Results 66,221-66,240 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (22 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 334. To ask the Minister for Health when a medical card will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46513/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Chairman. I welcome the Minister and his officials to the meeting. I thank him for the information he gave us in continuation of the previous meeting. A couple of issues arise. First of all, at the time the bank proposed to downscale the availability of cash at a number of branches throughout the country, would it have been better if it had postponed whatever the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Of course, that may well be the case but, unfortunately, the public may draw their own conclusions and come to the conclusion that it was in retaliation. I questioned the chief executive on that and he also said it did not happen. I believe that from the point of view of a customer, the conclusion will inevitably be reached that there was some correlation. I know the Minister said that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister. I wish to ask about another issue in respect of shareholding by NatWest in Permanent TSB. Is that shareholding likely to have any influence on banking policy in this jurisdiction given that NatWest is pulling out of the market here in the form of Ulster Bank? It is not, therefore, retaining an executive position or anything.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Is there no possibility that Permanent TSB might have to look over its shoulder in the event of it doing something that might not meet with approval? Is it purely an investment from the point of view of NatWest?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister. Given that banks generally are reducing their staff numbers right across the board and there is very considerable reduction, is that a factor in the determination of the ability of the banking system to avert fraud? For example, there was a time when the banks would telephone a customer in the event of there being something unusual, a large transaction or whatever the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: When before the committee, the banks were suggesting that the reserves they are forced to hold at present were in some ways a deterrent in regard to the extent to which they could lend to their customers. Is there a possibility of there being a reduction in the amount of reserves they are required to hold? The reason the reserves are there now is because of the financial collapse but we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I have two final questions. Can we be assured that the pillar banks here are adequately funding the small business sector, the construction sector, etc.? Are they taking up their full responsibility there in order to ensure the ongoing growth, development and improvement of the sectors?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: The credit unions require a greater reserve. Is it possible that might change in the near future in order to address issues in terms of credit that might be necessary given that it has always been the tradition of banks to offer less than the customer required? The logic of that has always escaped me because if business persons are making applications for funding, they obviously have done...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I will finish up in a second. It has been represented to me that the investment funds have been forced to fund the house-building industry, for instance, in areas where the pillar banks refused to enter. Is that true?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: It was also suggested to me that the interest rates chargeable were considerably higher than would apply to the commercial banks, the pillar banks. My conclusion would be that this, in turn, would cause house prices to increase.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: The Chairman mentioned that vulture funds do not and refuse to appear before the committee. It is possible, however, to discuss issues relative to them, and their activities, in their absence if they decide not to appear before the committee. If I were them, I would much rather be present to answer questions, but I think they should be reminded of that. I intend to return to my favourite...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I have a final question relating to taxation, if I may, which the Minister might or might not choose to answer. If the head of a household decides to move away from his or her home and relocate in another, distant area, whether for home protection reasons or whatever, and lets the home property to a tenant, I would have thought the income from the home property could be set out as revenue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: My apologies for being obliged to opt out and I welcome our witnesses. There has been a clear request for resources and I believe that forward planning is part of what I, as a member of this committee, view to be necessary. The HSE has received a memorable budget in terms of what it proposes to spend in the current year. What more is required? Has the HSE managed to quantify that? Is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: What is the cause of that? Why is there a mismatch of demand and capacity if the demand is known or anticipated and there is an unprecedented budget in terms of the funding available? Why can those two not be matched more carefully?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: How often has demand and capacity been matched previously? How often is it reviewed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Is adequate recognition for the region being granted from the HSE, given it is not exactly in the Pale in so far as management is concerned? How is that working out? On the provision of Sláintecare and its anticipated impact on the regions, is Ms Day satisfied with the degree to which her region is going to receive instant consideration at all times, whether or not that is successful?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Ms Day referred to those two strains running together in parallel without impacting negatively or otherwise on each other. Some of us, by the way, put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that the regions received fairer consideration in terms of reallocation of funding. Not everybody was in support of that but a number of us on this committee were strongly supportive of it. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: A few years ago, there were severe and acute problems with waiting lists in that area and emergency measures were taken. It was assumed that they had been resolved to some extent and then along came Covid. During that period, were capital funds used for current expenditure purposes and if so, to what extent?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: How much better?