Results 20,621-20,640 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (7 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 37. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she is satisfied regarding the availability of childcare facilities in view of the increasing necessity for both parents to be at work and to meet the requirements of one parent families; the ongoing work being undertaken to improve provisions in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45722/18]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: At the outset, I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House and for the positive tone of his reply. I acknowledge the quality and standards of the services provided by the management and staff at Naas General Hospital. They have done exceptionally well over a long number of years. In order to give a realistic imprimatur to their work, now is a good time to bring forward the date...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the important issue of the development programme for Naas General Hospital in County Kildare and the urgent need to approve the remaining stages of same. The hospital is located in the greater Dublin area, GDA, on the edge of our capital city and meets an enormous level of demand for high quality services but pressure is growing for more services to...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: It is important that we stick as closely as possible to what we told the people when the referendum was put before them and on which they voted. Deviation from that may lead us into a situation whereby we, the committee and the Oireachtas, may well be accused of not adhering to the lines set down by the people in the referendum. There are various pros and cons and merit and demerit to the...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I oppose the amendments for many reasons. At this stage, after some considerable time, we have come through debate which was long and difficult for many people throughout the country, including health professionals. We discussed this issue in the run up to the referendum wherein we referred to a GP-led service. The reason for that was to ensure the highest level of medical expertise was...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I fully respect the legal advice and the Minister's expressions on same. Notwithstanding that legal advice and having been a member of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which engaged in a long debate, and listened to the very impassioned positions held by people, I suggest that Deputy O'Connell's amendment No. 9 is much more accommodating of the sensitivities...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I agree with the last speaker almost in the entirety, and I know that might be strange for me to do sometimes. It would be a travesty, having regard to the debate that has taken place in this country over the past year, in particular, both in the Citizens' Assembly and in the special committee, if it were to emerge at this stage that we were to frustrate what was intended by withdrawing the...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I support the concept of the amendment. A debate will occur on whether the period should be five years, four years or three years. The period needs to be sufficiently long to allow for the evaluation of the efficacy of the legislation or its lack thereof. It should be short enough to allow us to react in time without letting too much happen that should not happen. It would also give an...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I agree with the Minister. We debated this matter at considerable length during the all-party committee's hearings and it has been a particularly moot point in discussions on the issue in recent years. We were accused of being frivolous in some ways in allowing abortions to take place where they were not necessary. We need to keep two points in mind. First, a pregnant woman may suffer...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I also indicated.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: It is quite an important element of the subject matter under discussion. I do not have any absolute answers. It is an intricate medical and legislative subject. There is another issue we need to keep in mind. There are some conditions a woman may have at a particular stage during the pregnancy which accelerate very rapidly with consequent results for her health and life. A study of some...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: The Chair may withdraw my name.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I will forgo my contribution unless colleagues wish to hear from me. We have discussed the issue at great length and we await the outcome of the discussions which will take place with the Minister regarding medical and legal opinion.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Expenditure (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 84. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for investment in vital recreational infrastructure for local communities such as swimming pools, community centres and other sporting facilities; the extent to which recent budgetary allocations to his Department are sufficient to meet demand in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45344/18]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 101. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent of proposed augmentation and investment in rail services over the next five years, with particular reference to the extent that services can be tailored to meet the ongoing travel requirements of commuters by identifying the best way in which rail services in general can meet the demands of medium to middle distance...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 906. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he plans to meet or exceed expectations regarding the extension of commuter and intercity rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45345/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 381. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of submissions in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44648/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 382. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); when the application will be brought to a conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44649/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 403. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in considering a submission and or requested documentation from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45029/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (6 Nov 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 414. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 173 of 19 September 2012, if nine of the 11 prosecutions and resulting sentences referred to did not result in the offender being placed on the Sex Offenders Register; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45162/18]