Results 67,761-67,780 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Protection (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I agree with the Minister that taking children away, especially from their mother, should be a last resort but, unfortunately, this is not the case. It is used as a first resort in a situation that is prevalent in this country and which I believe is alien to everything we stand for. I would like some investigation to be carried out in the shortest period of time into the number of such...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: As we speak, legislation on the matter I will raise is progressing in the Seanad and will soon come to the House. I take this opportunity to ask the Minister to use his influence to strike from the judicial conversation and script any reference to the phrase "parental alienation", on the basis it has done nothing except destroy public trust, and the trust of women in particular, in the...

Nursing Home Charges and Disability Allowance Payments: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: No.

Nursing Home Charges and Disability Allowance Payments: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I am someone who participated in and lived through that era. It is appropriate someone of that vintage should make some comment. I was a member of a health board during that entire period. I was also a Government backbencher during quite a lot of that period. I remember it well. I have no difficulty at all in recollecting it and the way things happened. It is now being presented as a...

Nursing Home Charges and Disability Allowance Payments: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I did not interrupt Deputy Smith at all. I ask her to listen. I am just recalling the situation as it was. It was policy; it was not a strategy. It was Government policy-----

Nursing Home Charges and Disability Allowance Payments: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: -----although it should have been reviewed. It may be that it could or could not be reviewed but the situation always applied. I understand why the Opposition sees this as an opportunity to scourge members of the Government as being in some way responsible for concocting this out of their evil minds. We can then look back and claim against everybody. The whole country will eventually end...

Nursing Home Charges and Disability Allowance Payments: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I ask the loquacious people in the Opposition to please consider that we all have a right to speak. It would be nice if we could silence everybody who had an opposing view but I believe in the democratic way. It is the oldest and still the best way. We then went on to a situation whereby, as the problem got bigger, there was a necessity to increase the charge. Otherwise, the system...

Emergency Housing Measures: Motion [Private Members] (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Deputy Duncan Smith will reply on behalf of the Labour Party. He has ten minutes.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for being present and the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this particular issue regarding what is described as a rampart road. Such a road is built on peat, is raised, and has the unfortunate habit of deteriorating very quickly in a short space of time. This road is in a very historic area. It runs from the location where I hold my clinic, which we...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister. That is what I am trying to do - to provide that guidance. Suffice it to say that the condition of the road as it stands is sufficiently serious for the local authority - or whoever else wishes to take responsibility - to take some action of a nature that will render the road compliant with health and safety regulations. That is a requirement regardless of who does...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State.

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Message from Select Committee (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: The Select Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2023: Vote 32.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 24. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which it continues to be possible to address particularly sensitive issues in respect of family income and the cost-of-living impact; if she is satisfied regarding the adequacy of her Department’s resources to address such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6132/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 31. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which she expects an increase in the demand for social welfare payments in the current year; if she is satisfied that these demands will be met in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6133/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of the Child (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 91. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied that the interests of children remain to the fore to the greatest extent possible in all situations where their interest might be challenged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6131/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 186. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the return of the funeral or bereavement grant might be envisaged other than by way of exceptional needs payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6342/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 187. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of pension applications for contributory-related State pension received in each of the past three years to date; the number granted, refused or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6343/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 188. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for a decision in respect of applications for various social welfare payments has been shortened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6344/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 189. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons seeking to avail of the State old age pension on the basis of self-employment contributions or partnership conditions who have been approved in the past 12 months; the number refused in the same period; if ameliorating action can be taken in the case of refusals, particularly where a lesser number of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 Feb 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 190. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which exceptional needs payments are available in cases where family income is insufficient to meet their requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6346/23]