Results 48,761-48,780 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: It is an interesting question, which concerns taxpayers' money.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: I was going to propose something positive at this stage in the new year - an award for creativity to the Government Chief Whip. According to the published legislative programme, there is at least one year's legislation on the basis of the Government performance over the last five years. The document encompasses at least one year's work. I wish to bring the creative part to the Ceann...

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister has decided not to go on and on, which we are glad to note.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Either we are serious about this or we are not. An indication was given some time ago that there was a very short legislative programme that would be dealt with quickly in the new year, and then there would be a general election.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: I have not been over it.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: I am entitled to go over it on the Order of Business.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: I am anxious to let my party colleagues in as well. As I see it, it will be this time next year before this legislative programme is completed on the basis of our previous performance.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: The other matter I wish to raise is something to which the Ceann Comhairle can attend himself. Over the Christmas period, we all had occasion to listen to commentators speaking about the performance of legislators both in this House and in the Seanad.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: No, this is a matter for legislation.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: This is a matter that relates to performance. Without doubt, the biggest single obstacle to the performance of the Houses of the Oireachtas is the reluctance of Ministers to answer legitimate questions.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: I am not.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: I have raised this many times before.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: If we continue like this, we will have a good case for abolishing Parliament altogether because it is not being allowed to work.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: It is being smothered and suffocated by Government Ministers who have a deliberate agenda to ensure that it does not work.

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: My last point relates to your good self, a Cheann Comhairle. I thought the new year would start on a better note, but my questions have been refused in the usual format, which states that "the Minister has no responsibility to Dáil Éireann in these matters". I have received two such questions from the Ceann Comhairle's office today. I do not want to go into the details, or have coffee...

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: It is not part of the reform process. For God's sake, I cannot understand how these questions could be answered ten years ago but not now. What is wrong? What is the Government hiding?

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: May I ask the Ceann Comhairle, who presides over the proceedings of this House, to relay to Government Ministers the importance of answering questions as they are raised here and which are relevant to their Departments?

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: In fact he does. The Ceann Comhairle, as president of this House-----

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: The Ceann Comhairle has the same power as the Speaker of the House of Commons who took the initiative when this system was being abused, by calling on government Ministers to answer questions directly. That is a fact.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Bernard Durkan: Question 141: To ask the Minister for Finance to indicate the extent, if any, to which he and or his Department has monitored significant over or under spending for the end of year 2010 in the respective Departments; the reasons given for any such variation emerging; if any further action is contemplated in the event of further departure from budgetary targets in 2011; and if he will make a...