Results 58,141-58,160 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: The next slot is my own. I agree that we have a capacity issue. It has been there for a considerable time and has been growing. We also have a staffing issue and the added complication of people being paid at different levels within the system. That has been a result of issues largely outside the command of most people. I have some questions. Do the witnesses support the concept of a...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I referred to the short, medium and long-term plan because I have been associated with the health services for generations at this stage. It is only in recent times that we heard of the lack of capacity of physical buildings and, obviously, the follow-on in staff. It is only in recent years we were told there were too many beds. Yet, it was obvious to most of us that this was not the case....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: No, I am in the hands of the Chairman.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I have already raised the question on capacity, the priorities and the manner in which we should set about achieving the necessary capacities. The IMO stated that it had been putting this issue for the last ten years. I have been at health meetings in the last five years where the suggestion that we had an over-capacity in beds came up again and again. I did not believe that at the time. ...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I am easy Chairman, as always. Will I have five or ten minutes?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I presume I will have ten minutes. I welcome our witnesses and am glad to renew our acquaintances, it is not so long since we met in different capacities, in a different time, in a different era. A few things have come to mind which were raised in the earlier session. They concern the challenges facing the delivery of health services at present. The Irish Medical Organisation, IMO,...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: Have staff levels at consultant level been adequately replaced or replenished?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: Concern was expressed about the need to provide cancer care services and screening in the present climate to restore to the required levels the screening and diagnostics needed, and at the same time provide for, perhaps, a second wave with regard to the pandemic. Are sufficient provisions in place to be able to withstand both challenges at the same time?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: At the present time, it is suggested that considerable numbers of people are awaiting oncology results or tests and could be on a waiting list for some considerable time, which is obviously not a good place to be. It is the same with regard to endoscopy services. To what extent are the witnesses monitoring the requirements there? What actions are they taking, or have they taken already, to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: Am I out of time?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I am out of time, not for the first time in my life.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: We are out of time and we have to move on to the next speaker, Deputy Cullinane.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: Given the challenges Mr. McCallion has identified, which will emerge in the next six to 12 months, there is likely to be a cost. Has the HSE made a submission to the Government on the extra challenges and how they might best be met? For example, should the responses to them be funded by grants, loans raised under the European Union's €800 billion coronavirus recovery fund or some...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (21 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: 18. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the guidelines he has issued to Departments in the context of complying with expenditure guidelines and meeting the various targets this year and for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16860/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (21 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: 19. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which he remains satisfied that public expenditure targets can be met by the end of the year inclusive of revisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16859/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (21 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I seek to ascertain the extent and nature of the guidelines issued by the Minister to various public bodies throughout the country. This relates procurement and so on. Incidentally, I congratulate the new Minister and Ministers of State. This is the first occasion I have had to put questions to them directly.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (21 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. To what degree does he foresee the Government's ability to monitor the various Departments' demands in the first instance as well as the possible shortfall in available resources in view of the fact that changes in the economy, market and so on may take place in the meantime? Is it possible to identify accurately the kinds of need each Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (21 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State. Does he foresee a situation whereby the Government will be able to identify accurately possible overruns in respect of Government contracts at an early date with a view to putting in place measures to correct such overruns if necessary and how does he foresee this interacting with contracts?

Early Years Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (21 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: This business is to conclude in two hours, in the usual way. I understand that Deputy Funchion is sharing time.

Early Years Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (21 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I invite the Deputy to proceed.