Results 4,201-4,220 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am sure the commission will make an argument about that to the Minister, but I just want——

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: For the protection of Members of the House more than anything else, I will make my argument. I cannot see a situation where a Member would be involved in a controversy but no one would make a complaint against him or her. We know what happens. If there is any controversy, people will send in letters that the commission must examine. There would be no lack of such people among the public....

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Many of the issues raised from time to time are both mischievous and frivolous. I would like to see the counterargument. I do not see where there is a difficulty. Whenever there is a controversy many people write in complaining about this, that and the other. I get letters if a Member from either side of the House does practically anything nonsensical. Much of this is merely jumping on...

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The current ethics legislation does not define "friend". This is the point. In the absence of any clarification in the ethics legislation, the term "friend" would have the meaning normally associated with the word in every day usage and the commission previously commented that this was a complicating factor, and that is why it is an issue that must be dealt with.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the Deputy's first point, this year alone, as well as the large increases in pensions and the electricity allowances I mentioned yesterday, we have provided a large additional allocation of €150 million for services for older people. We have provided home care packages, primary and community care for older people, extended the entitlement to medical cards and put in place a range of...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I repeat there was no cover-up. As soon as news of Leas Cross came to the fore, the nursing home was closed down.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The range of issues Deputy Kenny mentioned were factual at the time.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They were closed down and dealt with. In regard to the legislation, there have been regulations since 1993 and the care and welfare regulations are addressed during inspections.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The new HIQA Bill will be in the House next month and will govern quality standards across the health service. The factual position is that the training programme for inspections teams has been developed, resources have been identified for dedicated nursing home inspection teams, and the 32 elder abuse officers are being recruited. The working group on nursing home inspections and...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte quoted parts of the Minister's statement. The Minister, however, went on to point out that he was increasing the number of units to assist the over 600,000 people who would be severely affected by the large increases in energy costs. These increases, mainly due to the price increase of gas from Russia, have been internationally imposed. Ireland imports 86% of its gas...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister did not announce those increases in the last budget but several weeks ago when it became clear the regulator, the legislation for which Deputy Rabbitte's party supported——

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte is not. It is not my role to defend the ESB or Bord Gáis Éireann, but the Deputy should be fair and at least give the factual position. BGE made a profit of €90 million last year, an increase in its profit from the previous year despite growing sales of €100 million. The CER allows BGE to make a margin of 1.3% on its gas sales, a very small percentage.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Up to 86% of our gas comes from the UK. If BGE does not receive a price increase to reflect the increase in the UK wholesale price of gas, it would have a €50 million negative impact on BGE's profit next year, over half of its annual profits from this year.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If I am being asked to undermine BGE and the ESB and damage the staff in both organisations, then let us be honest and say so.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: BGE has a debt of €1.2 billion which is the subject of strict price covenants. Breaching those covenants or downgrading BGE's credit rating would lead to large penalties and difficulties for the company. We must be honest in this argument.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: International energy costs have risen sharply. We have protected old people from them.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have to allow BGE and the ESB to be protected as companies. The Government is not going to undermine either but we will protect old people, which we have done.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In every one of its budgets, this Government has helped the less well-off significantly and over the rate of inflation.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In the past two budgets, the Minister for Finance gave exceptionally large increases to those on social welfare payments to bring them to a level discussed at the partnership talks. It is our position to continue this. For the over 630,000 people who are vulnerable and include the elderly, rather than wait until the budget we moved immediately to protect them on the calculation given by the...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Bertie Ahern: BGE's dependence on gas imported from the UK is over 86% of national requirement. It is, therefore, not possible for us to keep prices lower than the UK wholesale price.