Results 3,661-3,680 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They are Department of Education and Science facts which should have been included in a programme that was looking at the issue. I accept that——

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that there is a plan outlined to 2011 which means that we must get up to 1,800 posts. The plan was published last January. A total of 400 of these people have been taken on this year. We must establish eight additional teams this year. We know there are service inadequacies. It is not true that these have not been set out. They are being published in a report. The tribunal was...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Ceann Comhairle is very familiar with this issue. Deputy Higgins's quotation was correct in that I agree with my Senator colleague who stated we should not close any of the services in Monaghan General Hospital until we provide better services in the region. That is what he said and that is the position. I met the Monaghan action group, the staff and some of the general practitioners...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It has set down the services it believes it will keep in the longer term.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is a period of several years.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have talked to Professor Drumm and senior individuals in the HSE and they have said clearly and put it in writing, having attended the meetings in Monaghan, that the existing services will not be closed until a better service is available.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I know Deputy Connolly has been arguing the point for a long time. HSE officials attended meetings in Monaghan and met the Oireachtas Members. They have said they will not close any service until they provide a better one elsewhere in the region.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is what they have said.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I can only quote what they have said.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They have given an undertaking on foot of that position. It is only where there is an issue of safety, in respect of which I mentioned the 15 patients per annum who pass through the high dependency unit, that patients will be treated elsewhere. I honestly believe——

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——that everybody, on both sides, rather than having a go at each other, albeit through legitimate protest, would be far better off if they set down to discuss what both sides are saying to try to reach agreement on the matter. The more it is talked up, the more difficulties will be created, and the problem will not be resolved. The Teamwork Management Services report, commissioned by...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I honestly believe that if there were calmness——

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The objective is to ensure a quality, safe health service will be provided for the people of County Monaghan. This is what it should be about and I hope it is.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If each side calmed down and listened to what the other was saying, we should be able to reach a solution. I have read the statements of both sides and they are not that far apart.

EU Summits. (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive, together. On 20 October I attended the informal meeting of EU Heads of State or Government in Lahti, Finland and the working dinner that followed with the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin. The meeting in Lahti was not a full European Council and did not, therefore, adopt formal conclusions. However, it provided a...

EU Summits. (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There were three questions on non-proliferation. We were disappointed and spoke quite clearly about the lack of progress to date. We are one of the countries that has pushed this issue recently and we have reiterated the Irish position. It was not discussed at the Lahti meeting and it will not be discussed at next week's meeting. It has been discussed at the General Affairs and External...

EU Summits. (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In respect of the first matter, extraordinary rendition was not discussed at the recent meetings. It was raised this time last year by the Minister for Foreign Affairs at the General Affairs and External Affairs Council. The EU wrote to the Americans. Following this, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, visited Europe and gave assurances. I reported on the previous meeting on St....

EU Summits. (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first questions, the matter was not discussed at the meeting of the European Council. The Parliament's compromise and the modification to which it has agreed have moved on and have received strong support in the Parliament.

EU Summits. (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have the second highest, if not the highest, minimum wage. The legislation we had worked out with the social partners is under preparation. The first part of it was put to the Government today. Separate units are working on two other parts and we are committed to the arrangements we came to. I hope the services directive will find its way into the various policy initiatives by the...

Written Answers — Office of the Attorney General: Office of the Attorney General (28 Nov 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 to 169, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to my replies to Written Questions No. 132 to 136 from Deputy Rabbitte on 5 July 2006, Written Question No. 221 from Deputy Gormley on 27 September and Written Questions Nos. 177 and 178 from Deputy Sargent on 14 November. It is not the practice of the Office to identify the drafters of individual Acts of...