Results 62,981-63,000 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will offer temporary residency or stamp four status to enable participation in employment in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23301/07]

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 153: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress in the family reunification case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23303/07]

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 154: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the missing documentation required to validate a new visa application in the family reunification case in the name of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23304/07]

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 155: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the immigration section of his Department continues to insist that the applicant came to the adverse attention of An Garda Síochána in respect of motor offences when no offence was committed in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23305/07]

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 156: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the particular dietary needs of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2 cannot be met at their present location; if he will arrange transfer to alternative accommodation with ability to meet these needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23306/07]

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 157: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status in the matter of residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23307/07]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 180: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects high quality broadband availability here to be on par with the service available in leading European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23280/07]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 181: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he proposes to take steps to bring the quality of broadband service here into line with that in other European jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23281/07]

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 182: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his preferred options for the provision of a next day delivery postal service throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23283/07]

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 183: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has reviewed the number of post office closures throughout the country; his proposals to ensure the retention of the maximum number of post offices and sub-offices with a view to the protection of the integrity of the postal service and its viability in the future; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 184: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is his intention to retain the post offices and the postal service in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23285/07]

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 185: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way his recent decision to slash the grants for the provision of alternative energy heating systems in dwelling houses is likely to encourage a reduction in consumption of fossil fuels; if a cost benefit analysis was undertaken; the results of such study; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 187: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his preferred options for the future of the ESB, Eirgrid, the entire generation and transmission systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23288/07]

Written Answers — Electricity Supply: Electricity Supply (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 188: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the uncertainty regarding the ready availability of electricity for major industrial users, including local authority sewage treatment systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23289/07]

Written Answers — Mineral Exploration: Mineral Exploration (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: Question 189: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the future development of the mining and exploration sectors on and off-shore, having due regard for the need to encourage mining exploration and at the same time give a fair return to the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23290/07]

Establishment of Committees (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: It is something I have studied carefully. There are some analogies. In Malaysia, the same party has governed for almost 50 years. It has experienced the same pattern of events as this country. The same main party has been in power all the time. It has a presidential style of leadership, committees to defuse situations — to lance the boil, to remove concerns from within and from...

Establishment of Committees (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: The mother of parliaments would not be where I would necessarily look for an example of what is less than democracy. We will park that and deal with it again. We have reached a time when we must look at the way parliament is run. Parliamentarians are elected directly by the public. Unlike other democracies, we have no list system and Members are elected directly. This is the most pure...

Establishment of Committees (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: It is to the discredit of the Government that it keeps coming up with this. Every attempt allegedly made to improve the system brings with it a referral to a committee and on-line submissions that the Government will deal with directly to the exclusion of the Opposition. The Opposition can make on-line submissions too. What is the benefit of having a parliament? Why not abolish it and...

Establishment of Committees (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: It is unfortunate that my time has expired——

Establishment of Committees (11 Oct 2007)

Bernard Durkan: ——because I have more comments that I would have loved to make. We have relegated the role of the plenary session of parliament to the role of a committee and have elevated the role of committees to plenary sessions. We have seen the extension of the committees and they have become the extension of Ministries, a means whereby the Minister can have his persona in a particular role doing...