Results 37,521-37,540 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 37. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which prisoners are held or detained by the Israeli authorities, Fatah or Hamas, if their detention complies with international human rights norms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23490/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 38. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which progress is being made to regularise undocumented Irish in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23491/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the areas throughout the world wherein serious abuses of human rights are known to continue; the extent to which the international community is focused on such areas with a view to bringing about urgently required change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23492/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 40. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community continues to exert pressure on the various parties in the Middle East peace process; if progress is anticipated in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23493/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Colombian Peace Process (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 41. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the peace process continues in Colombia, whether concerns expressed by the international community are being addressed in a meaningful way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23494/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community continues to support calls for the release of Marwan Barghouti; the extent to which discussions in this regard continue to be part of the Middle East peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23495/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 43. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the situation in South Sudan continues to be monitored by the EU and UN, with particular reference to the need to alleviate famine and starvation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23496/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 44. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the EU and UN are engaged with the various authorities throughout Africa with a view to protection of entitlement to human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23498/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Western Balkans Issues (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 45. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the situation in the western Balkans continues to be monitored by the international community with particular reference to the need to ensure the continuation and support of democracy and peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23499/14]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 71. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which Irish interests are likely to be observed in the context of European-US trade discussions; if it is expected that the agrifood industry will not be detrimentally affected in the course of such talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23497/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Nigeria: Ambassador of Nigeria (28 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome and thank the ambassador for his presentation. We have all expressed our support, in various ways, for the efforts to find the abducted girls and return them to their families. It was an act of aggression and oppression by a group which believed in its own superiority. The fact is that 50% of the population, that is, women, were not regarded as being entitled to freedom of access...

Other Questions: State Examinations Reviews (29 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 8. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to reach agreement with the relevant teachers' unions in respect of replacement of the junior certificate examinations; if he will find it possible to reconcile the concerns expressed by the unions with the need for reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23362/14]

Other Questions: State Examinations Reviews (29 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has had further discussions with the teaching unions with a view to reaching agreement in respect of outstanding issues arising from the proposed replacement of the junior certificate examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23617/14]

Other Questions: State Examinations Reviews (29 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: This question relates to the ongoing debate between the Minister for Education and Skills and the teachers' unions regarding the replacement of the junior certificate examination. While it is recognised that reform is necessary and that there is concern among teachers' unions, I am trying to ascertain the extent to which we can address the need for reform while recognising the need to...

Other Questions: State Examinations Reviews (29 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and recognise his willingness to accommodate the views of the teaching professionals. We must ask to what extent it will be possible to reconcile the need for reform with the question whether the review of students by their teachers is the appropriate way to do it and the willingness on the part of teachers and their unions to cross that Rubicon in...

Other Questions: State Examinations Reviews (29 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State. Can he identify a possible deadline for the conclusion of these discussions with a view to putting in place the necessary reforms?

Order of Business (29 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: Can the Tánaiste indicate the current position in regard to the public health (alcohol) Bill, which is a Bill to provide for minimum pricing of the sale of alcohol and the regulation of the use of alcohol products as loss leaders in the retail sector? Has the Bill been finalised? When is it coming before the House? What is the likely progress over the remainder of the year?

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I have listened with interest to the contributions of other speakers as, unfortunately, I was otherwise engaged. I welcome the Bill, as the purpose for which it is introduced is important. Members on both sides of the House have made reference to its purpose. It goes without saying that in the past the NTMA showed that it could perform miracles with the responsibility thrust upon it, even...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (29 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 32. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he continues to be in an position to meet the educational requirements of children with special needs at primary and second level, with particular reference to the availability of special needs teachers, special needs assistants and adequate appropriate school places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23363/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Development (29 May 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which he is satisfied with the ability of the educational system to match the requirements of the workplace, with particular reference to changes in skill requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23618/14]