Results 39,601-39,620 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 265. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied regarding the extent to which core-front-line services continue to be maintained in the wake of ongoing budgetary constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48471/14]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Data (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 270. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons who have left the public service in each of the past five years to date either by way of natural retirement or redundancy; the extent to which the national pay bill has been affected as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48476/14]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 285. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which positive and democratic bias may be incorporated into the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement with particular reference to encouraging a greater respect for human rights and democratic principles with built in provisions whereby best international practice maybe encouraged and observed in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 373. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in determination of application pursuant to the provisions of section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 as amended in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48049/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 388. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding residency in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48412/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Accommodation (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 457. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that the public nursing homes throughout the country are retained and where necessary upgraded and extended in order to ensure the continuation and availability of nursing home facilities in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48054/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 458. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the important role and position in the context of caring for older persons in the case of a hospital (details supplied) in County Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the high quality of service thereat, the dedication and expertise of the staff and the satisfaction of the local community with the quality and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I thank our guests. I apologise for having to absent myself. I was trying to cover two headings at the same time. It is a very difficult thing to do. Those of us who are familiar with urban and rural areas would always be quick to point out that the qualification guidelines for European-based or European-assisted payments to farmers or anybody else are very rigid. They are much more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: We spoke about irrigation, drainage, flood plains and all this kind of stuff. We now live in a time when it is a sacrilege to drain areas of wetlands on the basis that some little slug who is living there and worming his way into infinity needs to be protected at all costs. Some years ago, €20 million had to be spent to divert a motorway after one of these slugs was discovered. His...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: It is just about to become massively apparent. I am talking about waste, overlapping and duplication. To what extent has the court seen such situations? How does it examine and deal with them? My colleagues have rightly referred to what happens in the agriculture sector. How we can eliminate the issuing by one Department of a directive that is in violation of another Department's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: They were consultants, experts and scientists, etc. All of that must be provided for. I am concerned about the degree of duplication and the cost involved. The famous case of the hen harrier would be another example. The designation of special areas of conservation certainly caused the generation of a great deal of antipathy towards Europe, towards politics in general and towards the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: It was a creepy-crawly, in any case.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: That is where the contradiction comes in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Year for Development: Dóchas (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: My apologies, Chairman, for being absent. I am still trying to be in three or four places at the one time in terms of work. The definition of sustainable development is hugely important. Who decides what is sustainable development? For instance, who decided on the targets? Was it decided by the United Nations centrally or by NGOs or politicians, remembering that politicians are...

Other Questions: Job Creation (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 8. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which jobs have been created in each of the past three years to date arising from small and medium enterprise investment; the extent to which the current trend will continue into the foreseeable future; the extent to which he expects investment resulting in job creation to spread evenly across the country in the future;...

Other Questions: Job Creation (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: This question relates to the need to encourage investment in small and medium enterprises in order to facilitate job creation. I am seeking to discover the extent to which trends have been established in this regard and emphasise the need to recognise the obvious advantages in spreading the type of investment to which I refer across the country in an even way.

Other Questions: Job Creation (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. Will he outline the extent to which he is satisfied that the necessary strategic infrastructure is in place throughout the county to ensure that attempts at job creation, through small and medium enterprises, will not be impeded? Will he also indicate the extent to which he is satisfied about the trends established in this sector,...

Other Questions: Job Creation (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: To what extent is the small and medium enterprise sector assisted by technology and innovation? The Minister might also comment on the degree to which such enterprises can boost their opportunities and competitiveness through technology and innovation and the extent to which he expects this to be of benefit to them in the future.

Message from Seanad (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: Seanad Éireann has passed the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013, without amendment.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: Amendments Nos. 37 to 39, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together.