Results 41,301-41,320 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Development (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects the skills available to match requirements in the job market in the future; her plans for enhancement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18900/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: The draft minutes of the meeting of 6 May 2015 have been circulated. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed. We now move to our meeting with four interest groups to discuss the persecution of Christians. We are meeting the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Bishops' Conference, led by the chairman, Bishop John McAreavey, who is accompanied by Ms Áine O'Reilly and Fr. Timothy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: We have three more presentations and I ask witnesses to be concise as we already have written versions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I thank Ms McGrath Gumbo. Our next presentation is from Mr. Turner and Mr. Mahmoodnezhd of Church in Chains. I ask them to be concise as we already have the submission. We want to allow adequate time for an exchange with members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I thank Mr. Turner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Thank you very much. We now proceed to Ms Zoe Smith, representing Open Doors UK and Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Thank you. I compliment each of you on the presentations you have made. You have brought something to our attention of which we were already aware, but to hear it described in the way that you have is particularly important. The committee members, each in their turn, have already raised and dealt with the issue in the House, as has the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is true to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Before calling on witnesses for closing statements, I should mention that the presentation has been most impressive. The response from committee members clearly indicates their knowledge in the area. Individually, we have brought the subject matter before the Dáil by way of parliamentary questions and letters to the Minister and his predecessors. It goes without saying that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: We can have a discussion on that issue at a later stage and I will be delighted to accommodate it. Maybe Fr. Bartlett is right and maybe I am wrong. I am not so sure civilisation has changed. Man’s inhumanity to man has not ceased or changed at all. It continues as it was. For example, the war in Rwanda was started by a zealot who had access to a propaganda outlet, a radio...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Translators are always available in this country. Asylum seekers should not attend a hearing without the assistance of a translator.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Through the NGOs, Ireland focuses on a daily basis on all of these sensitive areas and does so effectively. It also uses its influence discreetly because we are sometimes advised that that is the best way to do it. All of the delegates have been televised live and the Minister, departmental officials and relevant sections will receive a transcript. We will deal further with the issue to...

Other Questions: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (14 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 6. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that sufficient room for manoeuvre exists to ensure that the agri-food sector will not be negatively affected by European or global carbon reduction requirements, with particular reference to expected increased food production arising from Food Harvest 2020, and in the aftermath of the...

Other Questions: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (14 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: This question relates to the extent to which the Minister remains satisfied that the agri-food sector can develop and expand in line with the Food Harvest 2020 projections and in the aftermath of the abolition of dairy quotas and keeping in mind the extent to which he can secure that carbon penalties do not negatively impact on the sector.

Other Questions: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (14 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his reply. Is he satisfied that he will achieve common cause with his EU agriculture ministerial colleagues in this regard, particularly from some countries? Will he indicate the extent and degree to which in an overall European scenario Ireland can benefit vis-à-visthose countries who do not have the major issue of developing an agricultural sector and market,...

Other Questions: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (14 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Can the Minister rely on support from various European Union countries in this context? For example, is it possible to identify the countries on which he can most rely for support that might have common cause with Ireland in terms of agricultural food production in general?

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: There was no harm in that.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Hear, hear.

Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Try harder.

Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Communications has not gone to Tipperary yet. The higher education Bill proposes to modernise the legislative framework underpinning the governance and functioning of the Higher Education Authority and governance structures of the universities. When is it expected the Bill will come before the House? Have the heads of the Bill been cleared? Will it be in the current year? Has the...

Implementation of National Dementia Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (14 May 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, for her work in the provision of mental health support and identifying strategic expenditure in an area that was neglected for a very long time. She should also be complimented on her personal commitment to dealing with the issue and her very detailed knowledge of the...