Results 44,341-44,360 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Irish Council for Social Housing (28 Apr 2016)

Bernard Durkan: There are no other direct questions.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Irish Council for Social Housing (28 Apr 2016)

Bernard Durkan: How much more direct does the Chairman want to make it?

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Irish Council for Social Housing (28 Apr 2016)

Bernard Durkan: It has not actually. Can I give an example?

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Irish Council for Social Housing (28 Apr 2016)

Bernard Durkan: This is a classic example. I was involved in a voluntary housing body that was set up specifically to provide 100 houses or whatever the case may be. We had to buy the sites from the local authority for €20,000 each. The voluntary agencies got the sites for free. That is competition. We were doing the same job, but we were doing it for the people to acquire their own homes. The...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Irish Council for Social Housing (28 Apr 2016)

Bernard Durkan: There are nearly 8,000 people on the housing list in County Kildare, so I would not think it was a success.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Irish Council for Social Housing (28 Apr 2016)

Bernard Durkan: I am sorry, Chairman, but it is a burning issue with the people I represent. It is not my view; it is theirs.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Construction Industry Federation (3 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome Mr. Parlon and his colleagues. What intrigues me most is the €300,000 starter house and the ability of the average loan applicant to service a loan. As the Chairman knows, we are supposed to be well paid. I would not be able to service that type of loan for a starter house, and I am sure I am not the exception. In Mr. Parlon's calculations, what regard was had for the...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (3 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: First, on the point that the current crisis is a direct consequence of a lack of a national strategy, in my view it is a consequence of a bad national strategy in which a change took place approximately 15 years ago when there was an over-reliance on the private rental sector to deliver everything. During the boom, rents achieved the same level the mortgages. There is obviously a...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (3 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome our guests and thank them for giving of their time to discuss this important issue. To refer to the last item first, have the witnesses identified the true building cost of a house at €100 per square foot? I have information to the effect that it could cost considerably less than that. That would mean building by direct labour but it would be considerably less. There are...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (3 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: I wish to comment.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (3 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: Yes, and I believe it is a crucial point. This is where the nub of the problem lies. The Department of Social Protection replaced the local authorities in providing homes for people who are now on the housing list. I strongly disagree with my colleague from an adjoining constituency, Deputy Cowen. Even it is only for the short term, it is only postponing from today what is going to happen...

Agriculture: Statements (4 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: Like my colleague, I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this very important subject for the simple reason that the agrifood sector is indeed a core part of this State's economy. I believe that when the boom years were in full swing, little attention was paid to the agriculture sector on the basis that there were other more lucrative ways of making a living. Deputy O'Donovan put it...

Climate Change: Statements (4 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: I am sorry to interrupt, but will the Deputy come back to the subject matter of the debate, which is not TTIP but climate change?

Climate Change: Statements (4 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: No, they are not.

Climate Change: Statements (4 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: I am sorry to interrupt, Deputy, but-----

Climate Change: Statements (4 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: I am sorry to intervene.

Climate Change: Statements (4 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: I am sorry, but the Deputy will resume her seat or I will move on to the next speaker.

Climate Change: Statements (4 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: Can I repeat for you, Deputy, the rules of the House?

Climate Change: Statements (4 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: I am sorry. If the Deputy does not wish to observe the rules of the House, she will resume her seat and I will move on to the next speaker. Back to the debate.

Climate Change: Statements (4 May 2016)

Bernard Durkan: Back to the debate. It is not about TTIP but climate change.