Results 2,801-2,820 of 4,026 for speaker:
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: As far as I can tell, every centre is operating at capacity. Why did the loss occur last year?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: With extra staff and continued progress, does Mr. Synnott forecast that losses will continue? What is the financial outlook for when the centres are operating at full capacity with enough staff?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: Is the pricing structure for consumers stable? It costs €55 for a full test and €28 for a retest. Has pricing been examined and will prices remain the same for the foreseeable future?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: Has Applus made representations to the Department about pricing?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: Is pricing strictly a matter for the Department or does the RSA play a role?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: Would the RSA like to increase the price of the test? Is there a proposal on the table to increase it?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: That is good. Are we talking about 2024? Is pricing done on a yearly basis or could we get notice that the price has increased in two weeks' time?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: That is good to hear. The RSA is looking for new NCT sites in Dublin, Monaghan and Limerick-Clare. It is great to learn that a new site will be opened in County Kerry. Have sites been identified in any of these areas? Are sites close to being secured in these areas or is the RSA still on the look-out? I know the process is difficult.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: Is that north County Dublin?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: I welcome that as a north countyman. The RSA has got through the Covid backlog so its existing challenges are similar to the ones faced by other sectors in terms of labour force recruitment. Mr. Walsh mentioned staff retirements, which I understand. He also referred to "contracted staff reaching the end dates on their contracts". Where did those staff go? Was it not possible to extend...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: Perfect.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: May I ask one question? From where are the testers who we hope will come in coming? Are they driving instructors? Is that going to cause a problem? Where are the testers coming from?
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (21 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: 2. To ask the Minister for Health what efforts he has made to resolve the pay parity gap in section 39 organisations funded through the health budget in order to improve recruitment and retention in these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40547/23]
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (21 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: I ask for an update on the efforts of the Minister and his Department regarding what has been done to help resolve the pay parity issue in respect of section 39 organisations, which are predominantly funded from the health budget and provide such an important service in buttressing and supporting our health service in the community.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (21 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: The offer from the Government was designed to fail. It was nowhere near what was needed to resolve the pay parity and pay justice issue. Even management in section 39 organisations has been saying that. On the back of what we are seeing with St. Michael's House, which is a section 38 organisation, with young adults coming out of the school service and having no service available, where...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (21 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: The unions have never been backwards in wanting to engage with the Government on this. The Government is not meeting the basic asks these workers require. However, we are where we are. We do not yet have the results but we know there will be a mandate for industrial action, up to and including an all-out strike. If that happens, it will be a hammer blow to communities. The difference in...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vaccination Programme (21 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: 16. To ask the Minister for Health if he supports the provision of the chickenpox varicella vaccine free to all children through the primary or schoolchild immunisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40550/23]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vaccination Programme (21 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: Does the Minister for Health support the provision of the chickenpox varicella vaccine for free to all children through the primary or schoolchild immunisation programme?
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vaccination Programme (21 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: At the moment, should a parent choose to get the chickenpox vaccine for their child, it will cost approximately €90. It is a prohibitive cost for many. Many make the leap to get it done not only to protect their child's health, but also because of considerations such as parents losing work time and so on. The HIQA recommendation is a game changer here. Just after the summer break,...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vaccination Programme (21 Sep 2023)
Duncan Smith: That is great. As the Minister of State outlined, for many people, and children in particular, the disease is a mild one but it can have severe complications for some. I have heard of the phenomenon of chickenpox parties for kids over recent years. The disease was almost considered a rite of passage that should be got out of the way. This was never something I thought appropriate. If you...