Results 1,641-1,660 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy wants to say that——

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: At least two of the Deputies had the Disability Act as a priority and we are spending €900 million on the Disability Authority. They want to see that happen for national programmes, not just for their own constituencies. They also want to see the education programme providing additional teachers and dealing with forms of autism.

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: These issues are being put forward by the Deputies and the Government takes account of their views to try to prioritise some of the issues. In the case of Deputy Healy-Rae, he said on the record of the House that within the national development plan and Transport 21 he wanted to prioritise some road projects.

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We must take cognisance of some of these issues. Therefore it is not in any way useless or meaningless. It gives them an opportunity to highlight some of these issues. I would like to think that every single aspect of the national development plan, the programme for Government or Transport 21 would be fulfilled but realistically it is not always easy to get every single thing done. The...

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I assure the Deputy that I have never had, and am unlikely ever to have, any influence over the national broadcaster which would probably not publish something positive about me but will publish something negative. I have very little influence over it. What I would have said the week before a court case would have had no relevance. I did not know that the case was coming on. What was...

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I appreciate that Deputy Kenny accepts what I say is the position. In all her discussions Deputy Flynn was more interested in the programme for Government which includes cancer strategies and such issues. She was concerned for the west of Ireland but also wanted to see that there would be proper resources and allocations made to the broad areas of health and education. She did not get into...

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is no secrecy about these issues. The Deputies by and large have published and spoken about them. The House votes on public expenditure under the departmental Votes whenever anything is done about these issues. The Deputies have raised national issues that are in the programme for Government such as the number of beds to be opened, the number of acute beds and other hospital issues,...

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Everybody gains from every improvement. When the Deputy is on his holidays in south Kerry next August, the benefits of the improved roads, thanks to the Ceann Comhairle over the last ten years and with the assistance of Deputy Healy-Rae——

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I find that the road from Kenmare to Kilgarvan improves every year, which is hugely beneficial. The representations of the former Minister——

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There is no proposal for the Luas to go to Kilgarvan.

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: And then he went on for half an hour.

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy knows that I always do my best to honour agreements made. He knows more than most that I try to honour deals that I have made over the years. I have not made them all public or transparent and some of them were made in my capacity as Taoiseach. His party would know that very well.

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will not rise to that imputation. These issues are covered by the programme for Government. They incorporate the national development plan, Transport 21, the annual Estimates and expenditure. Perhaps at times lobbying by Deputies from any side of the House, whether or not they are Government Deputies, changes the balance of where something goes, but that happens all the time. Some...

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No. Deputy Healy-Rae was Chairman previously.

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: He certainly was anxious to get back in some capacity. We spread the Chairs fairly around.

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No.

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I greatly appreciate the support the Government receives from Independent Deputies. The Government will work with them as best it can to deliver its programme for Government, which incorporates many of the issues of interest to them. Like the other Deputies who support the Government, Deputy McGrath has indicated clearly to it — and I have agreed with him- the issues on which we are...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 15, inclusive, together. The Government appointed Deputy Tom Kitt as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Defence. Deputy Dick Roche was appointed Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs. As Chief Whip, the Minister of...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the area of immigration and integration, effectively this is what the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan is doing. He is playing a role with the churches and other organisations. I will consider the issue regarding his title.

Ministerial Responsibilities. (31 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Some of the functions regarding integration reside in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. However, in his work with the organisations and the new communities, effectively the Minister of State is trying to integrate them on a cross-departmental basis. I will consider the issue.