Results 23,621-23,640 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Registration Certificate (18 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 337. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for stamp 4 update of naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2695/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (18 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 338. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2704/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (18 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 339. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if new medical evidence to the effect that the person is unlikely to work again within the next year or more will facilitate reconsideration in the case of an application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2706/18]

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: "Caoine Cill Cháis".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the ambassador and Ms Ivanova. I thank the ambassador for his presentation. As the ambassador is aware, this is a very historic occasion from the point of view of both Bulgaria and Europe. We have something in common. Bulgaria is on the eastern extremity of the European Union as it stands at present and we are on the western extremity. Unlike Ireland, Bulgaria has direct access...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: A couple of years. We repeatedly state we must reaffirm our objectives, our cohesiveness and our solidarity. We must determine where we are going and if we are happy to be going in that direction. We must also consider the alternatives. What we have is much better than any of the alternatives. It is of huge importance that we as individual member states are in a position to be able to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: We all recognise the degree to which childless couples look forward to us progressing this proposal by way of legislation. The advances in medical science are also eagerly awaited and we have all had representations from constituents on the matter. We have to be positive and constructive and recognise that there are also some pitfalls which we need to avoid so that we can reassure the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: Is that applicable in all cases or only in cases where a difficulty has arisen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: There was a case a legal case a couple of years ago that got much attention. The male partner did not allow the use of the products after the relationship broke down. He won the case, as far as I can recall.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I think so. My details are vague but I spoke with a number of people with an interest in what was happening at the time. Are we mindful of these possibilities and what can we do to try to protect ourselves?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: I have a final clarification. I had an interest a couple of years ago where the surrogate did not wish to hand over the baby. The witnesses are conscious of the need to provide for such a case.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: That has not been resolved.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: The option is there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: Some countries apparently allow anonymous sperm donors. What is the likely situation in this regard? Has that been clarified, and is the Department providing for it in its proposals?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: There will be an ongoing list of questions on this issue, and we need to be prepared for that. It is important we raise them at this stage to reassure the public and those who might be directly affected by the proposals.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 217. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for exceptional needs payments in each of the past three years and to date in 2018; the number approved, refused or pending respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2373/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 229. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which funding for exceptional needs payments became exhausted in her Department before the end of 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2385/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 43. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if extra staff are required to facilitate a more rapid process of appeals having particular regard to the hardship and stress caused by delays which appear to affect the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2033/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 44. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which her attention has been drawn to the impact of cessation of a means tested payment for any reason affecting in particular persons dependent on rent support while on local authority housing lists which, in many cases, can lead to accumulated arrears of rent and as a consequence homelessness; if the issue...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (17 Jan 2018)

Bernard Durkan: 226. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that interruptions in respect of payment of rent support will almost certainly lead to homelessness in view of the fact that persons in receipt of rent support have no other means of providing themselves with a home and that incurring arrears makes it virtually impossible for them...