Results 30,881-30,900 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (25 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 121. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take in conjunction with his European Union colleagues to protect the concept of the viability of the family farm enterprise throughout the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41992/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (25 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 122. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which all farm support payments already due in 2015 have been paid to date; the number outstanding for technical or other reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41993/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (25 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 123. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which all countries throughout the European Union observe conservation measures to safeguard fishing stocks; the locations still most vulnerable in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41994/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (25 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 124. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that farm families here will continue to benefit from Common Agricultural Policy reform in a fair and equitable fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41995/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (25 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 126. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which pig and poultry producers have been able to upgrade their accommodation in line with animal welfare regulations; if any specific issues remain outstanding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41997/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (25 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 127. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which new markets for beef, lamb, pig meat, and poultry, or products thereof continue to be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41998/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (25 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 128. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy and frequency of checks and inspections in respect of food and food-product labelling in this country and throughout the European Union, with particular reference to the need to preserve the integrity of the food industry, and to recognise its importance to this economy; and if he will make...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (25 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 129. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the strength of the beef herd, with particular reference to the need to ensure the availability of sufficient calf production to meet the current and future market requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42000/15]

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: He spoke in anticipation.

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: It is very difficult to deal with this subject in two minutes. Deputy Boyd Barrett made some positive comments, with particular reference to climate change and the responsibility on all of us to make alternative arrangements. However, he is not entirely correct in citing the various geological surveys, as the cost of drilling off the coast of Ireland is different from the equivalent cost in...

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: We could then go to a lending institution and borrow the money to carry out the exploration on the basis of hope. It does not work that way. It never did and it never will.

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: That is reassuring.

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: How much oil?

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I could not resist the temptation to contribute to the debate on this amendment. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle knows how it is. We have had this debate on many occasions during my time in this House. It has certainly been a regular debate during the past ten years. I remember a very tortuous debate that took place in 2005 or 2006 when I was a member of a committee that dealt extensively with...

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: In Norway, one in seven explorations is a commercially viable strike. That is the difference. In this country, the strike rate is somewhere between one in 40 and one in 47. I cannot be sure. I cannot remember exactly but there is a distinct difference. Given that reductions in the use of oil and other fossil fuels will be debated at the climate change talks in Paris next week, I cannot...

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: As Deputy Rabbitte said, this is for the fairies. When we were kids, we used to hear stories from the older generation about the little people. They talked about the fairies who lived in forts up on the sides of hills. We were told that if we went out at night, we were liable to be accosted by them.

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: We were told that we would be dragged away down to the bowels of the earth never to be seen again.

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I do not object to Opposition Deputies talking wildly, throwing figures around with gay abandon and saying there are billions to be made. A figure of €600 billion has been mentioned. Why hit on a small sum? Why not come up with something big?

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I think those opposite have got their papers mixed up. Their papers are definitely mixed up when they are talking about Norway. The oil, gas and coal resources that are directly offshore in Norway are up to 12 times greater than the known resources. That is a fact that has long since been established. The problem is that we have to move inexorably towards a programme of dealing with...

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Are we going to have billions and billions of gallons and barrels of oil coming out of the ground and spewing up black smoke?