Results 47,541-47,560 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

EU Summits (19 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Ten years ago it was the greatest issue.

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Another addiction.

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Perhaps it is a smoker telephoning.

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: That was me telephoning.

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: I am a lost cause because I am a smoker, unfortunately for a long time. I have not learned the lesson just yet. Oddly enough, I enjoy smoking. I do not smoke when I am under pressure. I smoke when I am relaxing and want to enjoy myself. I am well and truly a lost cause. I also spent time in prison. The smoking regime in prison is different, although it is many years since I was there.

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: The psychology that is being applied to disincentivise smoking is all wrong. The shock treatment is wrong. I agree with Deputy Ross in that regard. It tends to affect those who have already been tragically affected. It makes them relive the tragedy and brings it up close and personal once again. It does not do anything for anyone else other than to revolt them and turn them off. I do...

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: The other thing that annoys me is the creation of the perception of smokers as guilty, unclean and as outcasts in society. I have been in smoking rooms abroad where the air extraction systems work extremely well. The only people who bother going in them are those who want to smoke. I have only gone out of a room once in my life to smoke outside in the open air. It is an appalling thing to...

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: For whatever reason, many of the decisions made had a positive and long-lasting impact and were taken in the best interests of the provision of a health service to society at the time.

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Political correctness is a thing that bugs me intensely.

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: It is an appalling thing. Some people wear pink coats, others wear yellow coats and others still wear white coats. Wearing a tie is a help as well, as one can wear another colour. There is nothing wrong with that. Political correctness drives us all in a particular direction. When our children were small the thinking was just beginning to emerge that one could not buy a cowboy suit for a...

Written Answers — Public Expenditure: Public Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 20: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has identified the areas most prone to public expenditure overruns by reference to the figure for each of the past five years; the extent to which he is likely to be able to combat such excesses with the least negative impact on job retention and creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Public Expenditure: Public Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 131: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which he has identified potential overruns in public expenditure in the current year to date; his plans to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20640/11]

Written Answers — Public Expenditure: Public Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 132: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, based on the experience over the past five years, the most likely areas to incur expenditure in excess of budget; his plans to deal with any such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20641/11]

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the nature of any outstanding requirements in respect of the issue of a passport in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20652/11]

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 135: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent he has reviewed performance related payments throughout the State and semi-State sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20644/11]

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 136: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if performance related payments have been made in cases in which the performance was below par; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20645/11]

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 128: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is expected that budgetary requirement appertaining to the public service in terms of employment levels are likely to be met by natural wastage and voluntary redundancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20637/11]

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 129: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his priorities in respect of public sector reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20638/11]

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 134: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has identified areas of public sector reform likely to yield greatest benefit with minimum negative impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20643/11]

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (14 Jul 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 137: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the practices identified by him as being most in need of reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20646/11]