Results 4,161-4,180 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Tribunals of Inquiry. (24 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, together. The total cost incurred by my Department in respect of the Moriarty tribunal from 1997 until 30 September 2006 is €25,232,028. This includes fees paid to counsel for the tribunal and administration costs incurred since its establishment. The total payments made to the legal team were €19,310,119 by 30 September 2006. The...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (24 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will deal with the questions in so far as I can. The end date for the Moriarty tribunal is, for the applicability of proposed new costs structures to the existing tribunals or Moriarty tribunal, end 2007, because that was the date given back at that stage. As I reported to the House previously, there were to be two reports, one in autumn and one in January. That is still my information...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (24 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the other question, there were issues of fees for the other tribunals. The Morris tribunal date was the end of October 2007 and the Mahon tribunal was 31 March 2007. The Bill provides for the making of regulations that will apply the new schedule of fees to these tribunals. I believe that covers the Deputy's question.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. a16, statements on Northern Ireland; No. 12, Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 — motion to instruct the committee; No. 1, International Criminal Court Bill 2003 — amendments from the Seanad; No. 16, Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 17, Health (Nursing Homes)(Amendment) Bill 2006 —...

Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Early next year.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will consult with the Minister. We agreed we would do so at the appropriate time, but I will check with him.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I understand that they are within a month or two of finishing the work on this. This has proved to be a complex Bill because it dates back to all the old charitable bequests and donations and regulations that were built up. It is also one that creates much heat around many bodies on both sides of the argument around the country.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The heads of the Bill have been approved. The work is going ahead but it has been a complex Bill. They hope to have it at the beginning of the new year for the spring session.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is obvious that there is considerable demand to bring it forward again. I will consider that.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform informs me that he has examined those issues. There is not a legal problem about us debating reports and we hope to have an early debate on the Morris, Nally and Barr tribunals with the agreement of the Whips.

Northern Ireland Issues: Statements (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to share my time with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The two Governments and the Northern Ireland political parties met last week between 11 and 13 October at St. Andrews in Scotland. Following intensive and complex negotiations, Prime Minister Blair and I published what we believe represents a way forward for the restoration of the political...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In the meantime, we must face the reality that we are importing most of our gas. If we had it ourselves, it would be different. The Government recognises that the Deloitte & Touche report which we recently published points to the need for an in-depth examination of electricity providers and of the dynamics of the electricity sector. We have stated that we recognise the fundamental role...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The accusations Deputy Ó Caoláin made about a certain company have been denied by it. We have had private medicine in this country since the second half of the 17th century. I understand it was introduced by Dean Jonathan Swift and it has developed ever since.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is incorrect to say private health care is only now being introduced.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin objects to the proposal that private beds available only for private use in public hospitals should be replaced by public beds for the use of public patients. I had expected most Members, particularly Deputy Ó Caoláin, to see the significant benefit in having all public beds in public hospitals available fully and exclusively for public use. I thought that was a...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Health and Children will provide these private beds on the same campuses as public hospitals at half the cost of the conventional provision of new beds and in a far shorter timeframe. This means we will have a better mix of health care. It is a progressive approach and will accommodate more public patients. I also take this opportunity to point out the significant increases...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are now 1,500 more beds in the public system than when I was elected Taoiseach.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has asked the questions, and perhaps I will be able to answer them. There are now 1,500 more beds in the system. The Deputy is incorrect to say that such sites are given away. They are not given away. They are either purchased or leased and provide good quality facilities. In many cases, the State can buy those services under the National Treatment Purchase Fund, from which...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have removed private beds from public hospitals and put them into it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Compared with September 2005, the average number of patients awaiting admission to accident and emergency departments is down by approximately 50%. The Deputy makes the point that we should be putting more resources into the public system. We have increased the amount allocated from approximately €3 billion to over €12 billion and increased staffing levels by 50%. We have a substantial...