Results 22,261-22,280 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Correct.

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: I believed the Government promised to help them before the last election. Apropos the issue of parliamentary questions, which has been referred to by party leaders and others in the House, and as a Member of some considerable service in the House, the Ceann Comhairle knows there is a diminishing number of Ministers who go to great trouble to answer questions accurately. This is to be...

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: I would like to finish. This is about the way in which we do our business in the House or, rather, the way we do not do our business, as the case may be.

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: There is no other way for a Member of Parliament to get an answer to a parliamentary question unless he or she goes outside the remit of the House and applies under the Freedom of Information Act or by some other means. This is not democracy and we have put up with it for long enough. The Government views this as fun, something for its entertainment.

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: I will ask about the legislation in two seconds.

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: If Ministers refuse to answer questions and enter the House to be held accountable for the moneys expended by their Departments, something should be done about it. The only person who can do anything is the Taoiseach. The Opposition has one or two methods to assist and they will come to pass if something is not done as a matter of urgency. I am not issuing a threat, but the Ceann Comhairle...

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Does the Taoiseach want me to answer the questions or will he do it?

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: I would like that last question answered first.

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Taoiseach.

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: One of many. I have raised it previously and it is close to the Taoiseach's heart, namely, the legal costs-----

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: And getting closer. What is the position on the legal costs Bill?

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: I can see that, as James Bond said once upon a time. Given the extent to which legal costs are likely to impact on the economy in the not-too-distant future, will the Taoiseach indicate to the House whether it is intended to introduce the Bill into the House with some degree of urgency or, at least, a little more urgency than has been displayed heretofore?

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Some of it has been on the list for five, six or seven years.

Order of Business (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Question 69: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent he directly or in consort with his EU colleagues has evaluated the impact of the grounding of aircraft arising from emissions from the Icelandic volcanic eruption; the degree of emissions and of ash from the volcano in question on a weekly basis since the initial eruption; if issues have been identified as to the way that an island...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Question 115: To ask the Minister for Finance if he plans to introduce any measures to alleviate the impact of carbon tax on the farming community in view of the losses incurred by this sector due to the inclement winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17650/10]

Written Answers — Hospital Charges: Hospital Charges (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare attending private and public hospital was told that the varicose vein treatment they need will incur a further charge, despite having full medical card and private health insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18013/10]

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Question 212: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of drivers who have lost their licences from incurring the maximum number of penalty points; the number whose licences have been restored or renewed since the introduction of the regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18323/10]

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Question 213: To ask the Minister for Transport if commuter rail passenger numbers reflect the projections referred to when he launched Transport 21; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18326/10]

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (5 May 2010)

Bernard Durkan: Question 214: To ask the Minister for Transport his assessment of expected passenger throughput at each of the national and international airports in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18327/10]