Results 41-60 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has raised this issue, which was mentioned earlier today, a number of times. While we had agreed on a selected senior counsel to take up this role and everyone was satisfied with that, as has been stated, we have encountered difficulties in this regard. I am trying to resolve the issue and I hope to do so as quickly as I can. However, I will provide an update for the two...

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Burton is correct to state it is an extremely important position, which is the reason it is set down in legislation and practice. I do not believe the appointment will be made for some time to come. While there is a process, I cannot recall exactly what it is. Ultimately, when the process takes place, the Minister for Finance will recommend the individual to the Government, followed...

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I hope Deputy Burton will agree that the appointment of the current Comptroller and Auditor General was very good.

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I made that appointment 14 years ago and he has been in his position since then. The same system will be followed when the new Comptroller and Auditor General is appointed. The process has already commenced, although it will not be completed for some time.

Appointments to State Boards. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It is actually the responsibility of the Department of Finance but I will ask that Department to send a note to the Deputy. On the other issue, that would be unfair. I know of at least two State boards to which individuals have been appointed who everyone believes are aligned to the Deputy's party. They may not be, however, and I do not think it fair to ask them. They are very good people...

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. The procedures I outlined to the House previously in regard to use of the ministerial air transport service, MATS, most recently on 6 March 2007, have not changed. The position is that my approval is required prior to the service being used. Procedurally, requests for use of the service are made by Ministers' private secretaries...

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We recommended it.

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Kenny on what aircraft are available, the Gulfstream IV jet is still in operation. That was acquired in 1991 and all of my colleagues know my views on it. The aircraft is 16 years old and has flown more than 11,000 hours. I am told there is not an aircraft in the world, or the Third World, that has flown that number of hours.

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: My colleagues know what I believe is the alternative to it but I do not think it is a great idea for it to go on and on. The Learjet, which we bought at the beginning of the Presidency in 2004, was a replacement for the Beechcraft Kingair and provides a service for short and medium haul flights. It has proven extremely reliable and has been used on the European missions. It has its faults...

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: ——and it does not have a toilet but it gets from A to B for which I have been very grateful many times. Following two minor fires I do not believe the Beechcraft has been used much in recent times.

Ministerial Transport. (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: The CASA is used now and again and if one has earmuffs on that is very useful, but the aircraft are all very useful. The one aspect of them that is perfect is the staff. I thank all of the staff who fly them all. As to whether they could be improved, that would be a good idea for the next Taoiseach.

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: A number of questions were raised by Deputy Kenny. On the case of Mrs. Margaret McEntee, which I think is the case to which he referred, I was very concerned by reports regarding the time which this lady spent in the accident and emergency unit of the Mater Hospital. The HSE advised that the patient presented to the hospital on 14 April and was admitted on 17 April. As I have said...

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: A Cheann Comhairle——

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: I state again what I have said many times. In the 53 public and acute hospitals we have provided and continue to provide additional resources.

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: It has not been a question of cutbacks in the service.

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We have continued to employ more people.

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We have continued working with the trade unions to deal with the issue of last September's embargo and we have delivered increased capital expenditure into several developments in those hospitals and will continue to do that. Like every organisation the HSE has to live within the budget agreed in its own plan. It has to manage that throughout the year. Last year there was criticism in the...

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: We are continuing to do that. They are in several locations around the country. There is €200 million on the capital programme for this year which has been allocated. We have increased the number of beds. I was answering about the difficulties in the delayed discharges. The reality is we have recently provided 200 contracted beds in private nursing homes, 180 of which were in Dublin....

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: On the Deputy's first point, I do remember what the rate of inflation was when I took office. I also remember that unemployment was at 11%, single people paid tax on €72 per week, there was no minimum wage, old people received very low rates of welfare and the preceding Government gave them an increase of £1.50, one of the most miserable increases ever. I remember all of these things....

Leaders' Questions (22 Apr 2008)

Bertie Ahern: As I said, the Competition Authority, the National Consumer Agency, Departments and the social partners, as they have done three times this decade, have been examining individual sectors of the economy where there are pressures. Every month those figures are analysed in great detail. They have used their efforts wherever they believe we need more competition. The Competition Authority has...