Results 56,581-56,600 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I will ignore the ribald commentary from my colleagues. I seek clarification but am not attempting to have a swipe at the Minister or his officials. Over the years I have repeatedly asked questions about the adequacy of the health budget to meet the challenges faced by the health services in the course of the year. At the beginning of every year I am always told that the budget is adequate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I accept that there are some improvements, but it is not good for morale in the hospital system or the health system, or for the morale of officials in the Department or anyone else involved, for us to be seen falling short of the target for one reason or another, or to do so again for a different reason in a subsequent year. That does not wash with the public or staff. It frustrates the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I will provide an example. There is no maternity cover at all for speech and language teachers. That affects a sensitive group of people who require speech and language therapy as part of their treatment. A teacher dropping out for six months, or less than six months, while no cover whatsoever is provided results in the child's general behaviour taking a downturn. That is not fair to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Before the Chairman moves on, I have been fairly negative but I would like to compliment the Minister and the health services on the recently announced upgrading of Naas General Hospital. It was much appreciated. It is long-awaited and will be enjoyed by the vast number of people who will attend it from the catchment area throughout County Kildare.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Will maternity cover for the speech and language service be addressed in the short term given that there is a recurring difficulty? For some children who require speech and language therapy their condition will worsen as will their quality of life due to a lack of speech and language therapy. Is an insurmountable cost involved if one were to provide cover in those sensitive situations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I will give my information first. The reply received was that there was no maternity cover for speech and language therapists. As a result, the patients or children receiving the therapy can no longer get the therapy for the duration of the maternity leave. To my mind, that seems like a minor issue that can be dealt with relatively easily. Can it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I raised the issue because, as I am sure the Minister understands, a child's therapy is interrupted for a period that results in the setting back of the services available to that child. His or her quality of life is affected because one cannot repeat that phase of a child's life. It is gone. Scoliosis is an issue that I raised initially. Given the severity of scoliosis, the concerns of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I thank Dr. Henry. I also raised the issue of agency staff.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Chairman, is it possible to get a graph of that information?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I hate to be pejorative at any time and especially at this time of the day. I refer to a decision made by this Minister and the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment on 2 January and 3 January this year. It relates to the transposition into Irish law of the EU directive on ionising radiation. That obviously affected the practice of chiropractics. The Minister at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Has the Minister stimulated them in their urgency to reply?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I had a note to deal with a drugs rehabilitation programme. The Minister responsible is not present. We might have an update as soon as possible on that one. It is an area that we need to discuss.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reorganisation (3 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 7. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which it is anticipated that the new Garda operational structures and divisions will improve policing in general with particular reference to bringing the operation of the force here into line with best practice in other countries, making adequate provision for community policing, juvenile liaison personnel and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reorganisation (3 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: My question seeks to ascertain the extent to which the recently announced operational restructuring will impact on the services provided by An Garda Síochána, with particular reference to quick response, local and community policing and the need to ensure rapid deployment to areas in which anti-social behaviour is taking place.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reorganisation (3 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his reply. Can I further inquire as to the extent to which it is anticipated that patrols will be mobilised and increased throughout urban and rural areas? We have experienced significant instances of repeat crime committed by people on bail. To what degree will the new structures be able to intervene in a positive way from the point of view of the general public?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reorganisation (3 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the changes and wish the Garda administration well in the operation of those changes. Will the deployment of gardaí to trouble spots in rapid response to calls become a feature of the new system? I ask that question in light of recent events that all of us in this House have spoken about and everyone in the country has read about. Will modern technology be utilised to the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: The land development agency Bill is promised legislation that will have a bearing on making available land for building houses. At what stage does it now stand? Have the heads been cleared and is it ready to come before the House?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Property Construction (3 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 53. To ask the Minister for Finance if a land locked site (details supplied) will be examined by NAMA with a view to enabling the necessary details and procedures to be progressed in order to facilitate housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40241/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (3 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 75. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a company (details supplied) continues to be contracted to the OPW in respect of general maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40383/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (3 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to persons (details supplied) who wish to send their child to their local primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40235/19]