Results 54,541-54,560 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artisan Food Sector (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 161. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which opportunities continue to exist for the artisan food sector; the degree to which the industry has grown over the past five years; his expectations for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5922/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 162. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which fishing remains a viable option for fishing dependent families nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5923/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Production Costs (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 163. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which the costs of farm inputs such as fertilisers are monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5924/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 164. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the reliability of labelling and traceability structures throughout the food industry, with particular reference to imports from third countries; the average number of checks or tests carried out in 2018; the way in which this compares with previous years; the number of cases...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Prices (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 165. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the finalisation of the unfair trading practices directive at EU level; his plans to transpose the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5926/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 166. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the objectives of the recently launched organic food strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5927/19]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 201. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason an application for a back to education allowance was refused in the case of a person (details supplied); if the case will be reviewed with a view to granting the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5882/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions: Engagement with Mr. Juan Menéndez-Valdés (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome our guests and thank them for the very interesting report and information. The issue regarding housing is not new to us; we are conscious of it and have been concerned about it for some time. As a personal opinion on the phrase "social housing", for some unknown reason, since we began to use that phrase we have had difficulty meeting the required level of housing. It used to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I want to go back to some of the questions I raised earlier in this meeting. Incidentally, I am aware this issue has been dealt with by the Committee of Public Accounts. This is inappropriate because that committee does not have a competence in policy. In fact, it is specifically excluded from dealing with policy. I want to establish that because what is occurring undermines the role and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: To whom did one have to prove one's ability in those circumstances? I would like Mr. Breslin to devote some time to addressing this. How does one assess whether the lowest tender is even feasible? In answering, could Mr. Breslin refer to the detailed specification and the bill quantity. I presume these are all made available to the tenderer at the time in order that the tenderer can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Did it conclude that all the tenders were feasible, valid and soundly based?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: How does Mr. Breslin know?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Who produced that conclusion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: So it is the client.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Therein lies the serious question as to whether it is good practice. In a previous existence, many of my colleagues and I would have been cautious about tenders, particularly the testing of a tender. It is illegal to qualify a tender, or in theory, at least. In the case in question, however, I am concerned that all kinds of figures have been thrashed around over the past few weeks as to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Given that this is the largest project in the history of the Department, was any attention paid to the magnitude when the tenders were awarded and the testing of the tenders? Was the bill of quantities around at that time? It should have been and I presume it was. I know the bill of quantities was ultimately found to be short of the target. Why was that not spotted at the stage when it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I have one other question. Time seems to be very short. I was just beginning to enjoy myself. The main question for the benefit of the State, the client and the committee involves giving some indication as to what we have learned in this process. For example, how do we get professionals who, having read a detailed specification, can come up with a bill of quantities that gives a clear...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: It is five times the budget-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: The Deputy is not speaking the facts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Bernard Durkan: It is half the size.