Results 50,681-50,700 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: I agree with the previous speakers. It is important that the Department comes before the committee in order to answer the legitimate questions that the committee has a right to put. Notwithstanding what any outcome might be, this discourtesy of refusing to come before the committee cannot be tolerated.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: I assure the Chairman that at my stage of life any minute is a bonus. I also wish to point out-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: I do have a number of questions that I intend to pursue. I have waited patiently until now. First, it generally goes without saying that if people take a wage or salary cut, there is an expectation of restoration. Did the HSE give any indication at the time of the cuts that section 39s would be treated separately or that it would be difficult to achieve restoration in their particular...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: Does that apply to other organisations that Mr. O'Donnell is aware of?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: Who is likely to take up the slack, the work that would be-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: I wish to continue on similar lines. The staff of the section 39 organisations are not regarded as public servants but I presume they received cuts to their salaries and wages. Is that acknowledged? I presume it is. There is a bit of a shady area here in regard to how the cuts were imposed on those involved in the section 39 organisations. Was there a bloc cut to the grant right across...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: Surprise, surprise - no. I asked whether an impression had been created by the HSE that section 39 organisations might not qualify for pay restoration. Was such an indication given in the course of the last year when other organisations througout the country were in negotiations or preparing for the restoration of pay? It is a natural supposition. Has the HSE given any thought to the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: When the economy began to turn around, was there not a growing recognition within the HSE that this was the natural progression of where it was going?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: Was there a reaction or an anticipated reaction? Given that we do not know the sum which was requested to compensate for these contingencies, do the witnesses think that if a smaller amount had been sought the response might have been more positive?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Section 39 Organisations: Discussion (31 Jan 2018)
Bernard Durkan: What was the reaction, for example, when the powers that be saw the extent of the request to deal with this situation? Were they aghast? Did they express shock and horror or did they say that the amount was too high and that they would not go there? What happened?
- Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: I can empathise with Deputy Smith's dilemma. I ask the Minister to consider the point that a little modern imagination should be used when the rules are being defined at local level. It has been shown that it is possible for this to be done without breaching the national rules. As Deputy Smith has said, a precise measurement can sometimes be achieved by satellite but, depending on the...
- Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: Absolutely.
- Other Questions: Teacher Recruitment (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: 14. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that his plans to ensure the retention of an adequate number of teachers in primary and second level schools are sufficient to address the issues as outlined by the teacher unions; if he continues to have discussions in that regard with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4888/18]
- Other Questions: Teacher Recruitment (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: The Minister might comment on the INTO's submission in its efforts to assist in that context.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: I will address the previously mentioned issue regarding terrorist offences in the form of ongoing killings between criminal gangs. The criminal justice (terrorist offences) Bill is promised legislation. Would there be consideration to making membership of a criminal gang a criminal offence?
- Topical Issue Debate: Children and Family Services Provision (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: Yes.
- Topical Issue Debate: Children and Family Services Provision (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: The Deputy has suggested three minutes and one minute.
- Topical Issue Debate: Children and Family Services Provision (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: Two and two is the normal procedure.
- Topical Issue Debate: Children and Family Services Provision (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: The Ceann Comhairle would have to have given prior approval for that. I am sorry. I do not have any latitude in that regard. If it had been discussed with the Ceann Comhairle prior to this, it would have been possible. The Deputy can register her interest, but that is all I can allow.
- Topical Issue Debate: Children and Family Services Provision (1 Feb 2018)
Bernard Durkan: No. I cannot allow it. I must do my job too.