Results 5,021-5,040 of 36,066 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 20. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when all Bus Éireann’s expressway routes will become fully wheelchair accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18390/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports in place for students who cannot secure necessary living accommodation to complete third-level courses; if online facilities will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18386/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome Mr. Watt to the committee. It is the first time in my time here that we do not have an opening statement from any witness, including many individuals who do not hold public office and who stress out at having to provide an opening statement to the Members of the Oireachtas. Let us get into the meat of it, however. You mentioned earlier, and I want to put on the record, that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: What part of it do you not accept?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: It is referring to all "accepted protocols for research funding." The research body itself makes it clear that its funding is competitive. Do you accept that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: First of all, do you have the authority to guarantee €2 million of funding from the Health Research Board, whether it is linked to an individual secondment? Did you have that authority? Do you have that authority today as Secretary General of the Department of Health?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I need to stop you there because the facts do not stack up. This is the letter of intent that you signed. It was not about increasing funding. The letter states: To make an annual ring-fenced allocation of €2M for the duration of the secondment to be administered through the Health Research Board, a body under the aegis of the Department of Health, to support the development and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: It was potentially up to ten years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: The question is-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: He had no idea that you were committing €2 million of funding linked to the secondment of Dr. Tony Holohan. Is that not fact?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Are you disputing that fact?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: So, the Minister for Health did know at this stage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Let us unravel some of this, with respect, because we want to get the clear facts. You sent this letter of intent committing €2 million in association with the secondment of Dr. Holohan. That was sent on 17 or 18 March.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Did the Minister know at that stage, on 16 March, that you were approving an allocation of €2 million-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: -----and that was contained in the letter of intent?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Is the answer "No" that the Minister did not know that you had set out in your letter of intent €2 million of allocation of funds?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Okay. Did he know or did he not know? Please, let me know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: What is the problem with my question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Secretary General of the Department of Health (19 Apr 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Okay.