Results 8,701-8,720 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (11 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte seems not to be asking me a question but to be making a statement. The Travers report is a comprehensive examination of all the facts. The report is being examined comprehensively before a joint oireachtas committee and people are giving their evidence. Deputy Rabbitte knows many of the issues he raises are dealt with fully in the report. The Deputy wants to make a political...

Leaders' Questions. (11 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I endeavoured to respond seriously to what Deputies Kenny and Rabbitte raised in regard to nursing home charges and to state that we are trying to deal with the issue in a comprehensive way. I know Deputy Rabbitte really wants to talk about the Travers report. I cannot rewrite the Travers report, so there is no point getting into it. I will not get into the arguments. Deputy Rabbitte is...

Leaders' Questions. (11 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If it had been sorted out a year ago, it might have cost €800 million as opposed to €850 million. That is not the point. The fact is that from 1976 when the late and great Brendan Corish was Minister for Health, problems arose as a result of this. Several Ministers from both sides of the House were involved since. We must solve what the Supreme Court said. Throwing the issue around and...

Leaders' Questions. (11 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Government continues to work long and hard with the disability groups. As I said several times previously, no other Bill with which I have been involved over 20 years has taken so much time, effort and consultation. Deputy Ó Caoláin is wrong to say the Government set up the consultation group. The consultation group was involved when the Bill was being prepared over the past three or...

Leaders' Questions. (11 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have explained that at length to the group. I do not believe I will live to see a Minister include such a provision in a Bill. Members are telling people they should keep pushing for something which has never happened since the foundation of the State and which is unlikely to happen this side of the year 4000. I have received letters stating this has happened in Canada and America. It has...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Appointments to statutory boards under the aegis of my Department are subject to the relevant legislation governing the establishment of the board. In considering a person's suitability for appointment to such boards, regard would be given to a range of factors, including individual expertise and any known, or potential, conflict of interest. Under the Ethics in Public Office Act, normal...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I reported to the House on the meeting in question, including orally on 19 November 2003, when there were substantive exchanges. In that regard, I refer the Deputy to the official published report of that date. I do not propose to go beyond what I have already stated clearly and dealt with comprehensively in this House. As the Deputy will be aware, ministerial responsibility for the matters...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are no European directives awaiting full implementation in my Department.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will travel to Warsaw on 17 May for the Third Summit of the Council of Europe.

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: A limited amount of resources to mark certain historically significant events has been made available through the commemoration initiatives fund, which is administered by my Department. No decision has yet been made in the context of the Estimates for 2006 as to the amount of funding that will be available for events next year. All applications will be considered in that context.

Order of Business. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If Deputy Rabbitte is asking me whether Deputies Howlin and Noonan, Mr. Haughey, Mr. MacSharry and others want to be invited before the committee, that is a matter for the committee and I am sure the people will answer.

Order of Business. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I know that as far as previous committees in this House are concerned, former Taoisigh have taken a position. There is a recent precedent where one stated that he was out of the House and would not deal with it. However, I will not get into that issue.

Order of Business. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The employment permits Bill is due to be taken in this session. As to the other matter, I am not aware if it requires legislation.

Order of Business. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It was discussed by the Cabinet. The commission will publish the report.

Programmes for Government. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I knew he appointed additional inspectors. I thought the figure was 20. I accept those numbers. I accept the labour inspectorate must be vigilant in this area. The inspectorate deals with complaints from the public, the trade union movement and from employees. It is always looking for additional staff and resources but it is still a good unit. In the case of Gama, as soon as it was brought to...

Programmes for Government. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes. They argued it would be useful if agencies such as CERT, the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court were all brought together and that it would resolve issues of competitiveness or that fed from competitiveness. I believe I was the last Minister for Labour and many years have passed since that change was made. At the time, it was strongly argued that the change was both...

Programmes for Government. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Which tax did the Deputy have in mind?

Programmes for Government. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Sargent is correct in saying the national climate change strategy is being reviewed. I raised this issue before in the context of the plan for some environmental groups to form part of one of the pillars of social partnership. I have no difficulty with that. The response of the environmental groups in question was that the sustainable development group, to which many of these groups...

Programmes for Government. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will not argue with the Deputy because I am not involved, however, that was the reply I was given at the time. I will raise that issue again but I think there was a desire on the part of the environmental groups in question to hold on to that mechanism rather than be swamped in a bigger group where they might receive a limited amount of time. I will ask for an update on the issue but that...

Programmes for Government. (10 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I care about the issue.