Results 9,201-9,220 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Strategic Management Initiative. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not want it said that I did not answer the question. The former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, has a different view on that. I know he will come into the House tomorrow for the debate to give his view on that matter.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. a9, motion re report on certain issues of management and administration in the Department of Health and Children associated with the practice of charges for persons in long-stay care in health board institutions and related matters; No. 9a, Finance Bill 2005 — Financial Resolution; No. 17, Finance Bill 2005 — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; No. 16,...

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I will answer the questions raised by the Deputies. No. a9 is a necessary procedural motion to allow the report go to the committee. It is the advice——

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: For obvious reasons this matter has been examined very carefully. The advice was that it required a motion in the House so that the committee could publish the report. The Tánaiste briefed the members of the committee.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The motion must still be passed on the day the report is published and that is the legal advice.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is all it is even if people are trying to make something more of it. The debate will be held tomorrow. The form of that debate has been agreed. There will be statements on the report tomorrow, and perhaps when Members have studied the report there could be a further discussion in a fortnight's time. Rather than breaking up for a week, the House should have statements tomorrow. The House...

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I said there will be statements tomorrow.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I was asked two questions. No. a9 is a motion to ensure that the report is properly presented to the Members and to the committee. I understand there will be a later meeting of the committee with the Tánaiste today. There will be a debate tomorrow which can either start tomorrow and continue later or else there will be statements and the House can return to the matter when Members have...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As I informed the House yesterday, the Government gave initial consideration to the Travers report into the handling of the issue of charges by the Department of Health and Children in regard to patients in long-term care in public residential facilities since 1976, a period of 28 years. On the advice of the Attorney General, the Government decided the method of publication should be through...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This procedure is being followed for two primary reasons. First, it is in this House that issues relating to accountability and Departments are properly and correctly raised. Second, the House can adopt the report, debate its contents and authorise its public release and thus the report will constitute a publication within the provisions of Article 15.12 of the Constitution. This will ensure...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This is the legal advice of the Attorney General, used many times in the publication of such reports over the years. As I said yesterday, people should examine the report, copies of which will be given to all Oireachtas Members, and the Tánaiste will meet the Joint Committee on Health and Children to discuss it. It is a lengthy and detailed report deserving of careful consideration. It...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is always unfortunate that Opposition Members make comments on a report before they see or study it.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On many occasions we are great about talking about justice and it being seen to be done——

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——and then Members are prepared to say that a report that they have not seen or read——

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have had a chance of going through the report.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I could be totally political about this.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I could also quote references. A circular went out this morning with an instruction to come in and heckle the Taoiseach, but the public get used to that.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I could make political points and quote references made by many previous Ministers of Health if I was to be political, but that is not the issue.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This is a report dealing with important issues. We all know the basis of this decision did not have legal status. That is what happened. In 1976 when there was a High Court case we should have provided a legislative base. The then Minister for Health and the then Secretary General of the Department made a decision at that stage and produced circular 7 of 1976 and subsequently down through the...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There is no point in making political points about the people in positions in 1976 who have long since left office and everybody else who has been in positions since then.