Results 10,981-11,000 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Withdrawal from Irish Banking Market: Engagement with KBC (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: In how many countries did Mr. Blažek's bank remove the tracker mortgages, where such mortgages had been established?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Withdrawal from Irish Banking Market: Engagement with KBC (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Did KBC consult with the European Central Bank, ECB, when consideration was being given to the withdrawal of the tracker mortgage in this country? Was consideration given to the fact we operate in the Single Market and that whatever prevails in one country, prevails over all European member states and in the eurozone, in particular. From whence did KBC get the permission or authority to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Withdrawal from Irish Banking Market: Engagement with KBC (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: How did KBC Ireland decide to withdraw the benefits of the tracker mortgages? My colleague, Deputy Doherty, already referred to this. Permission surely had to be got from some quarter or central authority, whether it was the Central Bank of Ireland or the ECB, at which Ireland is also represented. The propaganda claim around that time was that the retail banks were losing as a result of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Withdrawal from Irish Banking Market: Engagement with KBC (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: The Chairman will be glad I am coming to a conclusion, but I could go on for a long time on this issue, having met representatives of KBC on numerous occasions during which we had many robust exchanges. I do not wish to go into that but I will register my points. Why and where was it thought Irish mortgage holders would be punished to the extent of being removed from the ability to enjoy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome Dr. Ehnts. I listened to his comments and I have a few questions. When the economic crash came we were all dumbstruck and we got a great deal of advice, some of it conflicting, from many quarters as to what should be done. Even though the advice was conflicting, on the one hand, there was an easy option and on the other hand, there was a different option, but, unfortunately,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Does Dr. Ehnts view inflation as a possible enemy of stability in the future given its various levels across the European Union at present?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Given that we in this country have an inflation rate above what we expected, the sustainability of that inflation needs to be carefully watched. I was one of the people who put down numerous questions on inflation and the potential destabilising effect it could have on the economy before the financial crash. All the information I got back that was to the effect that everything was fine and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I acknowledge that one size may not fit all but there needs to be an interlinking and flexible system within which all in the European Union can work. Otherwise, we will have a situation whereby every country, depending on its strength or weakness, will be going off in a different direction, in which case the European Union will be no more.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Substance Misuse and its Impact on Communities: Discussion (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome our witnesses and thank them profusely for their presentation. It was highly informative. It was a modern look at an evolving campaign by the leading drugs people, including criminal gangs, etc. It leads me to believe that we need a total re-evaluation of the way we deal with this issue. We must broaden the scope and work of the drug and alcohol task forces, individually and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Substance Misuse and its Impact on Communities: Discussion (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: The only point I will make in response is that if we reduce this situation to a resource-only one, then I do not think we are likely to be successful. We must show that we are successful in and capable of dealing with this issue. We must show results from what has happened in the past and how effective we are in dealing with this issue. I am not a supporter of allowing a certain level of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Substance Misuse and its Impact on Communities: Discussion (1 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I fully appreciate the seriousness of the issue. I have witnessed pitched battles between rival groups in broad daylight, under the noses of the authorities. This should not happen. Communities need to be protected, and whatever action is needed to do that, we must invoke it early. Otherwise, we will not get support from the powers that be. They will ask what we are doing and what is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister made an interesting comment to the people in Celbridge yesterday. He said that nobody should be left behind and that each student is an investment in the future, in the economy and in the quality of life. It is important to recognise that and encourage the people who may feel, for one reason or another, a lack of confidence or whatever, or that they cannot compete. They can,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Bernard Durkan: 68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he continues to facilitate the provision of an adequate number of qualified academics and technicians to meet the requirements of the modern workforce; the areas he has identified as requiring special attention; his plans to meet such requirements in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58606/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Bernard Durkan: This question seeks to ascertain the extent to which the Minister hopes to be able to meet the demands of the workplace in respect of academic and technical placements in the short to medium term.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he comment on the difficulty now experienced by the workplace in general of filling the posts that are becoming available? Does he feel it will be possible to produce the number of qualified graduates to fill those positions in academia and in the technical areas, knowing that we will face extra competition from across the globe?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his interaction with the students in Celbridge and Maynooth yesterday. Arising from that, does he continue to be convinced of the ability to draw on more of those students when they qualify and to help them to qualify by various means and incentives between now and the next three or four years, given the urgent and pressing necessity to be able to fill the positions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Bernard Durkan: 72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he continues to make provision for an increased supply of higher level graduates throughout the country, with particular reference to the need to meet the requirements of industry and academia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58607/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I ask the Minister for an increased supply of higher level graduates throughout the country, with particular reference to the need to meet the requirements of industry and academia. It is a very similar question to my last one but is focused slightly differently.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Bernard Durkan: On the basis of the information currently available, is it possible to identify to a reasonably accurate extent the availability of sufficient students who can graduate in the time ahead in order to be able to fill the positions that are now becoming available very regularly, as opposed to what happened in the past, when we had to export our population to get jobs abroad? The jobs are here...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (30 Nov 2021)

Bernard Durkan: 191. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a renewed driver's licence will issue to a person (details supplied) who requires a driver's licence in date for a business venture; if same can issue as quickly as possible as the request is time sensitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58914/21]