Results 17,381-17,400 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Irish Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: All of my interventions have been short. I am thinking again about what I learned over the years. One of those things was the argument about Ireland having too many hospital beds. We heard that argument being made until about five years ago. Every time we had a meeting anywhere, it stated that there were too many hospital beds. That was the lead-in to the notion that nobody wanted to be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his reply, which deals in detail with the issues and will, I hope, result in an early date for the project. If I were to ask for one thing to happen, it is that the activation plans be pushed ahead as quickly as possible because time is of the essence. During the downturn in the economy, we did not have traffic problems anywhere but we have them now. We may be the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Assistance Payment Administration (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Hear, hear.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me raise this issue this evening. This may seem a complicated, convoluted and extensive issue, but in fact it is not. It is simple. The problems of traffic congestion in Maynooth that exist at present are severe and affect not only the people of Maynooth and Kilcock but also those further afield who arrive in a traffic snarl-up on the motorway...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Living in Maynooth.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for his interesting reply. I have carried out some experiments in this area. For example, much of the focus has been on native deciduous species which are, of course, not the best at sequestering carbon. In fact, Sitka spruce is one of the most efficient in that area probably because of its growing lifespan. Interestingly, the Sequoia, which is a fairly large...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I agree with the Minister of State up to a point. An argument has been ongoing for some time as to which species are native. The Caledonian pine, as evidenced by Professor Seamus Caulfield's work in the Céide Fields, was here 5,000 years ago. I am not certain whether it is a native species, but it has lived its time and I suggest it is a native species. I believe there is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 62. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has identified the degree to which a specific area of forestry can offset carbon emissions by way of sequestration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28581/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I am seeking to ascertain the extent to which various tree species can assist in carbon sequestration, thereby contributing in a positive way to efforts to deal with climate change without destroying the incomes of people in rural Ireland, particularly members of the farming community.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status Appeals (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 296. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for refugee status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42327/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 463. To ask the Minister for Health if an examination has been carried out to review the medical card guidelines for persons with spinal injuries who want to work but see the potential loss of the medical card as a significant disincentive to taking up employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42328/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 478. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains assured that adequate opportunities for expansion remain available to the agrifood sector with particular refence to new or alternative markets in the aftermath of Brexit; if he remains satisfied that measures taken to protect the industry are sufficient to meet the challenges ahead; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 479. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects traceability measures to continue to be enforced in respect of agrifood imports into this jurisdiction; if sufficient inspections continue to be carried out, with a view to ensuring absolute clarity in respect of quality, country of origin, husbandry and processing practices; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 497. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the checking of food and food products entering here from third countries directly or via other EU countries post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42239/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 495. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which adequate protective measures are available to assist families dependent on the fishing industry, with particular reference to the situation post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42237/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 496. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which fish processing here can rely on fish supplies post Brexit; the steps to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42238/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Exports (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 498. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which existing markets remain available to Irish food and food products after Brexit; if adequate new markets have been identified for exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42240/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 499. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which alternative markets for beef, lamb, pig and poultry meat continue to be available, or alternative if necessary in the aftermath of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42242/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 500. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which measures are in place to meet climate change requirements without damaging the economy in general and the food industry in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42243/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (15 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 501. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has identified extra costs likely to affect the food industry in the aftermath of Brexit; the degree to which alleviation measures are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42244/19]