Results 23,761-23,780 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: Over the past ten years, both sides of the debate have called for a referendum. In accordance with those expressed wishes, it follows that we should go along with the recommendation to put before the people a question on which they can decide. I think we should proceed in that context.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: Our power is not the ultimate power at all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: This is an important distinction. From the evidence presented during the hearings and having regard to the rapidity with which a woman's health can deteriorate in a situation such as has been set out, what may well not be a serious risk at a particular time may be a progressive risk, with its progress rapid, so that by the time the risk is determined as being serious and action is taken - if...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: Madam Chairperson, Senator Mullen asked me to clarify a matter and I think that I should do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I did not make my remarks lightly. I made them having dealt with individual cases and not just sparsely but in recent times. All of the medical attention was available but it was not enough to help people determine when was the right time to intervene. It is critical, regardless of whatever intervention taken place, that recognition is given to the fact that both the mother and the baby...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: The medical practitioners have experienced such situations and can confirm what I have said. In all of the cases that I have dealt with, of which there have been a few, the patient was the first person to indicate that she was unwell and that she did not have the confidence to continue. We must keep all of that in mind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: With regard to the last vote, did the Chairman say at the end that someone was missing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: We need to acknowledge the widespread use of the medical pill that is now available for termination. It is already being used, and it is also used in the United Kingdom and many other countries. In tandem, we have to recognise that there are no legal or medical supervision requirements attached to the use of the product. To fail to address that issue could possibly leave the State liable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: The other way-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I know but we need to answer. The other answer is that we ignore it altogether and pretend it is not happening, in which case criminalisation remains in place, leaving it open to somebody to take an action against somebody who is already availing of a particular route to deal with a situation such as rape. If it is intended that we should oppose that and restrict the ability of a woman who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Completion of the Examination of the Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly and Preparation of a Draft Report in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Joint Committee (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: On the proposal of no vote. We are voting on the proposal not to vote.

Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: Hear hear.

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his reply.

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: To what extent does the Minister see a common policy emerging backed by the UN - which has considerable influence and investment in the area - and the EU, with a view to a coming together of their respective positions and using that influence in a positive way to reinvigorate the stalled peace process?

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I agree with the thrust of what the Minister has said with regard to how the situation, explosive and sensitive though it may be, should be approached. The Minister and his EU and UN colleagues should come together at this juncture with a view to doing exactly what he has just said. Their aim should be to calm down the situation and establish a bridgehead to move on the negotiations and the...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: 36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he and his international colleagues can encourage a calming of the situation in Jerusalem with particular reference to the need to ensure that recent events do not precipitate violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53169/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Hospital Consultants Contract: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I am aghast that something of this magnitude was taking place under the radar of the supervision of a number of people. I do not know how it could have taken place. At this committee we have raised on numerous occasions the snags that interrupt the free flow of patients through the public hospital system and nobody ever seems to be able to tell us the answers clearly. My first question...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Hospital Consultants Contract: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: Who monitors the fulfilment of consultants' contracts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Hospital Consultants Contract: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Bernard Durkan: I apologise for interrupting, but what type of data is visible? If there is a long waiting list for two types of treatment such as ophthalmic and orthopaedic procedures, is it not possible to inquire why patients are waiting and where the responsible consultants are and who employs them? Are the waiting lists sufficient cause to say this is a serious matter and that something needs to be...