Results 63,401-63,420 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State. I invite Deputy Jim O'Callaghan to put his questions, followed by Deputy Mairéad Farrell.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Senator Casey is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I thank everyone who participated in the first session of today's meeting. We will suspend briefly to allow the witnesses to leave and new witnesses to join us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for attending the previous session. We will now proceed with the next business. I must read the following in respect of the second session, which relates to pre-legislative scrutiny of the Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021. I welcome members and viewers who may be watching proceedings on Oireachtas TV to this second part of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: We will bring in the members first and the witnesses can respond in kind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: No. Go ahead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Before we conclude, I have a couple of remarks as well. I thank the witnesses for coming before us. The scenario that was presented was interesting, particularly that of Mr Sheridan. Her description of her experiences was very illustrative in making the committee aware of the differences that exist. I am aware of the comparisons with our European colleagues. I am also aware that there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the witnesses and members for attending. I wish them a happy Christmas. They should celebrate carefully under the strict guidance, rules and regulations. We will have a brief suspension before further witnesses join us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I am not as familiar with this subject as my colleagues from Cork and I bow to their knowledge. Nonetheless, there are a couple of questions that have come to my attention. First, when was it initially decided that there was going to be a change of the service in Owenacurra and when was it announced?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Yes. This is a policy matter. I am asking where it came from. Who was driving it in the beginning? When was it first mooted?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: How did that change of mind take place? Originally, it was intended to carry on, to refurbish and to upgrade insofar as was possible, and to continue providing services. That changed as a result of what? I am not as familiar with Owenacurra as I would like to be but I am familiar with the procedures that apply in such circumstances. I would like to know who decided, “Sorry, we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: Excuse me. I want to hone in on that for a second. What part of it was not fit for purpose? Was it the structure itself - the buildings, the walls, the foundations, the roof? What was it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: That is not a reason for a complete turnabout in policy in relation to it. There is asbestos in many buildings and it is being extracted under strict safety guidelines that are in operation all the time. I will end with this. There are many old buildings throughout the country that were previously semi-derelict and that have been converted in recent years. Some have been converted into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Commissioner Designate (9 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the new Ombudsman and wish him well in the time ahead. I have no doubt he will give the role his best. He mentioned direct and indirect discrimination and the housing given to refugees the day they arrived in the country. There was an attempt to settle a number of families on a semi long-term basis. There were objections to that on the basis that, presumably, they were not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Insurance Issues: Engagement with Insurance Companies (15 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the witnesses. In relation to the slower than expected reduction in motor insurance premiums, will they give a single issue that might be a contributory factor? Is it because the new regulations, anticipatory or otherwise, are feared? Is it that they do not work as well as they should, that they do not apply in relation to motor accidents or that they apply less in relation to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Insurance Issues: Engagement with Insurance Companies (15 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: What has the witnesses' experience been in relation to the speedy settlement of claims since the new regulations came into being? Has there been a reluctance among parties to settle? If so, what is the main thrust of that reluctance? Has there been readiness to settle speedily?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Insurance Issues: Engagement with Insurance Companies (15 Dec 2021)

Bernard Durkan: In the case of motor accidents in which there are only two protagonists and no witnesses, what methodology is used to encourage an early settlement, if any? In respect of business interruption, can the witnesses indicate whether they have offered business interruption coverage to funds, banks or other lending institutions in the course of the past ten, 12 or 14 years?