Results 1,461-1,480 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There was no report before the previous two reports and the reason we wanted to tackle the hygiene problem in hospitals was that there were no benchmarks. There was no league table to help us examine the health service and enforce standards. The point I made on my first intervention was that the method of assessment and criteria used in this report are substantially different from and more...

Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will try to answer as many of the Deputy's questions as possible. In June, the Minister for Health and Children approved the national quality assurance standards for symptomatic breast disease services under the Health Act. The aim of the standards is to ensure that every woman who develops breast cancer has an equal opportunity to be treated in a centre that is capable of delivering the...

Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Professor Keane will take over the entire budget. Every year we have allocated more resources, both in capital and on the current side. Much of this relates to staff. Last week I may have said 120 consultants were taken on, but 111 consultants have been taken on. The problem is these consultants are spread about in the system. It is important to emphasise that the decision to reorganise...

Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 6, motion re Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006; No. 7, motion re Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005 [Seanad]; No. 8, motion re Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006; No. 9, motion re Control of Exports Bill 2007; No. 10, motion re Passports Bill 2007; and No. 2, Local Government (Roads Functions) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage....

Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There are no Supplementary Estimates. I said previously that I would like to hold the two referendums on the one day if possible; the timing is a matter to be discussed by party leaders. We face a challenge in dealing with this and when it should be. It must be some time in the summer or early autumn because it must be ratified by 2008. We have a calendar year to deal with the issue. It...

Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Someone asked me about this two or three weeks ago and I stated that as soon as the European boundaries and the Oireachtas boundaries were changed, the Minister would immediately commence work on the local electoral areas. There will certainly be revision and the Department will start the process of alteration.

Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It could take at least six months.

Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: To do what?

Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Unfortunately, I am not doing it myself. I am telling the House what I have been told.

Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the defamation legislation, we are proceeding with that Bill and the other Bill is before the Seanad.

Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Three or four Departments are involved — the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Environment, Heritage and Local Government and at least two others. I am not sure what the situation is but they are working on it; the Deputy should put down a parliamentary question, but we intend to bring forward legislation.

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As Deputy Gilmore is aware, that is not the case. Social partnership has been tremendously successful in avoiding unnecessary disputes but has not eliminated them. As I noted earlier, while I deplore the hardship that has been inflicted on the travelling public as a result of the dispute, I recognise that legitimate issues are involved. It is not for me to call an industrial dispute. This...

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not think there are currently any plans to ask for intervention. However, I take the opportunity to say that I understand both the position of the company and of the union. The company put its case through the conciliation process and the Labour Court and received an adjudication. That said, I have listened to some senior bus workers who said they had particular understandings of how...

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Time will not allow me answer all of those questions. Generally, I support implementation of the employment rights and compliance agenda agreed under Towards 2016. The Deputy is aware that several issues arise in that regard. There was a Supreme Court decision earlier in the year which created difficulties for the trade unions. That matter is under discussion by trade unions, employers...

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. Since the inaugural plenary meeting on 15 February 2007, several meetings have taken place with the social partners in relation to the implementation of Towards 2016. I attended and addressed the ICTU biennial conference on 4 July at which I emphasised the basis for confidence in Ireland's economic outlook while, at the same time,...

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the regulatory situation, the Department of Transport has received union agreement in recent years on the issuing of additional licences, especially for new routes. We have not started issuing licences and creating competition on existing routes but there are many new services. The total liberalisation of the market, which would open it to competition, is under ongoing consideration but...

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There are three questions. With regard to the first, I will raise the issue of CIE with the Minister for Transport. I know discussions have been ongoing and the unions, management and the Department have made progress in liberalising the regime with regard to the relevant Act and having a more open way of giving licences for new routes and areas. They have not fully liberalised the market...

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It would be interesting to write an article comparing them.

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It would not be hard for a member of the media to write a glowing article about how poverty-stricken we are compared to other countries. I suppose I will have to wait for that. The review body discounted the comparable salaries in the private sector by 15% to reflect the value of public service increases. I would gladly forego the increase to a future date, as happened before, if I believed...

Social Partnership. (13 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On FÁS, I totally agree that the updating of skills will be a major part of the future of industry. That has been highlighted in many reports. In the national development plan a huge amount has been set aside for the upskilling of the existing workforce. We have a large workforce and this year has been a good year for manufacturing industry. Some other sectors may have been under...