Results 34,101-34,120 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I remind members that we are here to discuss six programmes and I urge them to condense their comments as much as possible.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: That subject is more appropriate for our discussion of section D.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: To get through these programmes as quickly as possible and to give everyone a fair chance, I urge the Deputy to discuss programme A, which deals with promoting Ireland's economic and trade interests in Europe and internationally.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I must stop the Deputy because I want to give everyone an opportunity to contribute. The Deputy has strayed into the area of international peace, security and human rights. I ask him to stick to discussing the programme on the promotion of Ireland's economic and trade interests in Europe and internationally. He will have an opportunity to contribute on each programme as it arises.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I call Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. I urge everyone to concentrate on the first programme and remind them we are required to scrutinise each programme individually.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister would never do so.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I will not interrupt Deputy Eric Byrne as long as he sticks to discussing programme A.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: That concludes questions on programme A and I call on the Minister to reply.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I congratulate the Minister on his performance in this area and on the launch of the new passport card, which will become very popular. It is a handy device to gain quick access to Europe and, to some extent, other places worldwide. It represents a huge leap forward in terms of the utilisation of modern technology in a modern fashion to meet modern needs. With regard to distressed Irish...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Will the Minister address the case of an Irish citizen in prison in Egypt?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I am sorry for having to leave the meeting. I compliment the Minister, his officials, the Ministers of State and all involved in the Stormont House Agreement. It went largely unnoticed at a time of competing issues in the public airways but if it had been unsuccessful, it would not have gone unnoticed. I mark that and compliment all concerned. The challenges are different with regard to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I know we will come to that. My last point refers to something the Minister said. The issue of the right to practise religion and freedom of speech is topical at present. I offer a personal view. The Constitution provides protection for the practice of all religions and respect for all religions whatever they may be, and respect for each other as well. That is as it should be. In the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I ask the Minister to comment on the UN and the right to practise religion.

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: Out of order.

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: You named the person.

Free Trade Agreements between the European Union and Columbia and Peru: Motion (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: I remind Deputies that I must call the Minister at 11.55 a.m.

Free Trade Agreements between the European Union and Columbia and Peru: Motion (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: The next three speakers are Deputies Eric Byrne, Brendan Smith and Joe Costello. They will have ten minutes each.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 13. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has held with the local authorities in Dublin and the counties adjacent thereto such as County Kildare to address the issue of homelessness; arising from such discussions, the degree to which his Department and the local authorities are in a position to address the situation; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (28 Jan 2015)

Bernard Durkan: 24. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the private housing sector with particular reference to the ability of first time buyers or those in need of a home excluding investors; if they will be facilitated in their efforts to acquire a family home at a reasonable cost; if his attention has been drawn to the...