Results 6,481-6,500 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first issue, in fairness to the social partners, while the national implementation body held numerous meetings during the round, there were not that many breaches. By and large, people stuck to the terms of the agreement and there was good compliance with it. However, my Department is undertaking an examination of the effects of progress on a number of areas, which will be ready...

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the sale of assets, the Government has a position on this aspect and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions put forward a position paper on the sale of assets which, I have no doubt, will be discussed during the social partnership talks. On atypical workers, I am aware of that initiative. The issue has not yet come up in the talks but it will come up. I am aware of the position for actors,...

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am not aware of the position regarding the CIE lands at the back of the Great Southern Hotel in Eyre Square. I understand that CIE proposes to develop further the station and its own site. If it is selling it off, I presume it will just sell the parts it does not want, but I am not aware it is selling the land.

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: To the best of my knowledge, there is not, but I will ask about the matter. I heard the Chairman of CIE, Mr. John Lynch, say that it wants to extend the station in Galway, which I favour. On social housing, there is a clear line between what is private housing, the affordable housing initiative and social housing. There is no transfer option in this regard. Under the social partnership...

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Social housing is a separate issue. It is a matter for the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, but I am not mixing up the two figures.

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In the 1970s and early 1980s, when we were building far more social housing, hardly any houses were built in the private sector. The equivalent figure was approximately 20,000.

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The key issue for Ireland in regard to the draft services directive is to ensure that we strike the right balance between removing obstacles to the realisation of a single European market in services, which we favour, while upholding the integrity of national traditions in the area of social partnership, industrial relations and dispute resolution practice, not least ensuring that established...

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I correct the Deputy in that the decision was taken by the board of the Great Southern Hotel Group.

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The board reported to the board of the Dublin Airport Authority, which fully supports and endorses the decision. The Deputy is correct that the staff in these hotels are excellent. I hope the interests of staff are protected in the negotiations and the sale. There are top quality staff in these hotels who are forever moving to greater things. The problem in the Deputy's constituency is trying...

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Then I will rephrase it. Many of them move to better paid jobs in hotels in the private sector in other parts of Deputy Moynihan-Cronin's constituency.

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That has been happening all the time. The Ceann Comhairle knows that.

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are.

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am telling the Deputy that I have an interest in seeing——

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy answers her own question there is no point in me trying to answer it.

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I hope that the key hotels in the group, that we both know, will do much better than is the case at present. We are already aware that they are looking at forming strategic alliances and partnerships to try to develop the sites. They can do much better. Even at the height of the season last year it was disappointing to see that they were only on 40% occupancy. We all know that is not...

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: In the period of the previous programme, 40 different documents, including quarterly and sectoral documents, were laid before this House. I, and most other Ministers, answer questions daily on social partnership.

Social Partnership. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The National Economic and Social Forum comprises public representatives who are the overseers of the various documents that come about through social partnership. It is not correct to say that there is no direct involvement by this House in the social partnership process. It is right that there should be. On the pay end, the Government acts as employer, the trade unions act as negotiators and...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I said in reply to Deputy Kenny previously, no one can be happy when anyone is killed on our roads. I agree that every road tragedy is a huge loss to a family, a community and a neighbourhood. The rise in road deaths figures over the recent period is a cause of huge regret. A range of measures is under way. I have been involved in a series of relevant meetings recently, and over the years....

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We are the first Government to have a national safety strategy and most of the issues mentioned by Deputy Kenny in regard to training, young people receiving reports and gardaí visiting them all happen. I will go back over what is taking place because the Government is not sitting back. We are introducing measures to reduce driver test waiting times and we have made a critical contribution...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Transport has announced a further 31 penalty point offences, which will bring the total number to 35. We are establishing a road safety authority and bringing forward a Bill to provide private speed cameras. Cameras must be properly located at accident black spots. A new system must be designed to save lives, not raise revenues. A point was made in this House in recent weeks...