Results 181-200 of 72,031 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: We worry about the Minister on a daily basis.

Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: The tedium must be terrible.

Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: More like poodles.

Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: I want to take up where Deputy Rabbitte left off. I have come to the conclusion that there is a constant conflict of interest between the roles of Government and the Opposition and the only way around this is to hold committees of inquiry. When the parties in Government were in Opposition, they had a clear and distinct view of the way the business of the House should be run. They believed...

Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: When the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, is longer in the House, he will learn all about pomposity, although in the short time he has been here he has brought it to a fine art. He must have a PhD in pomp, ceremony and arrogance. If he stays in the House a little longer, he might learn a little humility. It might sit uneasily on his shoulders but the longer he has it the more he will respect it.

Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: That was a typical example of the kind of arrogance I have been talking about, as if further illustration were needed.

Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Exactly. I am surprised the Minister of State has not rushed to Ballinamore to help them out and say, "Hello, I am on your side." Having spent some time on a parliamentary inquiry with some other Members of this House — this has been mentioned already today — I feel I am in a position to comment on their value. Obviously, the legal profession is a little uneasy about parliamentary...

Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: When the Minister of State has been somewhat longer in this House and has some more experience he will recognise the snail. He should not forget the phrase "aithníonn ciaróg, ciaróg eile". He might even recognise more than the snail. The Minister of State was oblivious to some of the things happening around budget time in his own Department. His senior Minister said he was an innocent lad,...

Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: This is relevant. I am suggesting what might be investigated under the terms of the commissions of investigation. The snailwatcher opposite can take full custody of, and responsibility for, his Department which has an obligation to examine these areas of major wastage. It should ask the serious question of whether they should fall within the ambit of the Commissions of Investigation Bill at...

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: He did not.

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: Unfortunately, I cannot extend the same welcome to the Bill as did the previous speaker. The Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission was quite effective. Everyone knows that this commission was established to depoliticise appointments to the public service. I accept that the latter might not be popular in modern society. The commission served its purpose extremely well. I am sure...

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: We will not deal with that matter at present, although we may have to revisit it at a later date. Even those Ministers who knew nothing about decentralisation on the night before it was announced were ready on the morning after to welcome public servants of all descriptions to their constituencies. I hope the programme goes well. Will we return to the good old days when the proposals in the...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: To whom does the adviser in question report in the course of the monitoring undertaken? Is it to the Attorney General or to his own office? Does he liaise with the legal agent in each Department, does he initiate or do they initiate? To whom does ultimate responsibility fall regarding the initiation of a proposal?

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: What about the legal agents?

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: So there is no contact with the legal agents?

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: The legal agent in a Department surely has some standing, particularly regarding the legality of legislation or proposed legislation and with regard to liability which might fall on a Department on foot of proposed legislation.

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: It is.

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: He asked about a proposed Bill.

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: He asked a question about promised legislation

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: He did.