Results 19,981-20,000 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (15 Jan 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 1205. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of homeless persons in County Kildare who have been offered and have received accommodation from the local authority in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1742/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 49. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which her Department has direct contact with other jurisdictions with which a bilateral arrangement for social welfare exists with particular reference to the need to ensure a smooth and expeditious process in dealing with claims particularly in circumstances in which contributions in two or more jurisdictions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: This question relates to the countries with which we have bilateral arrangements in respect of pensions or entitlements for which contributions have been paid in more than one jurisdiction and to the need for the Department to play a leading role in this area. If it does not, it may take a long time for the constituents falling into this category to have their cases processed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for her reply. The Department previously pursued applications for such benefits abroad, particularly in the UK, as if they related to this jurisdiction. That was very satisfactory. In the current circumstances the Minister might consider ensuring that our Department plays a lead role and pursues applications for entitlements to a satisfactory conclusion. Particularly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their contributions. It has been very interesting. Since we discussed this issue previously at the initial stages, the witnesses seem to have firmed up their conclusions. Professor Madden referred to comparisons with the UK. Its legal system is different from ours. It has a different constitution which goes back centuries to the Magna Carta. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: In the professor's opinion, is it possible to craft the Bill in such a way as to circumnavigate the legal difficulties that have arisen in other jurisdictions and at the same time, have due regard for the fundamental rights of the child and for human rights legislation nationally and internationally?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I raise the question of anonymity again. We have read about a number of cases in the past so I ask for the professor's point of view from a legal and a medical perspective on the implications of anonymity or precise donor identification.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: Suppose that they do not wish it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: What about the medical point of view?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: Given the yearning of childless couples to have a child and recognising what already has been said about the associated costs that must be taken into account, we are aware that it cannot be an endless chain of increasing costs and we cannot allow that to happen. Are the witnesses satisfied from a medical, legal and ethical point of view that it is possible to construct a Bill in such a way...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: We need to establish some things. This is a very emotionally charged subject, as we know from previous discussions, from what we have read and what we see from the legal cases that have taken place. Professor Madden made an interesting comment regarding judicial oversight at the initial stages, and it is something that is probably vital. I am not so sure how it will operate smoothly and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: On a point of order, Senator Mullen seemed to be making the point that, depending on one's personal preference, one should take a particular attitude in raising questions with the witnesses, but that is not how it is supposed to be happen. We are supposed to ask all questions, even questions the answer to which we might not agree with ourselves. We must ask the questions because the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I want to correct something Senator Mullen said. Although I am at pains not to put words into somebody's mouth, I would not want the committee's mouth to be loaded either. To clarify the point, it did deal with a cannabis Bill and we came to conclusions based on medical evidence which had been strongly presented and on the basis that it was a gateway drug, the taking of which required...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I do not want to go down that road either, as it has been travelled.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: There is one other issue. It is a common reference that hard cases make bad law, but sometimes the lack of law leads to desperate cases. In the annals of our history there are sufficient desperate cases to assure us that we should investigate insofar as we can and that we should legislate to the best of our ability, having received and learned from all of the evidence. There is no way we...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's Pension Eligibility (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 78. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she plans to take to facilitate the award of widow or widower's pension in respect of persons married here following a divorce in another jurisdiction whose status for remarrying was in order but that in the event of the death of either party it now follows that widow or widower's pension is not payable, thereby...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Data (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 211. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which apprenticeships are available in all areas throughout the country at present; the uptake of such places; the extent to which the places available meets the demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53843/18]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 473. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of electricity generated from non-fossil fuel generation facilities; the extent to which this can be increased in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53972/18]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 474. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of imported biomass in each of the past five years to date; the location from which it came; the generating stations at which it was consumed; the amount of electricity produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53973/18]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (19 Dec 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 475. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of entities importing biomass; the generating stations to which the fuel is deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53974/18]