Results 10,901-10,920 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: 699. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that meat and meat products imported into Europe comply with European standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60492/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Business of Joint Committee (7 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I am bit concerned about postponing the meeting at this stage as we are in the run up to Christmas. We could well find ourselves without a slot if we encounter further inclement weather conditions to the extent we have today. We should go ahead with the meeting today and we can have a second meeting, if necessary. That would be a better proposal. I propose we have a second meeting to deal...

Social Welfare Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: The Deputy cannot receive good news properly. He should put up his aerial.

Social Welfare Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I will not delay the House long because it has been a long day and a long night. I compliment the Minister on the dedication and the single-mindedness with which she set about the task she has had for the past year in the face of the advancing Covid pandemic and on being able to respond to so many people so quickly, turning around applications so quickly. It is a great tribute to her and...

Social Welfare Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: The Deputy cannot control the debate.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I ask the Minister to reply to the debate. The Deputy cannot interrupt.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 8 December 2021.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: That concludes the list of speakers and I now call on the Minister to reply. The Minister has a long list.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: We cannot have a point of order.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Until the people are safe.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: They can get rid of us all.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: We will see.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I have listened to the various remedies that have been put forward. They are interesting but they are confusing because they are contradictory with the exception of a few speakers. Deputy Bríd Smith suggested a return to communism to resolve the problem of Covid.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: The point is this: that is an extreme remedy. Everyone forgets that we had that for 50 years and it failed. We could go back in that direction again, try out another experiment and say, "That is the way to go." Then we think of Venezuela where the cactus blows around the streets. One can imagine the music of Ennio Morricone as Clint Eastwood rides into town in the midst of it all. That...

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: It has not. That is the simple answer and we would want to watch out for that. What has happened is the Opposition has changed its views hourly and daily. It forgets one thing. The virus has changed almost every day and the urgency of the virus has also changed. It has become necessary to do different things in a different fashion in a different sequence on a daily basis. Let us...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Excuse me, but is there any possibility of speaking for a few minutes?

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I could speak for hours on this subject, as could the Ceann Comhairle.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: It remains to be seen if we will achieve the objectives that we want to. However, I agree entirely with the opinions expressed by my colleague just a few minutes ago. It is sad. We have had many debates on this subject and we still do not seem to be able to break through the glass wall. We know what should happen. We all talk about it. Yet we do not seem to make it happen. With no...

Finance Bill 2021: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (2 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: While I am very fond of my two colleagues who are very likeable guys, although I do not like them to the extent that I want to go over and hug them or anything like that, I want to point out that they are misguided, and that is the unfortunate thing. They mean well and want to do the right thing, as we all do, but they are misguided in looking at the issue from one aspect and one point of...