Results 4,081-4,100 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister informs me that he has arranged a meeting with Kerry County Council in two weeks.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is too early to make a judgment on that matter. The position in the talks was that one party wanted to have an election. Other parties did not want an election or a referendum. If the issue came down to having to have an election — the larger parties would have the right to seek it and the other parties would accept that — and a larger party wanted it, I believe the two larger...

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: With regard to the first question, work is continuing on those proposals. As regards the Forestry (Amendment) Bill, a comprehensive review of this sector, including potential legislative implications, commenced in the latter half of 2005. A consultative group representing all the stakeholders has concluded its evaluation and is to meet again shortly to finalise matters. If that happens, it...

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There is no legislation promised. The Minister said he is seeking advice from legal representatives and others as to what is possible on that matter.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: A debate on the report should be discussed by the Whips. It is a good report and would be worthy of discussion.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is not proceeding as present. A Supreme Court decision has implications for it.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the sale of alcohol Bill, to codify the law on the sale and consumption of alcohol, have been approved and it was sent for drafting some time ago. It is due to be published in the spring session. The heads of alcohol products (control of advertising, sponsorship and marketing practices/sales promotions) Bill have been approved. However, voluntary agreements were reached with...

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The point is——

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——that if I honestly believed that passing legislation would solve all our problems, we would not bother with the code of practice. If we can encourage the industry to press forward with its advertising campaign which stresses people's responsibility, it would probably have far more effect. Young people are unlikely to read the various sections of the legislation as they engage in...

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Legislation is not required in this regard. The Government will have to come to a decision on the other aspects of the report. The three wise men have indicated that we should not delay too long in respect of this issue because it is of major importance to the entire salmon industry.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date for the publication of the enforcement of fines Bill.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Both are due to be published in this session.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That depends on time constraints. Both should be published this session.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are spending almost €13 billion on the health service, a major proportion of which is going into new developments every year.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Large amounts of that expenditure are going into projects to improve the quality of service for the public at every level. That is not to take away from the efforts of those engaged in charitable fundraising acts, which have always happened in this country. The PPARS system has been implemented in six Health Service Executive areas so I am surprised that Deputy Kenny is asking us to stop...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have already stated who is in charge of the programme, namely the national director of shared services. Deputy Kenny can quote from the report but I will give a more balanced interpretation. The Astron report states that PPARS is working quite well in some areas but that overall disappointment exists at what is being delivered. That is what I said one year ago. It confirms that any...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We do need a unified system. It would have been great if the information technology experts working on this system had been able to get it right on day one.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They have completed a substantial part of the work and payrolls and rosters in six areas have been agreed. They ran into the fact that conditions, rosters and terms differed among health boards. In the old system, we did not even know how many people were working for the health boards.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is why we established the Health Service Executive, why we are now getting value for money and are able to implement a better programme and why this Government has been successful in developing a proper integrated health system——

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——that has reduced waiting times for patients, improved the numbers of day patients and has far more staff working on frontline services. It is another credit to this Government.