Results 74,001-74,020 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: I was afraid the Ceann Comhairle would take my remark personally. At this juncture, it is worthwhile to remind the Government of what it has done to the poor, unfortunate motorist. It has created traffic jams everywhere and charged motorists large sums of money to inhale the exhaust fumes from their cars as they sit in traffic. What else does it have in mind for motorists? The motorist and...

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: ——and again the motorist who is carrying the €4 billion burden of his annual subscription to this Government, will sit in the tunnel in the gas without a gas mask. That is appalling. The Ceann Comhairle is a medical man and will recognise the dangers.

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Absolutely. I am not going into detail; I am just making a passing reference to the dangers of motoring and the burden of the tax bill on the motorist.

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: The safety of the motorist is important.

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: I hope that you as a medical man have kept that in mind as well. The people on the other side of the House have forgotten about it entirely. They do not give two pins for the poor unfortunate motorist; all they want is the €4 billion that he has to give them and they have various ways of getting hold of it. They take it by way of VAT, including on tyres, excise duty, motor tax and fuel tax....

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: My time could not be concluded.

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: I am delighted to come to a conclusion. I extend my sincere condolences to the unfortunate Irish motorist who carries on his back the greatest burden of all European motorists by contributing to the State €4 billion per annum for which he gets very little in return.

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Those are not the statistics of the last few days.

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: They are parked in traffic jams.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: May we hear the answer again?

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 191: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she or her Department has identified the most serious obstacles to Irish competitiveness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4011/04]

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 138: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to bring insurance costs here into line with competitors with particular reference to motor, fire and public liability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3808/04]

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has undertaken an investigation into the lack of competitiveness in the Irish economy which seems to originate with goods or services not contained in the CPI and consequently not reflected in inflation rates; if a scientific evaluation can or will be undertaken on these issues; and if she will make a...

Written Answers — Trade Statistics: Trade Statistics (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 171: To ask the Taoiseach the extent to which imports and exports between this country and low wage economies have developed in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3994/04]

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 183: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit applications processed by her office in the past 12 months; the number which were new and repeats; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3996/04]

Written Answers — Export Statistics: Export Statistics (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 184: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new markets for Irish goods and services which have opened up in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4001/04]

Written Answers — Export Statistics: Export Statistics (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 185: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the growth in imports to this country in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4003/04]

Written Answers — Export Statistics: Export Statistics (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 186: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent of the growth of Irish exports in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4004/04]

Written Answers — Export Statistics: Export Statistics (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 187: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself that Irish exports remain sufficiently strong to ensure medium and long term stability in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4007/04]

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (10 Feb 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Question 188: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which insurance premiums, including motor and public liability rates, compare now with those of five years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4008/04]