Results 36,781-36,800 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Prices (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 609. To ask the Minister for Health if any particular study has been done into the increases in private health insurance over the past number of years in view of the fact that increased competition in the area was supposed to benefit the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15432/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Reviews (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 610. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he continues to take to ensure that medical cards are not arbitrarily withdrawn from persons with severe terminal illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15433/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Narcolepsy Issues (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 611. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of identified sufferers of narcolepsy; the extent to which supportive arrangements are in place or remain to be put in place in respect of such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15434/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 612. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which hospital waiting lists have been reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15435/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 631. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the bus service to the area of Clonaugh, Maynooth, County Kildare in view of the local demand for such a bus service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14971/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester Process: Committee of the Regions (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: Thank you, Chairman. I cannot stay very long as, unfortunately, I have business in the House. I welcome the delegation and congratulate Ms O’Loughlin on her presentation. The submission is an extremely well-focused document which touches on all the points that have been of concern to many of us for a number of years, and it is no harm to discuss them now. The fact that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester Process: Committee of the Regions (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: Can I mention another point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester Process: Committee of the Regions (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I made reference to flooding as it is a serious regional issue, and also a national issue at present. I exhort everybody who has any influence on the European institutions to consider what is required. There is no sense in complaining about climate change. We can avert some of its effects by adopting a proper drainage policy all over the country. That must happen or we will cede large...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: National Reform Programme for Ireland 2014: Minister of State at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for coming before us. I am sorry that I had to duck out for parliamentary questions during his speech but I read what I could of it in the meantime. I concur with my colleague in the pointers he raised on costs here. For instance, over the past number of years a great deal of criticism has been levelled at the German Chancellor as living in an unreal world and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I thank our guests for appearing before the committee and making its presentation, some of which I strongly agree with and some of which I disagree with. We have to remind ourselves of the position we were in, and still are in, with regard to debt. Effectively, we are beneficiaries of whatever criteria prevail worldwide. I recognise and fully accept the distinction drawn between public and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: It is not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I am making a general comment. It is correct that the witnesses did not mention it, but I point out that there is a point that comes up repeatedly that is associated with that conversation. Every time it is commented on internationally, it appears as though we in some way are major contributors to what is seen as being unfair. By way of comparison, what has been the private sector...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: Is Ms O'Neill talking about existing companies operating in this country-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: -----from Europe, the United States or elsewhere?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: What is meant by much smaller? Is it 70%, 50% or 40% or has it been quantified?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I would appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: An answer to one question is missing. Why must the poorer countries resort to such a level of lending? For instance, what other conventional routes were accessible or have been avoided? Why are they going in that direction? Have the countries in question a credit rating somewhat akin to that of Ireland a couple of years ago and is that the problem?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (1 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: Yes.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: What is the status of the regulation of lobbying Bill? Two probation Bills are proposed, the criminal law probation supervision mutual recognition Bill and the probation services Bill. They both relate to European directives to be transposed into Irish legislation. When are those Bills likely to come before the House? When are they likely to be passed and come into law? The decisions go...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Events (2 Apr 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 27. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which discussions continue to develop with sporting organisations with a view to maximisation of tourism opportunities in association with the rugby world cup or other such sporting events; the extent to which the economic benefit in such circumstances has been quantified; and if he will make a statement on the matter....