Results 34,421-34,440 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation of Baha'i Faith in Iran: Discussion (25 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: I apologise for being late, but bilocation is not one of my achievements. I welcome the delegation for this timely discussion. I strongly agree with the points raised. Iran has an opportunity to come out of darkness and into the light. That is important both for the people of Iran and its administration. I agree that there should be no trade-off on human rights. In assessing a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation of Baha'i Faith in Iran: Discussion (25 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: It should be made clear to the Iranian authorities, in the nicest way possible, that there must be some progress on this recognition of human rights. We cannot ignore it indefinitely, in their own interests. When I visited Tehran all I could see was high cranes rusting because of the international sanctions, and that still continues. It is appalling to see such a very large population...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation of Baha'i Faith in Iran: Discussion (25 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: The committee must not isolate that one case; it must use it with the other issues because they are interdependent. The route I propose is that we consider it and the rest of the human rights issues about which we in the international community have concerns.

Order of Business (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: What is the current position on the Bill to provide free GP services? Have the heads of the Bill been agreed and is it ready for presentation? The lack of a legal aid Bill is causing some problems at the moment. Have the heads of that Bill been approved by the Government? When will the Bill come before the House? Is its urgency recognised? Finally, the EU directive on cybercrime has yet...

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: Go on.

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: That was a quick calculation.

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: With the permission of the Chair, I propose to share five minutes of my time with my colleague, Deputy Brendan Griffin.

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: This is déjà vu for some of us. We are reviewing an item we reviewed before, something that occurs with many pieces of legislation. A number of speakers have mentioned updating legislation. It is important that when we update legislation, it should remain updated. That should be the purpose of the exercise and we should not have to revisit it after a couple of years. In 2010,...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 265. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which it is expected to be in a position to meet the concerns of junior hospital doctors in the context of the working time directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40300/13]

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his replies. I have raised this issue before with his good self and also with his predecessor because it has been on the cards for a long time. In the context of the present negotiations or previous discussions on the issue, has it been possible to determine whether any structure or arrangement can be entered into which would encourage graduates to take up their...

Other Questions: Health Insurance Prices (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 10. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he and his Department has monitored private health insurance costs; if any particular reason has been identified for increases in such premiums; if he is satisfied that the principle of community rating continues to exist; if private health insurance costs increases have been associated with any particular section in the health service;...

Other Questions: Health Insurance Prices (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. Concerns have been expressed by many of those who have faced gradually increasing health insurance premiums in recent years. In their heyday, they contributed equally and reliably to the system when it was less competitive and provided better value for money. They did so in an economic environment in which they often paid as much as 17%...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Strategy (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 275. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of free general practitioner health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40310/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Expenditure (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 39. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which any budgetary overruns have occurred throughout the health service; the precise areas which have shown such overruns; when any such overruns became obvious monthly or otherwise since January last; if any particular action is merited to address any such recurrences in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40055/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Expenditure (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 260. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which he and his Department continues to monitor expenditure overruns in all areas throughout the health service; the extent to which those areas most prone to such have been identified and the likely remedial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40295/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Expenditure (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 261. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he and his Department has curtailed expenditure overruns throughout the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40296/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 68. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an Irish passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40330/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the refusal of higher education grants in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40332/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if and when a higher education grant will be approved by Student Universal Support Ireland in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40333/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (26 Sep 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 135. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 451 of 2 July 2013, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, if the relevant medical report from their most recent medical assessment on 27 May 2013 in Oisin House has been requested in respect of a pending appeal; if it is recognised that a person with such a condition is likely to be...