Results 7,721-7,740 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (24 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 663: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of pupils attending a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the number of applications for school placements that have not been met in the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34634/06]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 664: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a special autism unit (details supplied) in County Kildare has not become fully operational in view of the fact that the unit has been built for more than three years; the nature of the issues outstanding in regard to the project; when she expects the opening to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: That is right — just like electronic voting.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: If that is a credit, I am worried.

Programmes for Government. (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is in the programme for Government.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Let Dingle dangle.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: This amendment relates to the reinstatement of lands and I support it. We had discussions with people from County Tipperary and as the Minister correctly stated, this proposal was put forward and is being administered by the local authority in the area. That is something of which we do not see enough in respect of various forms of mining throughout the country, regardless of whether it...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: This is an interim measure and it will be repealed when the substantial minerals development Bill is enacted. It will be important to incorporate the experience gleaned from this interim measure and other similar measures. Deputy Broughan raised the point about the stakeholders in the community wherever a sensitive location like this exists. That can vary from time to time and from place...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 5: In page 3, line 13, after "Energy" to insert "Regulation". The inclusion of the word "Regulation" was discussed on Committee Stage and was referred to on Second Stage. This is a regulatory Bill, and rightly so, although some indication has been given to the effect that it is an energy Bill, but this is not so. As a regulatory Bill it should include in some shape or...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I note the Minister's response, but I also ask him to recognise that the Opposition has been fairly magnanimous with regard to this Bill as it bears little resemblance to its original appearance at birth. It has changed dramatically in the intervening period and the Opposition has done its best to accommodate the Minister when he found himself in a quandary. We have accepted recommittal and...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister has not entirely explained his reason. He has said he was in a magnanimous mood and he has recognised the magnanimity of the Opposition.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: This is a recommittal of the Bill.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister has recognised almost every good feature that I can think of and has acknowledged almost every reason I can think of for including the word "regulation". Will he explain the compelling forces that debar him from including the word "regulation", which is what the Bill will do?

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: The universally suitable and acceptable answer is yes and no. The Minister is right in saying that there are some situations where the gradual introduction of particular sections of an Act may be desirable. In that case, the provisions of the Act are merely being introduced as required or on request. While that may be fine in some cases, Members of the House will recall that some sections...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Two minutes is a long time if one uses it well but if one uses it badly it could be of no benefit at all. It has been necessary for me to try to incorporate the theme which the Minister says I have been pursuing all the time, particularly from the point of view of the Opposition. We find our interaction with the Government in the House is being narrowed time and again. Eventually Parliament...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is the same but different.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I would be willing to trade the amendment for amendment No. 7.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is no harm to test that as well as everything else.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, line 11, after "market" to insert the following: "for which the Minister will be accountable to the Oireachtas". I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thought that I was seeing things for a moment, but I presume the Minister will be back soon.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: He was not in any way magnanimous while he was here. We had hoped that he might start off with a certain amount of magnanimity, but we will have to see how things progress. This amendment is important for the same reason I mentioned previously. It requires that the Minister be accountable to the House, and I have been pursuing this theme throughout the Bill. It relates to the lack of...