien. He worked for the previous Tánaiste in a different capacity. My former Government press secretary is currently undertaking a different task and I do not intend to replace him. I share the work with the others.

Departmental Expenditure. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In terms of numbers, we have a small staff of advisers, contract advisers and press officers compared to what previously obtained. This is probably the biggest area of cutbacks in the public service in recent years.

Departmental Staff. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together. The number of staff broken down by grade in my private office and constituency office, in the offices of the Minister of State and Government Chief Whip and the Minister of State for European Affairs, as well the annual costs in terms of salaries and expenses of each such office are detailed in material which I propose to include in the...

Departmental Staff. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They are all civil servants. Many of the people in the private office and the constituency office are civil servants who are always seeking promotions to other areas. There is always a movement of people. I do not think there is any great change. The individual in question is a former member of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I think the person held their entitlements from...

Departmental Staff. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: My political party has had a house and an office in my constituency since the 1940s.

Departmental Staff. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Sargent's party might have a similar facility in due course. My party has moved from one office to another over the last 60 years.

Departmental Staff. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If Deputy Sargent's party were to make an effort to do likewise, it could be in exactly the same position.

Departmental Staff. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Now that Deputy Sargent has raised it, I think it is peculiar that even if one does not pay rent, one gets a form every year saying that one received the benefit of rent that one never paid. It is extraordinary. It is misleading because when people see it, they think one paid rent because one notionally declared it.

Departmental Staff. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Exactly, and then one sees a declaration that the value of it is €30,000 when there is no cost. It is totally confusing but those are the rules and I comply with them. With regard to using Oireachtas envelopes, which I did, it is totally within my entitlement — I have had a chance to check this — to distribute what is not an electoral leaflet. I was shocked that Patricia McKenna was...

Departmental Staff. (12 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I assure the Deputy I will help her out anyway.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: He doubled the disregard. Deputy Rabbitte is reading out incorrect statements.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I believe that the people deserve the best in terms of reliable and experienced leadership, capacity and hard work. In this budget, the Government has shown again why it merits the people's continuing confidence in its commitment and capacity to serve them. In framing his budget, the Minister has been aiming for an outturn which would sustain the strong performance of the economy, continue...

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 15b, motion re referral to joint committee of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996; and No. 26a, Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [2006] — motion 6 (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 4.45 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted not later than 7.30 p.m; No. 15b...

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Government Whip advises me that they are examining the issues raised by the Opposition Whips relating to next week and are trying to reschedule things. The fines Bill is due this session. It is still on target to be published this session.

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is due to be published this session, which is up to the start of the next session.

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Bill to update the Coroners Act 1962 and reform the coroners service have been drafted and approved for some time. I am told it should be due early in 2007. I will turn my mind to the other issue soon.

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Next week.

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not believe there is a need for any legislation — we have regulations. The Deputy should not discount a reduction in consumption in the order of 100 million cigarettes.

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is a fair amount of cigarettes.