Results 3,481-3,500 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: The county council does though.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: We need to see progress at that meeting because it has not happened so far. I will call on two more speakers. I call Deputy English, to be followed by Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: We will take two questions together. Is that all right?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: If the Minister of State will take the two together and answer them to finish up. We are running short on time; that is the problem.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: It goes without saying that many of the projects in question, which are ultimately in the hands of the private sector, are equally frustrated by the manner in which progress is being achieved. In one case I know of, ten years have elapsed since the original moneys were allocated, yet we still have not put a stone upon a stone. No progress has been made. Countless issues are involved, with...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister and Ministers of State for their attendance.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Message to Dáil (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: In accordance with Standing Order 101, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2023: Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; Vote 12 –...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 101. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a recent application for fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51160/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 103. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review of eligibility to the back to education allowance will be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51298/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 114. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason visa applications were determined not valid in the case of persons (details supplied); if the applications can be appealed; if new applications are advisable at this point; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51317/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome our guests and thank them for the job they are doing in very challenging times. I want to follow up on a couple of things that have already been mentioned. The overrun of expenditure affecting the health budget this year, as compared with other years, seems to be significantly higher. Is that true?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I am referring to the budgetary overrun, like the make-up of the €1.1 billion or €1.3 billion, or whatever it is. How does it compare with each of the years over the last five or ten years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: By how much, percentage wise?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: On this subject, it was put to me recently by an outsider that the level of the shortfall this year was an attempt by the health services to grab a greater slice of the budget at a time when there were many challenges. I did not agree with him, and it was a "him". I am not saying where he is or was at the time but he put it to me that we were attempting to increase the budget by magnifying...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: The point he was making was that the recruitment pause comes at a time when it was the biggest budget ever, and during a period during which staffing levels throughout the health services had been increased far and away beyond everything that had preceded it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: He was claiming criticism for the way in which it was done and whether it was done to show up the fact that the health services were not necessarily an employment agency but were given the task or job of providing a health service that anticipated everything. That is the end of him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Mr. Gloster might be surprised.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Mr. Gloster has not, actually.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: We admire that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Winter Preparedness in the Hospital System: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Another issue, which I have raised in the past, is overcrowding at accident and emergency departments. This is a major part of the health services that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Has the number of staff on duty at any particular time been examined to find out whether there are enough doctors, nurses and other relevant people who need to be called upon in those situations...