Results 64,761-64,780 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Office of the Ombudsman) Regulations 2022 (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Hopefully we can change them in a positive way in so far as they affect public representatives, particularly in the Houses of Parliament.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Regarding the Minister's points, is there information on the number of jobs that are no longer available, that is, employees cannot go back to them because they have been filled, ceased to exist or whatever?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I accept that and I thank the Minister for the information, but we see evidence virtually everywhere of employers advertising the fact that they are hiring. We also see vacancies in the services and manufacturing sectors. Has any information been made available to the Minister as to why there are so many people who cannot fill the posts that they are advertising?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I approach the issue not as a Government Minister, which the Opposition suggests is in elitist mode, but as a Member elected by and representing the public. To what extent do we respond when energy companies such as the electricity, petrol and diesel suppliers seek or propose an increase? How do we react to that? Do we test it or accept it as being normal? Do we accept the suppliers' word...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his answer. It leads me to my next point, which is that this strategy was adopted in the 1970s and 1980s. The response to the request for information as to why increases were happening was a suggestion that everybody was doing it as a precaution. I do not accept that. I believe we need to test everything, particularly at the moment, because there is a grave danger...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I assure Deputy Doherty that we would welcome him with open arms. However, we need to deal with this part because it is not sufficient to say there is a worldwide trend of increasing energy. That is fine, but the worldwide trend then becomes the driving force as opposed to the necessity. I am looking for the necessity. There is another issue that needs to be dealt with by all parties in...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: That would be funny.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I am glad to see that. However, I contend that the level of investment so far with regard to onshore or offshore energy alternatives is far short of what is required to meet the targets to which we have committed. I am surprised the Opposition has not raised this issue because, in many cases, it was very vocal in its opposition to the provision of the necessary investment and was repeatedly...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I agree entirely, but I emphasise the necessity to ensure that wherever the investment comes from, be it from Government, private investors or wherever, it is accelerated to the extent necessary to achieve the targets in 2030, 2031 or 2032 and that we do not fall far short of the targets at that time. It would also serve to meet the criticisms in some quarters that we have not done our job...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Not at all. We could be coming on stream-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Correct. We will be coming on to that now.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: The Deputy has whetted my appetite so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Oversight of Sláintecare: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I want to be one of many to offer my congratulations to the HSE, the Minister's office, everybody involved and those present here today for the work done with regard to Covid. It proves what could and should be done at all times. I believe the next phase is how to superimpose that on the health service and deliverance generally. I have not yet heard that confirmation. To what extent does...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Oversight of Sláintecare: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: That is a good answer. If I was sitting on that side of the table, I would consider that to be a very good answer - one that is sufficient to make the committee walk away and say "that's been answered". It has not been answered. In respect of referrals to other jurisdictions etc., to which I am not opposed, has the Department evaluated the extent to which the number of patients on various...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Oversight of Sláintecare: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: How can we claim that we are on the road to introducing Sláintecare and that Sláintecare will make an impact on delivery? How do we quantify that when we do not see the results?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Oversight of Sláintecare: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: We do not see a reduction in waiting lists. The purpose of the exercise has been to introduce Sláintecare as quickly as possible. A number of key people engaged in that have resigned and have been replaced, will be replaced or will not be replaced. We do not know. Tell us all about it. This is a committee of the Houses and it needs to know. When we see public commentary in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Oversight of Sláintecare: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: The Chairman can ask another question if he wants. I lost time at the beginning.

Message from Select Committee (26 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: The Select Committee on Justice has completed its consideration of the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021 and has made amendments thereto.

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters (26 Apr 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37A and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor - to discuss greater resources for the regional ambulance service in the south east; (2) Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan - to discuss the proposed new core funding model for ECCE-only early years...