Results 5,121-5,140 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I completely agree. That was raised by several members. A letter will go to the witnesses who came before the committee to ask them to explain the discrepancy between the answers we received and what was put in the public domain. However, we need to give them time to answer that before we bring them in again.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: It was sent today. We had agreed it Thursday morning. Obviously, yesterday was a bank holiday.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: All of those bodies will be given an opportunity to explain the discrepancy. There may well be an explanation. I will not prejudge that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: No, but part of the difficulty is that we have not had a lead-in time. We established the committee and we went straight into meetings without having the usual lead-in time for a committee. I think we cannot overburden agencies and institutions, but at the same time we do need answers within a timeframe. Ten working days was set out in the letter. For any letters that were sent after the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I have no idea who released information to the media or who put what into the public domain but I agree with Deputy McGuinness on the general principle and a letter is being sent to that effect today. We are looking for an explanation. Members will be free to follow up when they come back in on any explanation given for the fact that information which we had requested was put into the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: It did.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Deputy Boyd Barrett's request was conveyed to the Department of Health. It was made clear that the Minister, Deputy Harris, could come in to answer questions and that Deputy Boyd Barrett specifically believed that it was more appropriate for him to answer the questions. The Minister has not availed of that opportunity to come in. Deputy Boyd Barrett and other members may regret that but,...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Rather than tell me, Deputy Boyd Barrett will have an opportunity during the week to tell the Minister that in the Dáil session, and also to ask him why he felt it inappropriate to come before the committee. Perhaps they are questions that can be asked but there is no point in asking me when the Deputy will have an opportunity to ask the Minister directly during the week.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: We are limited to two-hour sessions. A normal committee meeting could last for four hours and we could bring in different witnesses and rotate them. We simply do not have that capability. As to whether we have the right or wrong witnesses, the working group at its meeting next Thursday can firm up in advance who we are bringing in to be absolutely certain that we have-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Officials from the Department of Health will appear. I presume they will be able to answer members' questions. If we continue in this fashion, however, the witnesses who are seated outside will be unable to answer questions.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Procurement is a matter for the State. The Department officials will be hear and I hope they will be able to answer questions. At our working group next Thursday, we can decide who will appear in the two subsequent weeks and achieve as great a degree of consensus as possible. However, the time available is limited and the more time we spend discussing this matter, the less time we will...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Time permitting because, as members will know, we hope to discuss a raft of issues, including healthcare, childcare and the reopening of the economy. Unfortunately, we are more constrained by time than committees typically are. We have discussed the work schedule. Following the meeting of the committee’s working group last Friday, members have been circulated with a draft...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I will confirm that at the end of this evening's session.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: We are joined in the Chamber by Mr. Martin Varley, secretary general of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, IHCA, and Mr. Maurice Neligan, consultant orthopaedic surgeon. From committee room 1 we are joined by Professor Alan Irvine, consultant dermatologist, IHCA, and from the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, Ms Susan Clyne, CEO, Dr. Anthony O'Connor, and Dr. Matthew Sadlier. Can we...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank Ms Clyne. Before moving on I remind members that we have only five minutes per person, or a maximum of ten minutes if using another member's time. The order will be Sinn Féin, Fine Gael and then Fianna Fáil. Will Deputy O'Reilly be taking five or ten minutes?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: We shall move to Fianna Fáil.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: There are witnesses in the committee room if the Deputy wishes to direct any of his questions to them.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: If any of the representatives in the committee wish to contribute, they may raise their hand.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Dr. Sadlier, did you have your hand up to answer a question? No.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (2 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Does Professor Irvine have any concrete, bold or imaginative proposal?