Results 8,101-8,120 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

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

Bernard Durkan: As if that blunt instrument was not sufficient to assuage the voracious appetite of the Government, it will have taken €316 million more by the end of the year than it would have got if the increases had not taken place.

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

Bernard Durkan: I have seen many crocodile tears shed in the past two nights and I must say the Government Members should get an academy award for acting as they are capable of doing nothing else.

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

Bernard Durkan: They are a disgrace because they have ignored the fact the Irish consumer is as much entitled to get the benefits of the international downturn in energy prices as anybody else.

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

Bernard Durkan: They are obviously incapable of reading. For the benefit of those who cannot read, I will show them a graph I have.

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

Bernard Durkan: Ireland's prices are on the graph and I hope those who have difficulty reading will not be shocked if I show the graph again. The graph shows what the Government is charging the Irish people and what it is imposing on the Irish people.

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

Bernard Durkan: The sad thing is that if the Government survives for another five years——

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

Bernard Durkan: ——I assure the House that industry and the consumer will have a huge bill to pay as a result of what the Government is doing. The Government wants to drive up energy prices, bring in more money in VAT, levies and dividends from the ESB and walk away. However, the electorate may yet have something to say about that. The Minister decried the fact that Fine Gael did not want to become...

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

Bernard Durkan: Fine Gael produced an energy policy independently long before the Government had the guts to do it. We costed it and priced it, but the Government did not intend to do that because it was afraid to do so. It was afraid to produce a White Paper so it came up with a different Green Paper, because Government Deputies did not have the guts to go to the public and state their case. They spoke...

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

Bernard Durkan: It is a good job they are not allowed to control the air in the same way they can control the fuel. There is only one way to have a proper competitive energy policy in this country that would be of benefit to the economy. We must invest in the alternative energy area to such an extent that it is grown quickly. The Government promised to do it and it is a wonder we have not been told it will...

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

Bernard Durkan: The Government is part and parcel of a litany of failures, such as failure to recognise, failure to hear the words of the people, failure to respond to the needs of the people and failure to take action when it could and should. We all know that the Minister can influence the regulator and that the regulator consulted with the Minister before he acted. He did not do that on his own; he got...

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

Bernard Durkan: This represents a number of failures. It represents the failure of the regulatory system to respond to the ongoing needs of the international market trends. It is a failure of the Minister to instruct——

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

Bernard Durkan: He is subject to the Government's policy and the Minister's instructions. Either the Minister instructed and the regulator told him to clear off, or the Minister failed to instruct and the regulator rang him up and asked the Minister for his instructions and then claimed he was independent. As long as the Minister remained silent, the regulator could do what he had to do. This is a burden...

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

Bernard Durkan: The Minister failed to recognise trends. He failed to recognise the importance of the decision and the impact it is likely to have on the consumer. He failed to reduce the threat to industry and jobs because he did not address them. The Government, with the full approval of the Minister, has given backing to ripping off the Irish consumer, industry and the economy. It has done so...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 359: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to date of the e-voting technology including the cost of promoting its use, storage and research, with a breakdown of costings in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37053/06]

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 360: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the various tests carried out here and in the Netherlands on the e-voting systems proposed by his Department; if he intends to continue to store and promote such technology and for what purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37054/06]

Written Answers — Abolition of Dual Mandate: Abolition of Dual Mandate (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 27: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is satisfied that the commitments given to the Houses of the Oireachtas during the passage of legislation effecting the abolition of the dual mandate are being met and honoured in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36571/06]

Written Answers — Abolition of Dual Mandate: Abolition of Dual Mandate (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 364: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the undertaking given to the Houses of the Oireachtas during the passage of legalisation abolishing the dual mandate, that Oireachtas Members would have continued and ready access to the local authorities is being honoured in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37059/06]

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 118: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals for the provision and storage of an adequate drinking water supply throughout the country in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36570/06]

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 365: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for the provision of medium to short term drinking water supply throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37060/06]

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Nov 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Question 138: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to an application for residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36853/06]