Results 68,021-68,040 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin (1 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: How do we address the issues that exist in order to prevent their recurrence? I am referring to the considerable overcrowding that is taking place. It is taking place to a greater extent in the regions. The waiting lists are a separate issue. The overcrowding in accident and emergency departments is taking place specifically in a number of very sensitive locations. The same ones are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin (1 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Why do we not see the evidence of that now? There are some regions throughout the country that seem to have a good turnaround, insofar as access to EDs is concerned and no major overcrowding, whereas more of them have a serious problem that keeps recurring again and again. In the event of there being a national board or organisation, as Dr. Burke has mentioned, the HSE is supposed to extend...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin (1 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: We are talking around the answer to my question all right but I have not yet seen or heard that if we had more of X,Y and Z we could do greater things. Of course, we could. At the same time, we have an expensive health service, without doubt. It is supposed to operate. There are elements of the health services that operate very well to the highest possible standard and to international...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin (1 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: We do not have them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin (1 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: The nub of the problem we are discussing is who has the power to change things. Whence should we take advice? I do not want to go over old sores, but we were all advised many years ago that we needed to reduce the number of hospital beds and have less capacity. We have less capacity now. We realised that was the wrong decision because it leaves us in a very difficult situation whereby we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin (1 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Some of us mere politicians strongly opposed the reduction in bed numbers precisely because we would not have sufficient capacity to meet the situation, particularly in the context of an increased population. The next thing we come to is care in the community and in the home. I have always held the view that it will take at least twice, if not three times, as many staff to operate care in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin (1 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Surely all aspects of the delivery of health services are a priority. If any element is removed, it throws the weight or burden onto some other sector within the services. Dr. Burke asked which hospital I was in recently. I was in St. James's Hospital. I went in as a public patient, not as a private patient, through the public hospital system to test the system we are always talking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin (1 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I know where Dr. Burke is coming from but the counterargument is that, if 100 people arrive in an accident and emergency department, some will obviously be more severely in need of care than others. There could be a situation whereby many people require emergency treatment at the same time. If that is not demand led, I do not know what is. I am just mentioning that to Dr. Burke. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 16. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which transport is being staggered at peak times to ensure the greatest utilisation of the road, rail and bus network and improved safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10475/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 69. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which progress is likely on urgently needed arterial road developments deemed by those directly affected to be vitally necessary in the shortest possible time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10476/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Procurement Contracts (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 115. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he continues to take action to expand and improve the public procurement process in a way that is appropriate to the ongoing needs of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10473/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 122. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which issues are being considered that are most likely to have an impact on improving delivery on the national development plan, with particular reference to specific infrastructure which is now, or likely to become in the near future, critical to progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10472/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he and his Department continue to ensure best practice and safety throughout the road, rail and bus network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10673/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to be in a position to improve the capacity of the M50 and the M4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10674/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 172. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any particular traffic management plans are likely, given the need to improve the efficiency and safety of the M50 and similar routes to the capital city in view of the drastic overcrowding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10677/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 170. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which it is anticipated to increase the capacity and frequency of commuter trains serving the towns of Leixlip, Maynooth, Kilcock, Clane, Celbridge, Sallins, Naas and Straffan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10675/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which it is expected to extend and improve the air transport service throughout all regions in such a way as to make it possible for business people and their employees to avail of an efficient and reliable service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10676/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 173. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which it is anticipated to increase the number of carriages on all rail routes serving numerous towns and villages throughout County Kildare, given the demography of the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10678/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 174. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which five- and six-axle vehicular traffic continues to be restricted at peak traffic times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10679/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (2 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which the use of electric cars is likely to affect our emission reduction targets over the next three to five years; if he has any particular incentives in mind in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10680/23]