Results 13,161-13,180 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of Covid-19 on Human Rights and Mental Health: Discussion (25 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: With respect, I was a member of that committee. It could honestly be said that the committee made every argument for and against; every possible option was covered. We went down the road of increasing restrictions, relaxing the regulations, opening up air travel and so forth. There were equally held views, for and against, on both sides.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of Covid-19 on Human Rights and Mental Health: Discussion (25 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: There is a sunset clause, however, which lays down specifically the expiry date of the regulations. It then follows that the Minister and the Government must make a decision. That decision must be based on balance and whether the regulations in place are required to be extended for a specific period. There may be only one extension and then a full debate on the situation would be needed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of Covid-19 on Human Rights and Mental Health: Discussion (25 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: That is in the event that it may be necessary, in the opinion of the Department of Health, the Minister and the Government, to extend the power to protect public health. On the other hand, it may not be necessary. The question that arises insofar as I am concerned is whether we are satisfied that we will have suppressed the virus by the end of October or the beginning of November. I am not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of Covid-19 on Human Rights and Mental Health: Discussion (25 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: However-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of Covid-19 on Human Rights and Mental Health: Discussion (25 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I know I am coming to the end of it. This will be my final intervention. Should it transpire that there is an imminent surge as we progress over the next two or three months, are we to say that we will debate this for a month or whatever the case may be, which could be seen by some people as a delaying tactic, or do we do something about it and leave the regulations? Incidentally, I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: As Deputy Hourigan and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are not here, with the permission of the House we will move on to the next matter and someone might make contact with the Minister's Department while we do so. Is that agreed? Agreed. We will revert to the two matters we have passed over and I ask that someone make contact with the Deputy...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - to discuss concern regarding a "Do not consume" water notice in Barndarrig, County Wicklow; (2) Deputy Alan Farrell - to discuss the quicker than expected growth in the renewable electricity sector within...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister is present for the first Topical Issue matter raised by Deputy Whitmore.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I think he is.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: We have to wait until the appropriate Minister is here to answer. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, will not take this matter.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: We will adjourn for a minute to give everybody a chance to get their information ready.

Nursing Home Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I cannot see anybody else offering so I call the Minister of State to reply.

Questions on Promised Legislation (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: In the context of the need for climate change targets to coexist with the agrifood sector and the need to monitor progress in respect of both, I ask the Minister to outline the extent to which he monitors the progress in those areas. For example, moss peat, which is an integral part of the horticultural sector in this country, is being discontinued and, I am told, replaced by an import. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Can I further inquire as to whether, or the extent to which, the Minister and his Department continue to liaise with the various trades and professions with a view to attempting to identify the precise level of requirement into the future, and how will this compare with the experiences of other jurisdictions in the EU over the last 20 to 40 years, given their success in that area? To what...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Has the Department, in its continued liaison with the various authorities throughout the country, observed any particular requirements specific to geographical areas that occur in one more than another? Is the Minister conscious of the fact that in the future we may need to diversify to a greater extent than in the past arising from, for example, Brexit and the impact of Covid-19? Are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I ask whether it might be possible to identify the direction in which the participants go after completing a course. Do many of them come back for repeat courses? Can they come back for repeat courses? In relation to the expansion, development and evolution of the courses for the participants, does the Minister of State have any proposals...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: 87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has advanced his proposals for the maximisation of achievement and the attainment of various targets identifiable through the mission statement of his Department; the degree to which the efforts to date are in consort with already identified requirements in the academic, technological, scientific and innovative areas with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: This question relates to a subject that I raised with the Minister previously in regard to the development of an adequate supply of highly qualified graduates in both the academic and technical areas, and meeting the market requirements in that regard.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: This question, in the name of Deputy Stanton, seeks to ascertain the progress made since the inception of the local training initiatives, LTIs, that is, how they have developed, the extent to which trainees have gone on to better things and a general profile of how the system is operating.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (20 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Will the number of participants, county-by-county, be made readily available? How many participants are involved now? Has the number fluctuated since the inception of LTIs? What reasons were given by those who did not complete their courses? Are there plans to improve, update or upgrade this scheme to attract the maximum number of participants...