Results 581-600 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The crux of the matter is that the wholesale margin in this country is more than double that found in any other country in Europe, including Northern Ireland. We must work to find a solution, which we have been doing. It is an enormous margin. I will not get into the side issue. This is simply a statement of fact. The Minister wants to agree a contract, which must be done. I said again...

Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I urge the sides to lower the temperature, agree the contract and then allow the Minister to look at the fees element. I am only stating a fact. I am not trying to upset——

Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It is not a case of putting the cart before the horse. One cannot negotiate a fee with somebody if one has no arrangement. Let us not be unreasonable about this. It does not seem an unreasonable position for the sides to take and they should consider it.

Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: This Government has done more than probably any government in Europe in respect of low pay. We were the first government in Europe to bring in a minimum wage. We have progressively improved that, in conjunction with the Labour Court, employers and workers. We have removed the workers from the tax net, which has had a significant effect. In respect of the two issues mentioned by Deputy...

Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We are anxious to progress the legislation. The Minister has completed two of the Bills. He has been in consultation with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. He wants to bring the legislation to fruition in a way that addresses aspects not in Towards 2016, but that arose subsequently. The Government supports the legislation. I explained the issue of agency workers in detail to the House...

Written Answers — Energy Consumption: Energy Consumption (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Electricity and gas supplies to Government Buildings/Leinster House are metered through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The actual quantity of electricity consumed by my Department is unavailable, as until recently the supply was not separately metered. The Office of Public Works are currently in the process of implementing proposals for a new energy centre for the complex, the details of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The information sought by the Deputy concerning appointments made by me to the boards of public bodies during my term of Office as Taoiseach is set out in the schedule. The relevant bodies are the National Statistics Board, the Law Reform Commission, the National Economic and Social Development Office, the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, the National Economic and Social...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: There are no agency workers employed by my Department. Two agencies for which my Department has responsibility currently employ one agency worker each.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: No disks, laptops or memory storage devices containing personal information about members of the public have been lost or stolen from my Department.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: No agency attached to my Department has reported the loss or theft of any disks, laptops or memory storage devices.

Written Answers — Cabinet Committees: Cabinet Committees (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Cabinet Committee on Housing, Infrastructure and PPPs last met on 12 December, 2007. It meets as necessary, which is normally every two to three months. The next meeting is scheduled for 12 March, 2008.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: No persons from my Department have been dismissed from the Civil Service since the provisions of the Civil Service Regulation Act, 2005 were introduced.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I attach a schedule which contains details of travel and subsistence payments to civil servants from 2002 to end of December 2007. The figures include payments for home and foreign travel and mileage. Year Travel and Subsistence â'¬ 2002 69,930.32 2003 46,463.60 2004 51,684.18 2005 62,949.58 2006 77,610.68 2007 86,808.16 Total 395,446.52

Order of Business (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It will be in the next session.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Legislation is due and it is an important issue. In late 2006 and early 2007 the Law Reform Commission published a consultation paper on the multi-unit developments. It drew attention to the broad range of issues of governance and operation of the developments. It is complex because it involves more than one area. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform chairs a Cabinet...

Order of Business (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: This session.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have a date for the pharmacy Bill. The health Bill will be dealt with in this session.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will check whether it is an issue for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission or, as Deputy Barrett indicated, the Department. If it is a departmental issue I will ask the Minister to try to clear whatever blockage is there.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I will check that.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Broadcasting Bill will be before the House shortly.