Results 1,481-1,500 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The amount spent by my Department on Travel and Subsistence in the first nine months of 2007 is €442,220 compared to total spend of €541,393 for same period in 2006. This shows a reduction of total expenditure in this Subhead of €99,173 in 2007 compared to 2006 for the months January to September.

Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Time and again we have provided additional resources for more staff. I totally reject Deputy Gilmore's view that the health service in this country is inferior to what it was a decade ago because that implies the 30,000 additional staff, along with the 90,000 already there, are, in some way, not doing their job. They do their job well but I am not in this House to say every member of the...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. As the Deputies will be aware, the matter of Dáil reform is essentially one for the House which, under the Constitution, has responsibility for making its own rules and Standing Orders. While the Government parties are committed to progressing any commitments contained in the programme for Government, it is ultimately the...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with Deputy Kenny on two points and I am aware of the Ceann Comhairle's efforts to progress reform issues. There is an agenda to which I am open and ready to move on. We could do a lot to improve how we run the House even within the existing hours. Recently I looked at the figures for last year. With Leaders' Questions, Question Time, the Order of Business and the Adjournment...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin will appreciate that we have always tried to introduce Dáil reforms based on agreement. That is necessary if new structures are to work satisfactorily and not be a source of division in the House. Everything we do is aimed at improving the way we do our business. It is obvious that every party has made an input into the reform process. I have been amused by some of the...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If I were in here all the time, I would have nothing to answer questions about — I would not be outside doing my work. It is logical, I have to go outside the House to do some work so I can then come in here and answer questions about it.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Some people do not understand that I have to be actually doing something to be able to answer questions on it.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That is what I spend the other 80 hours a week doing. We have examined the proposals which have been made by various parties about the d'Hondt method and other issues. Deputy Ó Caoláin asked a specific question on the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. My view on this issue has not changed. I did not write the all-party report, but I agree with it. The...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Ask me again.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has made many suggestions. I am not averse to these issues being discussed between the Whips and in the committees which are examining new arrangements which may be agreed on Dáil reform. Deputy Ó Caoláin would have to acknowledge that the rules of the House have achieved a fair balance regarding Question Time and questions to the Taoiseach. I have been present in the...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: That was out of a total of 166 Deputies.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Is 22 one third of 166?

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am here to answer questions. If I were on the opposite side of the House I would probably be far more aggrieved. Twenty-two Deputies out of a total of 166 were given speaking time whereas other Deputies from the major parties were squeezed and needed two minutes of shared time in order to make a contribution while 22 Deputies were given more than one third of the speaking time.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am just speaking honestly. I have been in the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery in many parliaments and I do not think there is a parliamentary system that would give the same amount of time and representation as is given in this House. Far from being aggrieved, the Deputy should come in here every morning and thank the system that is so kind to him.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will do so through the committee system.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It would be unfair of me not to acknowledge that Deputy Stagg has been working on this matter for a very long time.

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I had experience of his good work in the past. I worked on the issue of Dáil reform a long time ago with Deputies Stagg and Barrett and former Deputy Mervyn Taylor and others. I agree there should be a dedicated television channel. I am not sure what is involved but I have spoken to the Chief Whip and he supports the proposal. I told the new joint administrative committee that a...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We have a concept here that if the House is sitting the whole infrastructure and architecture of the House has to be present. There is no reason we cannot discuss a report here on a Friday or a Monday but it should not have to require the whole structure and formality of the House. As long as we continue to do that we will never get it right. I will have been dead 100 years and it will not...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Maybe there needs to be some, but I have been very forthcoming in assisting RTE over the years in a very healthy package of a licence fee and for public service broadcasting. If showing the Oireachtas and its relevant committees is not public service broadcasting, I give up totally. If the idea is to cost the project and put it back on to us, that is not very bright. I was in here on...

Dáil Reform. (7 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is not a difficulty with that. Perhaps the committee could be televised because it is a good committee on which much dedicated work is put in by people on all sides of the House. I do not have a problem with providing some dedicated time. To reply to Deputy Stanton, I defend the House as entirely interesting viewing on television, as against much of the other tripe on TV. Other than...