Results 5,321-5,340 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Have we a system or systems in place to isolate an attack in the event it takes place? In other words, can we ensure the attacker does not have access to the entire system to use at his at her leisure? Have we a means of freezing certain segments of the system so an attacker can go no further? Is that part of our defence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: The potential attacker in such situations will always be alert to the insulation of firewalls that will, as I stressed, isolate and limit the attack. Is the Department satisfied that we have sufficient provision in place to ensure that is developed to the maximum extent? I know the officials cannot guarantee that, but the degree of success or failure of the whole system will depend on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: Whose area is it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: The Department is reverting to the use of PPS numbers as a patient identifier. That extends to all areas, I presume.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I know that date of birth is one of the things referred to all the time - or not all the time, as was said - so this will be of tremendous benefit. Has the Department got over the objections in the past to the use of a single identifier? Is Mr. O'Connor satisfied that all the way has been smoothed for that purpose?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: As regards the black hole to which Mr. O'Connor referred between the private and the public systems, is he satisfied that that has been sufficiently covered in the course of the proposals? Is he happy that information will be available to the appropriate people and the patient as and when necessary, and quickly, without an untoward delay?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I am a little worried in spite of the assurances. I do not think answers are being given. I do not think they can be given in certain instances. For example, many people regard their PPSN as private personal information. I cannot understand that has to be supplied or put it into the chain or system so that a multiplicity of organisations can access it. Many organisations can and do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I realise it is important that the maximum amount of information be made available to the appropriate authority, whatever it may be. There may be a multiplicity of such authorities in these circumstances, however. There may be several hospitals or health institutions, for example. Depending on the security system that is in place, that can be successful or widely abused. From past...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: And getting longer. The big problem used to be to making sure you wrote to the right person and got a reply. It was always difficult to get a reply. Some of those present might remember those days. I devised a system that let me know at a glance when and to whom the letter was written, the number of times the person was reminded and the result. Up until a few years ago, a coded number...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information Bill 2023: Department of Health (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: We must recognise at the same time that the country was previously governed by the USSR and that different traditions prevail still.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: On behalf of the committee, I welcome from the IFAC Mr. Sebastian Barnes, chairman, Dr. Eddie Casey, chief economist, Mr. Brian Cronin, economist and Mr. Killian Carroll, economist. It is important to note, in terms of parliamentary privilege, that people cannot say whatever they want about whomsoever they might want, even within the confines of this committee room. Full privilege is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 39. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence arising from replies to previous Parliamentary Questions on the matter, if progress has taken place in respect of cases whereby serving members of the Defence Forces, injured while on duty, have received compensation in the courts, which on reaching pension age, is being recouped through a reduction in their retirement pensions; if this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 137. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of the appeals for visas in the case of the family of a person (details supplied); when the appeals can be expected to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21876/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 151. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will indicate the eligibility for redress/compensation as part of the mother-and-baby homes redress scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); if he will outline the procedure to apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21907/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (10 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 165. To ask the Minister for Health when appropriate urgent assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21879/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (9 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 228. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which the economy continues to be based on sound economic principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21777/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (9 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 231. To ask the Minister for Finance his intentions to continue to ensure best practice economic performance in the future, keeping in mind the need to protect the stability of the economy and having regard to experiences in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21781/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (9 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 229. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which the Government's economic policy continues to be able to withstand economic shocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21778/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (9 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 230. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which his Department continues to monitor any and all potential economic threats to the economy here and retain the ability to respond in the event of unforeseen difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21780/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Rates (9 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: 232. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he can encourage the existing Irish banks to assist mortgage holders who may have had to resort to fund operators in respect of mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21782/23]