Results 7,441-7,460 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Order of Business (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: ——Electronic Communications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is on the Order Paper, will the Taoiseach consider the withdrawal or amendment of that legislation? Will he introduce a new Bill with more teeth to prevent a recurrence of last week's difficulties?

Order of Business (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Yes.

Order of Business (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Will the Taoiseach consider withdrawing it and introducing a new Bill?

Order of Business (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Why not?

Green Paper on Energy: Statements. (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the long overdue publication of the Green Paper, while recognising its limitations. We could have done with this a year ago. It would have been useful to have had it in the public arena. We should have had the opportunity to put proposals to the Minister, to ensure that as we proceed into the future, energy supplies would be soundly based, incorporating security of supply and the...

Green Paper on Energy: Statements. (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: One could never tell what would happen with the ongoing machinations. We need to concentrate on developing the alternatives. Each Department with responsibility — five or six have such responsibilities — has a major contribution to make. One will not be able to do it on its own. However, serious progress can be made with a co-ordinated approach. I have referred to the cessation of the...

Green Paper on Energy: Statements. (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: What about steam?

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 113: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he expects to be in a position to extend the carer's allowance to cover the full extent of those providing care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31779/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 429: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent to which he will extend the carers allowance to include the greater number of carers to date not in receipt of a payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32130/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 116: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the plans he has to offset the increases in the cost of living for those dependent on pensions or other fixed social welfare income; if he will address this issue in the forthcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31778/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 428: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will offer old age pension and other social welfare recipients sufficient increase in the forthcoming budget to address increases in the cost of living in the past 12 months which completely eroded the 2006 budgetary increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32129/06]

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 331: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of requests for access to drug treatment programmes currently before her Department; the average waiting time taken to accommodate such requests; when she expects to be able to meet in full such requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31952/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 423: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the basis on which occupational injury benefit is payable with particular reference to the actual period in employment and the extent of injury or disablement suffered; if he will consider [i]ex gratia[/i] payments in the case of persons suffering from pneumoconiosis to the extent of less than 20%; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 424: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he proposes to undertake a review of the medical qualification guidelines for occupational injury benefit in respect of former miners suffering from pneumoconiosis; the way in which compensation will be made payable having regard to other recipients of disablement arising from employment; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 425: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he intends to provide for improvement in dental benefit in the context of the forthcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32126/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 426: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he intends to provide for improvement in optical benefit in the context of the forthcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32127/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 427: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he proposes to adjust upwards income qualification limits for means-tested payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32128/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 430: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on offering payment of non-contributory pensions to Irish missionaries who have served overseas on the basis of establishing nominal domicile here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32131/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 431: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent to which he has examined further the possibility of paying non-contributory old age pensions to Irish missionaries who have served abroad but who only qualify for pensions if they return home; if an examination has been done into the number of such persons who might qualify for such payments in the event that they...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 432: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of recipients of the family income supplement; the extent to which this number has fluctuated in the past five years; his proposals to improve, extend or increase payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32133/06]