Results 49,481-49,500 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: 218. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the degree to which he remains satisfied with the ability of the Defence Forces to respond to an emergency that might arise; if the quality and extent of the military equipment available remains in line with best international standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44251/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Search and Rescue Service Provision (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: 219. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Air Corps and Naval Service continue to co-operate in air and sea rescue missions; the availability of adequate trained personnel to meet all contingencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44252/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Search and Rescue Service Provision (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: 223. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which all military aircraft, fixed wing and helicopters, remain available and in operational order to the Air Corps in the event of emergency and search and rescue operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44256/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: 220. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which young unemployed persons have been able to join the Defence Forces; if a specific programme exists in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44253/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: 221. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Defence Forces can be mobilised in the event of natural disasters including flooding in view of the preferability of early deployment and the need to use specialist equipment in such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44254/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: 225. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Defence Forces and all others involved in dealing with major natural disasters can be called into action at short notice; if the overall chain of command for dealing with such disasters has been adequately fine tuned to ensure maximum response in the minimum time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44258/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: 222. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which promotional vacancies remain to be filled in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44255/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Health, Including Physical Health, of Pregnant Women: Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Dr. Peter Boylan and Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the witnesses for giving their time and for the evidence they have presented today. I have a question on the chilling factor. On the issue of women or girls who may have accessed abortion pills through the Internet, I understand that there have been situations in Northern Ireland where prosecutions have taken place. Is there evidence that such prosecutions have happened here? In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Health, Including Physical Health, of Pregnant Women: Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Dr. Peter Boylan and Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: With or without that, or irrespective. Would that apply anyway? In the event of a change in the legislation, how do the witnesses see themselves reacting in that situation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Health, Including Physical Health, of Pregnant Women: Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Dr. Peter Boylan and Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: Let us assume that the legislation has been passed and there is a new regime. Does that in any way alter the degree to which, in an advanced stage of the pregnancy, it might be decided to intervene with a view to termination at an earlier stage than currently proposed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Health, Including Physical Health, of Pregnant Women: Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Dr. Peter Boylan and Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: In the event of a repeal of the eighth amendment and the legislation being changed, does that alter the manner in which the practitioners might deal with a case where the circumstances I have outlined might prevail. In other words, does it show that there is a difference now as opposed to what prevailed previously?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Health, Including Physical Health, of Pregnant Women: Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Dr. Peter Boylan and Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: Is Dr. Ní Bhuinneáin suggesting that better sex education in schools might be of benefit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Health, Including Physical Health, of Pregnant Women: Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Dr. Peter Boylan and Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: Have I another minute?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Health, Including Physical Health, of Pregnant Women: Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Dr. Peter Boylan and Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: It is one last question. Evidence has been suggested that where abortion is readily and legally available in a country, the number of abortions decline. What is the basis for that conclusion? Different regimes apply in different countries. Germany has fairly strict regulation of termination of pregnancy. As medical practitioners, are the witnesses aware of the system in Germany as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Options for Constitutional Change (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: We have all had a lot of tedious discussions on this subject for the past few days and weeks, and there is still a lot to go. As the committee is aware, I was one of the people who preferred to have a vote on any procedural changes at the end, when we had discussed the entire issue, as the Citizens' Assembly did. However, in order to facilitate the ongoing cohesive nature of the discussion...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Options for Constitutional Change (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: -----other than to suggest that I would have doubts about the first option, which is to repeal simpliciter. I have doubts about that because it is loaded with options, trip wires and challenges and I think that will emerge ultimately. The second option is to repeal based on published legislation entrenched in the Constitution. There will be a lot of discussion about certain subjects not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Options for Constitutional Change (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I am watching the clock very carefully myself, even if the Chairman might not think so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Options for Constitutional Change (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I know. The Chairman is trying to hurry me and I am not in a condition to be hurried at this time of the night. Option 4, the repeal or replacement on specific grounds, could be a possibility, but I am not so sure. Repeal or replace on specified grounds and-or explicit rebalancing, the fifth option, has possibilities. It is something that might meet the requirements of all sides....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Options for Constitutional Change (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I am watching the clock.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Options for Constitutional Change (18 Oct 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I am watching the clock over there, Chairman.