Results 61,121-61,140 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I find this entire scenario extremely distressing. It comes right in the middle of a housing crisis and at the same time as the pyrite and other issues mentioned by other members. We are looking at situations where consumers must shoulder the burden and have become the victims in that regard, despite it now being 30 years since the creation of the national house building guarantee scheme,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: How do the witnesses foresee the insurance industry progressing in the time ahead, given that there may be more claims and changes in the value and type of claims? How do they see the viability of the industry into the future?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Does Mr. Bradley see issues such as natural disasters impacting on the industry? Does he anticipate situations arising in the future where insurance cover may not be available to businesses based on their location and their liability to flooding etc., as has happened in the past?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: What areas do witnesses expect to be at greatest risk in the future? Having regard to the cyber sector and natural disasters, how do they anticipate the situation progressing in the coming years, given the experiences so far?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: How did the companies previously insure risk-based investment funds? I raised that question in the previous meeting. It arose from a parliamentary question I put down to the Minister about ten years ago. The reply stated that normally it did not happen. I did not ask about what “normally” happened. I asked whether there were any such offers offered and were payments made on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Were the witnesses’ organisations approached by any investment funds for cover at any stage, to the best of their knowledge?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I would love if Mr. Bradley can do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Rare Diseases: Discussion (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the witness for her presentation. It is stark and alarming, as it should be, because it brings to our attention in sharp focus the ever-growing, pressing need for investment in that area. Can I ask the opinion of Rare Diseases Ireland? To my mind, it looks as if a centre of excellence is required to deal with this particular issue. Laboratory facilities should be available here,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Rare Diseases: Discussion (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Why have they so many more people involved in the area? Obviously, we have not kept pace with them. Is there any particular reason? Have they been more advanced in their research, genetics and so on and so forth? Is that traditional or is it something that has emerged over the past number of years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Rare Diseases: Discussion (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: What are the things that we need to avail of------

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Rare Diseases: Discussion (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: However, if we want to develop a strategy, would it not be beneficial to have the full support of our European colleagues? Like Ireland, the rest of Europe is also entitled to the best available practice in dealing with rare diseases.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I would like to set out my real concern. We were able to give protection to the general public 35 years ago on the construction of a house through the structural guarantee scheme, the premium bond scheme, or whatever it became later. All these things fell into the dustbin during the course of the Celtic tiger. However, the general public, the consumer, had to pay up. The consumer was left...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Rare Diseases: Discussion (26 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: What about the European focus? To what extent has Rare Diseases Ireland or CHI at Crumlin liaised with the rest of Europe, with a view to co-ordinating our efforts? This goes back to the Single Market. I have always held the view that we are part of Europe. We are, therefore, entitled to the same services as those available in the rest of Europe at the same time, not some years later....

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome our guests and thank them for coming before the committee. That is about the end of my jumping for joy because the council's report is sobering. I am concerned about two issues. We are aware of the potential diminution of receipts from corporate profits tax. It is difficult to identify in the midst, heat and wake of Covid that we can at same time take the corrective measures Mr....

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: May I ask another question before that? Does Mr. Barnes believe a sudden retraction might have the effect of snuffing out the recovery and the acceleration the economy needs and is likely to take at this time? We might not have a recovery or it might be a very deflated recovery over a period of years if we take too draconian a measure to slow down taxation from the corporation tax side and...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Is IFAC not forgetting the potential positive impact of an economic recovery in the short term, as opposed to Government supports for the economy? Everybody agrees that those supports are desirable, good and effective for the time being. They would not compare in any way, though, with the economic performance that past experience has shown that we can achieve.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I listened with interest to the Chairperson's questions and I am learning as time goes by. I should mention that in quite a number of debates between 2011 and 2014, I had to apologise to all economists for what I was about to say about them regarding their predictions in previous years. I am not going to do that just now since we have had that experience, but I will ask a couple of related...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Has IFAC monitored house price inflation in the past three or four years, and the last year in particular?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 May 2021)

Bernard Durkan: What does IFAC deduce from that given it is deemed to be part of our taxation system and can be an impediment or boost to our economic growth?