Results 5,521-5,540 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am aware of the efforts being made to resolve the difficulties in this particular situation that effect both constituencies and that will continue to so do. Whatever has created the problems, there is a need to restore public confidence in the system, particularly because of the various competing issues that confront parents these days having...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Will do.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and compliment the Minister for her work to date in that area - work that, unfortunately, is ongoing and has given us all a great number of headaches over the past six months or so. It involves the school catchment areas around north Kildare; and the feeder schools to post-primary schools and the community college in Maynooth from...

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I have experience in that area.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Under a delusion.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Keep deluding yourself.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Supply is the issue.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: We have an island.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Deputy Gannon is inviting me.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Everything else has failed.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I am sorry.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: It does not work.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: It does not work.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: This is a very appropriate debate at this time. The title of the debate, referring to organised crime, clearly indicates the disorganisation of society. Many of the organised criminal gangs to which we now refer regularly have larger budgets than some small countries. They do not count their wealth anymore in hundreds of thousands or millions of euro but in billions of euro, and that is a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I again bring to the attention of the House the concerns expressed by Supreme Court judge Mr. Justice Peter Charleton in relation to the undue and worrying influence of special or expert witnesses and their ability to influence, unduly, the decisions of the courts, in other words, replacing the courts. This particularly relates to family law courts, in which such witnesses now have the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for that detailed reply. It goes without saying that the agrifood sector played a major role in economic recovery at a time when the country needed it. It also goes without saying that we do need to do more in terms of climate change. The problem is that we do not know how much more and how much more effect this will have on the climate change issues we must address. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: This is an important message to give at this time and I thank the Minister of State for it. We need to look at the extent to which other countries, including EU countries, are contributing in the same fashion as we are, for example, countries with similar populations and a similar dependency on the agrifood sector. I am not so sure every country is singing from the same hymn sheet as we may...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Supports (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: In support of the previous speaker, I recognise that the Minister is concerned about the sheep-farming situation in south Kildare, but also in north Kildare. It is a concern of mine also. In the event of unfavourable conditions, such as market factors, and of opportunities no longer existing or our being ineligible to qualify under the Brexit reserve, some means will have to be found to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 91. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to monitor any potential erosion of the production capacity of Irish agriculture, with particular reference to the need to ensure increased output in the area given the degree to which Ireland's economy has depended upon the agri-food sector; the need to address climate change and emission issues,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: This question relates to my favourite subject: the need to do more to reduce emissions and increase food production given the worldwide shortages of food in various markets and the likelihood of these affecting us in this country in the not-too-distant future. I ask that these two issues be specifically addressed in every way and every day possible.