Results 8,061-8,080 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 14: In page 9, line 20, after "elsewhere" to insert ", appropriate".

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Deputy Hogan very adroitly pursued the amendment and its meaning. What I was trying to ascertain was how the Minister would determine the board member was suffering from ill health. Would it be on the basis of missing a number of board meetings at which major decisions could and should have been taken? Coming to the conclusion that the person was suffering from ill health because he or she...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I will not press it if the Minister says it is already provided for.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 34: In page 11, line 29, after "Minister" to insert "and Dáil Éireann".

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 35: In page 11, line 34, after "director" to insert ", subject to the Act as amended,". This is a technical amendment, which is intended to be more supportive of the legislation. I would like to hear the Minister's opinion of it.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 36: In page 11, line 39, to delete "that" where it secondly occurs and substitute "that,". This is one of those technical amendments which argues about the use of commas and other punctuation.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 39: In page 11, line 42, after "Minister" to insert "and Dáil Éireann".

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I support the amendments, which represent an attempt to identify the direction of the agency and the issues it needs to address. The statement of strategy is important. As Deputy Broughan has said, we live in a very volatile time and the market can change dramatically. We must be led by the information presented to us. We are not often in a position to challenge the information because it...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I accept that nobody goes out to do other than the best that can be done, identify what needs to be done in advance and make the necessary strategic decisions in such a way as to be of obvious benefit to the agency. However, there is never any harm in adding the belt and braces, to use an expression that has developed in this House over the years. It also brings the changes into public...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I hope the portfolio does not consume him.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 44: In page 12, line 26, before "acquire," to insert "subject to the approval of Dáil Éireann,". I will not discuss this amendment further other than to reiterate and reaffirm the intention behind this group of amendments.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 47: In page 13, line 3, after "Finance" to insert "subject to conditions pertaining at that time". This amendment might be useful. The Bill states: "A direction that relates to the disposal of any assets or surpluses of a subsidiary may only be given with the consent of the Minister for Finance", subject to conditions pertaining at the time. We discussed this amendment...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I accept and respect the Minister's view but I tabled my amendment having due regard to certain occurrences. I will give some examples. The country was in financial crisis in 1981 and measures had to be taken to ensure the international monetary people did not start to run the country. Decisions had to be taken that were subject to conditions prevailing at the time. Had they not been...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: That is right.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: This amendment is timely, constructive and workable, taking into account everything to which Deputy Broughan has referred, having regard to recent experience. I do not wish to create problems for the Minister regarding the situation at Bellanaboy. Neither do I wish to equate the Corrib gas field with Norway, since such a comparison would be unfair. However, it would be of great benefit if...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I agree with the Minister's comments on the GSI. In recent weeks, I submitted a question on the GSI, but the question was transferred to another Department despite the GSI being under the Minister's aegis. It is a clear indication of things that go wrong from time to time. This is a critical matter. Modern technology has improved significantly and geological mapping is more forensic than...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Accepting the amendment would not be a bad idea, as it would give everyone a fair opportunity, including the Minister, to draw on available expertise and it could solve many problems. Given that it may be necessary to do so anyway and despite the Minister's statement that the provision must form an integral part of a major Bill, it would be no harm to include it in this Bill. The production...

Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Absolutely.

Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Of course.

Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: At least we are not facing backwards.