Results 32,961-32,980 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - Draft National Reform Programme 2015: Discussion (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Not to be so explicit in the determination of the targets that they want to be met within the timescale. For example, there are countless situations where a person who has a 25 year loan might find themselves reaching 70 years of age before the end of the 25 years. The lending institutions saw fit to lend to that extent at the time of the institution of the mortgage, but they now see things...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - Draft National Reform Programme 2015: Discussion (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome our guests and thank them for their submissions which have been most interesting. I agree with Senator Hayden about identifying specific deficiencies in the regions, whether urban or rural. It is a work in progress and we must concentrate on it to ensure we have a balanced economic spread of development across the country. Some may be isolated and an anchor investor is required...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - Draft National Reform Programme 2015: Discussion (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Many people were not born at the time. I was on one of those much-criticised junkets. It was a learning experience and one of the first things we learnt was in Stuttgart, headquarters of Mercedes manufacturing, where 20,000 people worked. The benefit was visible as one approached the city, one knew there was a big player in the area because so many ancillary industries had piggybacked on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Semester - Draft National Reform Programme 2015: Discussion (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Once upon a time.

Topical Issue Debate: Exceptional Needs Payments (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. There is a little inaccuracy in it that I will convey to him privately-----

Topical Issue Debate: Exceptional Needs Payments (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: -----so as to avoid any embarrassment to anybody. In the first case, the unfortunate situation was that a young person had to become the statutory carer for the remaining siblings in the family and, in fact, had to become their guardian and take on guardianship responsibilities. In those circumstances, there is no more pressing case that I can think of where the maximum payment...

Topical Issue Debate: Exceptional Needs Payments (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State.

Topical Issue Debate: Exceptional Needs Payments (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, for coming to the House to deal with this issue, which relates to two very sad cases that occurred around the same time. It involves the death of two people, one after a very lengthy illness, following which the household was left with various financial and other difficulties. However, I do not propose to go into those details in this...

Order of Business (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: What is the current position with the Adoption (Tracing and Information) Bill? What is the schedule for its process through the House? Also, has the important Geothermal Energy Development Bill been approved by the Cabinet for publication? Similarly, what is the position with the proposed insurance Bill to provide an alternative statutory regime for insurance companies not covered by the...

Leaders' Questions (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: It is out of order.

Topical Issue Matters (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 27A and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív - an gá fíor phráinneach go dtaraingneoidh an tAire Ealaion, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltactha an fógra ag lorg tairiscintí do sheirbhísí aeir go dtí na...

Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Second Stage (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: You have 30 minutes. There is no shortage of time.

Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Second Stage (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Slightly.

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 6. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the various local authorities have made overtures to his Department seeking funding in respect of local authority housing; the number of housing units acquired to date on foot of this initiative in County Kildare and other counties adjacent to Dublin; the extent to which new applications for housing, or...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: This question attempts to ascertain the extent to which the various local authorities in the greater Dublin area, including the adjacent counties, have had contact with the Department with a view to identifying the degree to which they propose to be able to activate the housing programme in the shortest possible time.

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply. Given that there are almost 7,000 families on the waiting list in County Kildare, does he believe that the indications, based on the information to date, are that it will be possible to meet the most urgent cases, namely, those who are homeless and those likely to become homeless in the near future, within a reasonable time?

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I agree with the current approach given that for many years nothing was happening in the housing area. Will it be possible to monitor on a monthly basis the extent to which progress is being made in those counties most severely affected by a shortage of housing and an excessive number of people on the local authority housing lists? To what extent can he do that and reassure people on those...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Strategies (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 37. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which efforts are being made to reactivate various developments in towns and villages which were suspended in the wake of, or arising from, the economic downturn, with particular reference to the need to maximise the availability of accommodation for the retail and commercial sectors; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 47. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who has been in constant employment for more than 40 years, qualifies for dental benefit ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16154/15]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (23 Apr 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 48. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining an application for domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who applied in February 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16006/15]