Results 6,381-6,400 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We hear about them every day.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is not acceptable to refuse to acknowledge that significant resources are being invested in the health system by the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive, under the guidance of the Tánaiste. It is well-known in the hospitals system that officials in the HSE and the Department are working every day to improve the system. A number of priority projects, most of...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They are continuing.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am well aware of the difficulties for staff in accident and emergency units. Like Deputy Kenny, I was in the accident and emergency department in the Mater Hospital last Monday. I am sure he forgot to mention that a new 33 bed ward was just opened adjacent to the department to help people.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is 33 new beds. I hope we do not get to a situation when we open facilities in St. Vincent's Hospital, in Blanchardstown, in St. James's Hospital, and 33 beds in the Mater Hospital, that every bit——

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: When we fully staff the hospitals, take on 24 additional accident and emergency consultants, take 1,500 people out of acute beds and when we have an elderly day care package, I hope that is not considered to be nothing. The money is being spent on those facilities.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To try to claim that nothing is happening on these issues is incorrect. There are pressures and there is no doubt about that.

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We know that and we see it every day. We have introduced an initiative to create 1,000 new public beds by having the private sector build private hospitals on sites of public hospitals and that is helping. We put in funding for 900 inpatient beds in acute hospitals and that is having an effect. We put in facilities to improve patient flow and we obtained extra staff in almost every accident...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The programmes are useful and are good examples of public service broadcasting. There is no doubt about that. I also think the recent work of the Stardust relatives committee has been good. The first part of that work was examined by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda Síochána and the Forensic Science Laboratory. They concluded, following expert analysis, that...

Leaders' Questions. (15 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The recommendations on the fire safety issues were made in 1982. I will not answer for all the policy initiatives from 1982, but more recently an implementation group considered these initiatives and I understand the group has considered the issue of the authority. I cannot say why that did not happen for 20 years. It was decided at the time not to go down that road but more recently the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Staff in my Department can join the Civil Service travel pass scheme at any time during the year. Applications are processed monthly.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and Nos. 226 together. There are no proposals to decentralise any part of my Department or any of the bodies under its aegis. None of the officers at assistant secretary level in my Department has expressed an interest in decentralising.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The non-Civil Service advisers who are employed by my Department are as follows: Name Title Salary 2005* â'¬ Gerry Hickey Programme manager and special adviser 203,014 Gerard Howlin Special adviser 120,117 Úna Claffey Special adviser 120,117 Brian Murphy Special adviser 90,753 Katherine Bulbulia Programme manager to Tánaiste 142,108 John...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The 150th Anniversary of the Great Famine was commemorated by the Government in 1995. I am satisfied that the Famine is commemorated on an ongoing basis in many different ways. For example, in the Cobh Heritage Centre, in Rowan Gillespie's Famine memorial at Custom House Quay and in many other localities. In addition, in the context of State and official visits to countries with large Irish...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Since the mid-1990s, the Office of the Attorney General has prepared, and updated on an ongoing basis, an electronic Irish Statute Book, which includes the full text of all Acts, statutory instruments and chronological tables published since 1922 on its website. The office has also published the Statute Book in CD-ROM format. The website gives the documentation up to the end of 2003 and the...

Order of Business. (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 1, the Building Control Bill 2005 — order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted on the adjournment of Private Members' business, which shall be No. 42, motion re rent supplement, which shall be taken for 90 minutes at 7...

Order of Business. (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The nursing homes legislation is still on target for this session. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is co-ordinating his specialised area and is attending Cabinet meetings. I gave a reply last week on the Martin report, and subject to correction I believe I stated it would be available later this month. I will check that. I did not hear anything regarding the translation.

Order of Business. (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The nursing home legislation is complex. It has taken some time to resolve the legal issues, but the legislation is on track and will be available this session. With regard to the Garda reserve, legislation is not listed. Ministers made statements but I cannot recall if it will require legislation. The Minister is going ahead with his proposals.

Order of Business. (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will have to check.

Order of Business. (14 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation will be taken this year.