Results 1,821-1,840 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (21 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: Question 253: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied regarding the quality of residential accommodation at the various military installations throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12681/05]

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (21 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: Question 255: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans further to update and modernise military hardware in respect of each branch of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12683/05]

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: Question 258: To ask the Minister for Defence the ability of the military authorities to meet all anticipated overseas commitments as well as normal national duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12687/05]

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (21 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: Question 273: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number and location of affordable houses available or likely to be made available throughout County Kildare in 2005; the cost of each unit to the local authority; the cost to the purchaser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12666/05]

Order of Business. (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: Is there any communication at all?

Order of Business. (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: He was too busy.

Order of Business. (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: Will the Taoiseach instil some urgency into the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources regarding the legislation that is required to deal with the rapid rate of inflation in motor fuel prices? The national oil agency Bill has been promised for late 2005. In view of the circumstances that currently obtain, will the Taoiseach encourage the Minister to bring the Bill forward...

Order of Business. (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: The price will be gone out of sight by that time. More urgency is required.

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: I agree with Deputy Howlin. We live in an era of such political correctness, definitions and interpretations that a full-time judge would be required to determine what is meant by certain proposed and existing legislation. There is a grave danger that some of the improvements deemed necessary will not improve things. They may in fact become a burden. The points made by Deputy Howlin are...

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: If hot water comes out, it could be fun.

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 22: In page 32, to delete lines 5 to 11. I wish to hear the Minister of State's response.

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 23: In page 36, to delete lines 43 to 46.

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: I do not have the benefit of prior participation in the debate on the subject, but I want the Minister to shed some more light on it. How do the amendments which he wished to take together weaken the legislation in general? I would have thought they merely tidy up the section with a view to making it more even-handed and fair-minded in the determination of the legislation's intended purpose.

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 24: In page 36, to delete lines 47 and 48 and substitute the following: "(2) In this section, "penalisation" means—". I want to hear the Minister of State's comments.

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: Notwithstanding the Minister of State's reluctance to depart from legal advice, I am sure he is aware of the maxim that approximately 50% of such advice is ill-founded. I mean no disrespect to the parliamentary or departmental legal advisers but it is no harm to, on occasion, pose questions on the basis put forward by Deputy Howlin. There is no dilution of the thrust——

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: ——of the message or of the Bill. This does not undermine anything. I am reminded of arguments over the years about whether to insert the word "shall" or "may". This amounts to old-fashioned jargon. In one instance, the word "shall" simply means that a person shall do something while, in another, the term "may" means that he or she he may or may not do it. I do not see this amendment as a...

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: I was reading ahead.

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 27: In page 37, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: "(4) An employer shall not be deemed to have penalised an employer where it is established that any of the actions taken in subsection (2) were— (a) in order to guarantee the employee's safety, (b) taken for commercial reasons; or, (c) taken for other reasons unconnected with the conduct or actions of the...

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: I support the points made by the previous speakers. These amendments are progressive. In this era, it is natural to expect that gender balance would be achieved is so far as is possible in all circumstances. As Deputy Howlin said, the 40% target leaves sufficient scope for eventualities which may arise in certain cases, whereas it might not be possible to meet the requirement in this respect...

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Bernard Durkan: The collegiality that exists on this side of the House should be added to. I fully agree with the points made by Deputy Howlin. His amendment would lead to improvement. That the legislation does not apply in certain other cases is not necessarily a good basis on which to refuse to accept his amendment. This area of legislation can be much more sensitive than other areas of legislation and the...