Results 42,941-42,960 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his Department respond to the sometimes negative criticism directed at this country by a minority of EU national parliaments with a view to ensuring collegiality, support and solidarity in the context of the European project and that members of national parliaments recognise the need to take...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he sees it as a priority during Ireland's Presidency of the EU to initiate a programme of information for the membership of national parliaments with the objective of generating a unified approach to issues currently affecting the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50460/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the country's worldwide now deemed to be the top ten world's poorest countries; the extent to which the international community continues to engage in a coordinated effort to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50462/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the EU and the UN continues to monitor the situation in the Western Balkans with particular reference to the need to ensure continued stability and progress through democracy in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50463/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, in conjunction with colleagues at EU and UN level, continues to identify and address areas of conflict, ethnic cleansing and or human rights abuses worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50464/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will indicate the extent to which he continues at EU and UN level to focus attention on the ongoing situation in the Middle East with particular reference to addressing the complaints on all sides in their respective areas of concern, whether a particular permanent structure exists whereby ongoing grievances can be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which attention continues to be focused at international level in the matter of achieving progress on the Palestinian Israeli issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50466/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community continues to monitor the situation regarding alleged human rights abuses in Iran; the progress that has been made to date on such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50467/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community continues to monitor the persecution of academics in Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50469/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he continues to galvanise support for the alleviation of starvation, strife and famine in the horn of Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50468/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which any progress has been made in the matter of undocumented Irish in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50470/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the situation in Sudan and neighbouring jurisdictions continues to be monitored by the international community; the extent to which this has had a positive bearing on the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50471/12]

Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: With regard to promised legislation, could the Taoiseach indicate the progress to date in bringing before the House the legislation to provide for an all-Ireland gas market, particularly in the context of North-South co-operation? Have the heads of the Bill been discussed by the Cabinet? When is it expected to bring the legislation before the House?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: I compliment the Tánaiste on his success in securing a position for Ireland on the UN Human Rights Council. I congratulate him and his Government colleagues on the tremendous effort they are putting into the whole European project at present. I refer particularly to the position they are pursuing in the context of Ireland's need for a healthy budget. The disparate views that emerge...

Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: The first part of that sentence is correct.

Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: Pull the other one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Misappropriation of Irish Aid Funds in Uganda: Discussion with Irish Aid (13 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: On a related matter, the audit committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade made some recommendations which the committee should follow up. In June 2012, with regard to a recommendation to appoint a risk assessment officer, the chairman of the audit committee said: It is disappointing that the Department has not yet found itself in a position to implement two appointments...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Misappropriation of Irish Aid Funds in Uganda: Discussion with Irish Aid (13 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: It is a Private Members' Bill. Is it sponsored by the Government or the Opposition?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Misappropriation of Irish Aid Funds in Uganda: Discussion with Irish Aid (13 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: Even though it was a year there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Misappropriation of Irish Aid Funds in Uganda: Discussion with Irish Aid (13 Nov 2012)

Bernard Durkan: I have over many years repeatedly raised questions about this issue and on each occasion I was given reassurances. To what extent is consideration given to achieving greater accountability by bypassing local administration and providing direct assistance? It would appear relatively simple to have non-governmental organisations or the donor country in question identify projects to ensure the...