Results 67,421-67,440 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Facing Emergency Departments in Public Hospitals: HSE (17 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome our guests. I pay tribute to the health workers, who have been under the cosh, for want of a better expression, for a long time. There have been three years of emergency treatment, with Covid and various outbreaks in various places, new outbreaks, and so on. It is necessary to pay due compliments to those who have soldiered on the front line in desperate situations. I also pay...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Facing Emergency Departments in Public Hospitals: HSE (17 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: No, but if you do not have a plan you will not change anything.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Facing Emergency Departments in Public Hospitals: HSE (17 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I mean no disrespect but this is what I am talking about. The plan is vague as far as I am concerned, and I am a member of this committee. The plan is not manifesting where it needs to in a crisis, that is, at the coalface. It manifested during the Covid crisis and the system worked, but it was necessary to have all hands on deck and weekly indicators of progress. Why can the same not be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Facing Emergency Departments in Public Hospitals: HSE (17 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I am aware of that. I am also aware of the need to have a plan, but it cannot be a plan that just goes on forever. It has to achieve some targets, which need to be clearly visible to all and sundry at the coalface in the health services and among the general public. Be it a one-year or two-year plan, let us get something working. What we have now is not working and we regularly have...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Film Relief Section 481 Tax Credit: Discussion (resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank our guests for attending and for their useful address. In general, what is the extent to which our guests have been satisfied with the workability of section 481? There have been various reports, some of which are hard to quantify and so on and so forth but, in general, have there been complaints? Are there ongoing complaints? Is it possible to identify any such complaints? I am...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Film Relief Section 481 Tax Credit: Discussion (resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: It can be anyone. I am willing to hear from all comers.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Film Relief Section 481 Tax Credit: Discussion (resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Does anybody else wish to respond? For instance, I see a significant area of possibility in the film industry selling the country, which would be of benefit to all the participants in it, including actors, producers and even extras, and their ability to avail of the opportunity to become involved in the industry and make that count. In particular, I have spoken previously, as has everybody...

Capacity in the Health Services: Motion [Private Members] (18 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 25 January 2023.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (18 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State for being available in the House, as usual. I am a bit concerned about this because it is a question of emergency medical cards. These occur in situations where a particular life-threatening or life-changing illness has affected a family and the concerns of the family are and continue to be such that they feel they are entitled to an emergency medical card. In...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (18 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister of State has a clear understanding, as I have, of the regulations as they apply. They should be applied in a humane manner to take account of situations that may arise out of the ordinary run-of-the-mill circumstances. The HSE has to take account of a situation that may affect a family who are traumatised enough by virtue of the challenges facing them. If a person is seriously...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Department of Health (Resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: It related to the risk posed by the public identification of the centres, hospitals, GP practices, etc., that are providing the services. For instance, as a citizen, I do not want to and should not be able to drive onto a street or a road and identify where services of a particular nature are being provided. This is provided that those services are legal and that they are being provided by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Department of Health (Resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: That is a positive measure. It is very useful because it does not select, identify or isolate anybody who intends to provide the service and who might be overawed or intimidated by those protesting against the provision of service. I reiterate the importance of the service and how it can be and has been a life or death issue for some patients seeking those services. We know from history...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Department of Health (Resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I pay my compliments to all the people who have given of their time, energy and expertise and worked on this Bill. I should mention that I was reluctant and still would be reluctant to identify the locations where people are seeking access to a service that is legally provided for them in the country. The debate that arises is whether they should be able to access such services with full...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (19 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 111. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects to be in a position to continue to implement the national development plan in all of its aspects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2350/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (19 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: This question seeks to ascertain the extent to which the Minister can continue to assist in the delivery of the national development plan, in particular by identifying the possible stoppages or barriers to the progression thereof.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (19 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: To what extent will the Minister be able to reach out to the various major players who are in the course of delivering the NDP, or have a realistic contribution to make, with a view to identifying the problems they are facing? Is it possible for the Minister's Department to address the problems directly in such a way as to accelerate the rate of progress, which most commentators will readily...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (19 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. Can I further inquire whether, following the liaison with the various groups, he might be in a position to give instructions or to encourage an acceleration of the various aspects of the plan with a view to ensuring the targets are met within cost and on time?

Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this important legislation. I have listened attentively to the speeches made by colleagues. It is a timely intervention by the Minister to introduce this legislation. I am not sure it will do the job that we expect it to do. This is an indigenous industry that is self-sufficient. It kept this country going at times when there was nothing...

Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I plead with the Minister to bí cúramach and watch out for what is happening because there is a move towards a financial takeover by some interested people who see this as a viable target. Of course it is viable from their point of view, but we cannot eat viability. We have to produce food. Whatever else happens, there will be offers made to the food producing sector to do X, Y...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (19 Jan 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 30. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he continues to monitor transport costs and the contributory factors thereto, with a view to ensuring any negative impact on the economy might be alleviated insofar as is possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2351/23]