Results 1,561-1,580 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Every unit of the health service in the country looks for additional modern technology every day of the week. I am not denying that. We cannot provide it everywhere.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We need to provide them in centres of excellence where we have multidisciplinary teams. Let us be frank about it, when one is ill one wants the best service and the best teams and it is not about where one has it. That is what we should be moving to in this country.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As I understand it, the hospital in Portlaoise was not to be the centre.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I am doing my best to answer questions. I have been given quite a lot of facts on this but I think it is best that those facts are put into a detailed report by the consultant, Ann O'Doherty, who is an eminent person and that is fair to everybody. She is actively engaged in putting that report together.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the final question, it was a decision of the section of the HSE which appoints consultants. I presume it is pending Ann O'Doherty's inquiry. The 70 consultants taken on in recent years are all in place as are their departments. The problem is that they are too scattered. The Deputy is correct that the provision of centres of excellence has not worked and we are all aware of why that is...

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Please.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: At present, it is being rolled out in counties Cork, Galway and Roscommon. We have provided additional funding this year, as we did over the past number of years, so the national cancer screening service can meet its additional costs. The full complement of 111 staff for the roll-out has been approved and the Minister has made almost €30 million available this year for capital funding....

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I understand we will have a debate on the matter tomorrow.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 11, Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 12, Charities Bill 2007 — Second Stage (resumed). Private Members' business shall be No. 22, motion re Irish emigrants in the United States of America.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It was debated last week in this House and I answered questions on it then. I am not aware of a Supplementary Estimate. I am disappointed that Deputy Bruton says he does not feel senior officers in local authorities, the HSE and the Judiciary should receive their increases.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If it is the same issue, I understand it is being discussed within the Department and the Civil Registration Office. I have not yet received a report on the matter.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have the order.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill will provide a statutory underpinning for Eirgrid plc to build its own east-west electricity interconnector. The analysis of that is under way in the Department but there is no date set, as yet, for the legislation.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I understand consultations have been taking place.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not think legislation is promised in the area to which the Deputy refers. The Tánaiste stated that there was a small group of people that could have been disenfranchised. As I understand it, it is the other way around. The ordinary citizen has this right but somebody along the way decided that a politician should not have the right and the legislation was corrected to give...

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is due next year.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Bill is due in 2008.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We cannot do any of that until the actual agreement is signed. As soon as it is signed, we will move ahead quickly.

Task Force on Active Citizenship. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I accept what Deputy Ó Caoláin said that in times past, and perhaps at present, public liability costs and premiums regarding difficulties around claims in playgrounds, halls and parish halls and boards of management not making facilities available have created a lot of problems for organisations. Given the efforts over the past four or five years, thankfully premiums are substantially...

Task Force on Active Citizenship. (6 Nov 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that there can be delays in the vetting process. Full-time public servants get priority. Applicants for positions in the Garda, the Army, the teaching sector and the public service get precedence. Even then there can be delays in the system. Community activists are not given the same level of priority. Many of the delays which are encountered can be attributed to the lack of...