Results 39,241-39,260 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: This is about expenditure and the need to meet certain targets in the current climate.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: We did not bring that climate upon ourselves but we are facing up to it. I acknowledge the sacrifices that the people of this country have made. It is a difficult time. Where are we now?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: We have pushed that snowball up the hill. Deputy Mattie McGrath left the snowball behind him after failing to face his responsibilities when he was in Government. The people of this country have moved that terrible burden up that incline with great sacrifice. They have succeeded and, while our hearts go out to them, we also congratulate them for what they have achieved. We have one more...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: I know Deputy Boyd Barrett is sincere but he is also tragically naive. The people have suffered so long that it would be a terrible tragedy were they to follow the lunatic policies put forward by some people on the opposite side of the House. Some of the Members opposite know that in their heart of hearts. They know that when it comes to the crunch, the people of this country expect the...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister for Social Protection must take up the slack when people become unemployed. The blame for the numbers who have become unemployed rests with people like Deputy Mattie McGrath, who abdicated his responsibility. Unfortunately, the people of this country have been punished as a result of his negligence and the negligence of the Government of which he was a part. He saw the train...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: There is no need to pretend it did not happen. Others in the Opposition have similarly failed to face up to their responsibilities. I congratulate the Minister for Social Protection for doing an extraordinarily difficult job. She will be the first to accept that people have been hurt. She has been in this House for a good number of years. It is an appalling situation. I ask those on the...

Other Questions: Telecommunications Services Provision (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply and for outlining the provisions and objectives he has read out. I am sure he, I and everybody else in this House has had experiences in various parts of the country where one moves around the house or upstairs and sometimes out into the backyard or up the road to get an adequate mobile telephone service. This is not happening in other...

Other Questions: Telecommunications Services Provision (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 11. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the telecommunications sector in this jurisdiction, including broadband, mobile telephony or satellite communications, has evolved to a sufficient degree to ensure the availability of state-of-the-art telecommunications throughout the country; the extent to which it has been found possible to augment...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Experience of Estonia and Latvia in the EU: Discussion with Estonian and Latvian Ambassadors (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Chairman. I welcome our guests and thank them for their presentations. Mr. Martinson referred to two issues that are very important for smaller countries within the European Union, namely, sovereignty and the digital economy. Sovereignty is something we can make and break ourselves, in that our contribution to the sum total of what the European Union is will, in many ways,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 27. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he expects to be in a position to facilitate the development of the wind energy sector within the context of achieving previously identified targets; if the development of the sector will be governed by specific or particular planning guidelines, statutory regulations or instruments; if he will set...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 141. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the maximum rent at which they can receive support and the maximum rent support payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45485/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 142. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal in respect of rent support will be decided in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45486/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 143. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when outstanding child benefit will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45487/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 144. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if arrangements have been made to make payment of supplementary welfare allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare while awaiting a decision in respect of further documentation in regard to an appeal hearing or oral hearing, in view of the extreme hardship caused to the applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 158. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his preferred options for the operation of wind generating turbine throughout the country with particular reference to the permitted height and proximity to dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45542/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cyber Security Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 159. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which modern technological advances can be utilised to prevent or track Internet bullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45543/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which broadband, state-of-the-art technology is available in all areas throughout the country; the way this compares with other EU or non-EU competing states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45544/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which new and or compatible services and facilities will be supplied by An Post thereby enhancing its future and extending the quality of its services to the community throughout the country by maintaining its next-day delivery objectives and counter services daily; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 162. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which exploration licenses granted, on and off-shore, in each of the past ten years to date have been activated; the number of viable discoveries; the number of explorations currently underway; the extent to which commercial viability is anticipated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45546/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (24 Oct 2013)

Bernard Durkan: 164. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources arising from the number of exploration licenses granted in each of the past ten years, the extent to which discovery of oil, gas and other mineral deposits have been identified on and off-shore; the degree to which their commercial viability has been assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45548/13]