Results 1-20 of 13,713 for at speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (16 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 108. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which coastal, air and sea surveillance continues at pace, given the various threats in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22330/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (16 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 141. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent, if any, to which heavy vehicles use the main arterial routes to and from the city at peak travel times; the action being taken on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22317/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Revenue Commissioners: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: The Chair was asking questions on an interesting subject. We have all read books about it at this stage. Off that subject, a couple of things come to mind. In the case of allowances, I refer to those who rent out their home to a separate entity for a particular reason and then rent a house elsewhere because it is convenient or necessary to do so. Why is it not possible to allow a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Revenue Commissioners: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: ...on my right referred to a change in farming practices. There has been an increase in very large enterprises covering a wide area and generally capitalising on the benefits of the size of the operation, which obviously cannot apply to smaller operators. As a result, the small farming outfits are diminishing rapidly and will diminish to a greater extent in the time to come. Are there any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Revenue Commissioners: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: There is a need for a re-evaluation that will in some way ensure, though not necessarily penalise people, there is a reasonably level playing field, so that the big club in football and hurling, as it were, does not gain everything. Recent events would indicate that there is a place for everybody in that particular area. However, it is essential that the system is seen to be fair, so that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Healthcare Strategies: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome our guests and thank them for their submissions. Much is made of the embargo as a reason for the cessation or the lack of services at the moment but there was quite a considerable extension of spending before the embargo came in, to the extent that a number of Ministers called out the fact that there was a danger of runaway spending that could become very threatening to the entire...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Healthcare Strategies: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: That is correct but, given the importance of the lack of services already outlined, should that not be at the top of the list for all people involved in the negotiations regarding the availability of funding and specialist places and so on, and in particular the areas where CHOs 1 to 7 have been funded but no team as yet has been funded in CHOs 5, 8 and 9? Surely those things should have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Healthcare Strategies: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: The only problem is that we do not attend the meetings where these goodies, these necessities, are handed out. Who is the person we need to talk to? I know the head of the HSE is one of the people we need to talk to and we will talk to him, but it is very easy to say "Look, it is the embargo. We cannot do anything." It is not the embargo. It is the order of importance along with all the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Healthcare Strategies: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: One Minister is actively pursuing the issues to which Ms Rogers has referred, to her frustration, I would say, at this stage. Again, it comes down to the same issue. It is not the embargo. It is something else. There is something else that needs to be addressed and that is in the overall situation whereby everyone lines up to make their case. That is the natural thing and it has to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Healthcare Strategies: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Does Ms Rogers think that at this stage, coming late to the table, as it were, that we are going to be successful given that we were not successful in the past? What do we need to do to unlock the cupboard door before making this a vital issue, which it is?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Healthcare Strategies: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I agree with the motion that was read out earlier. That is absolutely it. The only addition I would make is for the specific areas I mentioned and any other area similarly affected in order to ensure nothing is left out. Mention was made earlier to the new philosophy regarding Sláintecare. We spent a lot of time in this committee trying to ensure that representation for the regions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Healthcare Strategies: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I again thank our guests for their very logical presentation which sets out the goals and requirements. Nothing is worse than setting out the goals and requirements and then nothing happening afterwards. Given the sensitivity and importance of this area, I do not accept the notion that other areas went forward and received what they sought at the time but other areas received less and some...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (14 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for a comprehensive reply. In it, he identified all of the pinch points that are already visible and causing problems. The Minister of State is correct. There has been huge investment. However, even new schools that have been built recently are now overflowing and there is difficulty for pupils in catchment areas in gaining access to those schools. In some...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (14 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: In north Kildare we have a particular problem. We have a rapidly growing population. This population growth continues year after year but particularly in the last couple of years. We at local level, Oireachtas Members and members of local authorities et al., have put forward proposals ourselves to ensure catchment areas were regularly defined and that they were logical in terms of travel...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (14 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for that reply. Again, I am a bit puzzled that we have the incidents repeating and we have the technology to alleviate the problem. While we can say in the long term that we can reduce emissions, which is beneficial to the environment, at the same time we have a situation where parts of the island are being rewetted. I would think most people would agree that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (14 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: ...the country. We have had tremendous success and there are areas where there have been huge improvements. Then there are other cliff-edge areas between those areas which have received no adequate service at all yet. When will we join them all up?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (14 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: We should recognise and acknowledge the fact the provision of broadband is a massive leap forward in communications in this country. It is hugely important to business and industry, education, hospitals, schools and science in general. It has been speeded up dramatically by the availability of a reliable and adequate high-speed broadband. However, there are chasms in the system still that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (14 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 133. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which his Department has examined the fullest possible extent to which all measures to offset the impact of meeting such targets on industry, sector by sector, with particular reference to the need to avoid permanent damage to the economy while at the same time meeting carbon reduction targets; and if he...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: ...meeting emission reduction targets and ensuring the future of the agri-food sector, ensuring the future of the agricultural production sector while meeting carbon reduction targets to the greatest possible extent; if he is satisfied that neither will progress at the expense of the other, that food security for the future is assured and that everything possible is being done to reduce...