Results 34,481-34,500 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost Competitiveness (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 73. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he continues to monitor the cost base for Irish industry with particular reference to comparison with other adjoining and EU jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48699/14]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Supports (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 74. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which smaller indigenous companies may avail of assistance by way of support for research and innovation with consequent improved job retention and creation prospects; the extent to which he sees such smaller companies being in a position to avail of such assistance in the current and following years; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 118. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 352 of 2 December 2014, if an application for asylum or refugee status has been made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; when such application was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48560/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 134. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 271 of 25 November 2014, if she is precluded from releasing the information required therein in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; if so, on what basis, legal or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48745/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 154. To ask the Minister for Health if a medical card will reissue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, with particular reference to regulations governing discretionary medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48520/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (17 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which precise requirements in apprenticeships have been identified throughout the industrial sector; the extent to which this need is being met and is likely to be met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48697/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Year for Development: Dóchas (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: My apologies, Chairman, for being absent. I am still trying to be in three or four places at the one time in terms of work. The definition of sustainable development is hugely important. Who decides what is sustainable development? For instance, who decided on the targets? Was it decided by the United Nations centrally or by NGOs or politicians, remembering that politicians are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: It was a creepy-crawly, in any case.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: That is where the contradiction comes in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: They were consultants, experts and scientists, etc. All of that must be provided for. I am concerned about the degree of duplication and the cost involved. The famous case of the hen harrier would be another example. The designation of special areas of conservation certainly caused the generation of a great deal of antipathy towards Europe, towards politics in general and towards the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: I thank our guests. I apologise for having to absent myself. I was trying to cover two headings at the same time. It is a very difficult thing to do. Those of us who are familiar with urban and rural areas would always be quick to point out that the qualification guidelines for European-based or European-assisted payments to farmers or anybody else are very rigid. They are much more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: We spoke about irrigation, drainage, flood plains and all this kind of stuff. We now live in a time when it is a sacrilege to drain areas of wetlands on the basis that some little slug who is living there and worming his way into infinity needs to be protected at all costs. Some years ago, €20 million had to be spent to divert a motorway after one of these slugs was discovered. His...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: It is just about to become massively apparent. I am talking about waste, overlapping and duplication. To what extent has the court seen such situations? How does it examine and deal with them? My colleagues have rightly referred to what happens in the agriculture sector. How we can eliminate the issuing by one Department of a directive that is in violation of another Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 98. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 6 November 2014, the extent to which the capital review referred to therein has been completed; when it is likely to be published; if he remains satisfied that the use of specific Government bonds to fund particular capital projects is not best practice in view of the fact that such bonds...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 107. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which his Department continues to evaluate the infrastructural requirements throughout all regions in the country with a view to identifying the means whereby economic investment and development may be more evenly encouraged throughout the regions thereby alleviating some of the social and economic pressures on areas...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 130. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a report into the ongoing investigation by her Department following the provision of a spurious P60 for the former employer of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 and who has been unable to receive any social welfare assistance from her Department in approximately 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 145. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in respect of a determination of appeal for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48073/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Data (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 196. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which positive developments in the economy may be reflected throughout the public and private sectors in the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48468/14]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 262. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the levels of savings achieved through reform across the public sector has been quantified on an annual basis in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48467/14]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (16 Dec 2014)

Bernard Durkan: 263. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which reform, as a component in economic strategy, has achieved savings in line with projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48469/14]