Results 221-240 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Social Partnership. (2 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: His basic point was that there is another side to the argument other than competitiveness. I thought I made it clear earlier that of course there is another side. Workers understand that to keep the jobs of everybody they must be competitive but that does not mean they are not receiving gains. The social partnership process has delivered gains in return for productivity, competitiveness...

Social Partnership. (2 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On the Exchequer figures, the tax profile was to be 24% and it was 23% so it is very close to target. Income taxes are up by 5%. As I said about the February figures, the capital gains tax is reduced — it is the property development side that is down. This area has been extremely healthy for the past number of years but other tax heads are pulling it up. Like every economy, since the...

Social Partnership. (2 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Whenever a company closure occurs the State agencies, namely, Enterprise Ireland, FÁS and others, under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment actively work and usually move to put in place a taskforce strategy to assist redundant workers or workers who will lose their jobs. Companies have obligations and it is true that on many occasions it is left to the State to operate...

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I thank Deputy Kenny for his remarks and comments. We have worked together from opposite sides but as good colleagues for 30 years so I appreciate what he has said. I might say a few more words about that in a few minutes. We have completed all the work the Cabinet set out. We have the referendum legislation. We have the White Paper, which was launched today. The campaign is, I think, up...

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I thank Deputy Gilmore. Maybe in a minute I will say a few words and wrap up on my own issue. On the Rebecca O'Malley case, to recall in June 2007 the Health Information and Quality Authority commenced an independent investigation into the care provided to Rebecca O'Malley by the HSE. As part of the investigation into the circumstances around the care of Rebecca O'Malley regarding her...

Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: In regard to the intoxicating liquor legislation, theatre licences is an issue that should be looked at.

Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I agree with the Deputy on the importance of allowing as much time as possible for Members to speak. I hope we can finalise the date for the referendum shortly. I am not sure what are the terms of reference but I will check it.

Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It will be published in April.

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: As has been the case for a long time, St. Patrick's Day and the period around it will involve a large number of events and functions, with many taking place in the period from Friday to Tuesday in different parts of the world. As well as being our national day, it provides a framework to showcase modern Ireland all over the world. Successive Governments have done this successfully for many...

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: ——not just myself but all the Ministers, Ministers of State and others who travel over the St. Patrick's Day period. It gives us a focus in capitals and destination all over the world and gives us access around St. Patrick's Day to meet multinationals and tourism operators. We get a huge audience worldwide for this. I understand that people would raise the issue of costs as costs are of...

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We spend over €50 billion a year in this country on a range of services and there is always some service somewhere in need even though there have been historic increases in current and capital expenditure in every area in the past decade, and far more and far higher than the average rate. I am often criticised in the House about our rate of current expenditure year-on-year which is higher...

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am glad to see in 2008 that Gordon Brown has decided that what we have for generations seems to be his best political idea. That is a tribute to what we do so well.

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: He would have been a member if he had been around.

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Recently we saw a number of very successful operations carried out by the Garda to deal with gangland crime. I acknowledge the considerable efforts of the Garda in this regard and I commend it on its successes which clearly prevented further murders and serious crimes. We have had two murders in recent days and we had a number of murders last year also but there was a significant decrease on...

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I do not have the overall figure, but witness protection is an extremely difficult issue, as the Deputy knows, because he has raised it here. I have raised it again with the commissioner. Although he is not convinced, he has enhanced the system. The difficulty is that, even when badly injured, criminals will not participate in normal surveillance and intelligence gathering. This is the...

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We have allocated €20 million to that activity this year. While it will not solve past murder cases, it will prevent others. A number of such operations take place in the greater Dublin area, not just today but some for the last two or three years.

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I have no problem giving the figure for a ten-year period.

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I am told that in respect of gangland crime, organised criminal gangs mainly involved in drug trafficking, the number of convictions is very low.

Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I do not deny that figure and the legislation is not the reason. Gardaí say they have strong legislation, dedicated detective units, high levels of resources and considerable overtime and manpower reserves. They have the special protection programmes. While Deputy Gilmore has an issue on the legislation, the commissioner does not believe they require anything more than they have. The...

Departmental Expenditure. (12 Mar 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The total projected cost of the communications unit for 2008 is €344,873 with €135,512 being a direct cost to my Department and €41,872 on average being borne by the five other Departments which have staff seconded to the unit. The cost of the unit in my Department during February was €27,326, with €10,737 being a direct...