Results 7,921-7,940 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I will finish up in a second. It has been represented to me that the investment funds have been forced to fund the house-building industry, for instance, in areas where the pillar banks refused to enter. Is that true?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: It was also suggested to me that the interest rates chargeable were considerably higher than would apply to the commercial banks, the pillar banks. My conclusion would be that this, in turn, would cause house prices to increase.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: The Chairman mentioned that vulture funds do not and refuse to appear before the committee. It is possible, however, to discuss issues relative to them, and their activities, in their absence if they decide not to appear before the committee. If I were them, I would much rather be present to answer questions, but I think they should be reminded of that. I intend to return to my favourite...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I have a final question relating to taxation, if I may, which the Minister might or might not choose to answer. If the head of a household decides to move away from his or her home and relocate in another, distant area, whether for home protection reasons or whatever, and lets the home property to a tenant, I would have thought the income from the home property could be set out as revenue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: My apologies for being obliged to opt out and I welcome our witnesses. There has been a clear request for resources and I believe that forward planning is part of what I, as a member of this committee, view to be necessary. The HSE has received a memorable budget in terms of what it proposes to spend in the current year. What more is required? Has the HSE managed to quantify that? Is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: What is the cause of that? Why is there a mismatch of demand and capacity if the demand is known or anticipated and there is an unprecedented budget in terms of the funding available? Why can those two not be matched more carefully?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: How often has demand and capacity been matched previously? How often is it reviewed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Is adequate recognition for the region being granted from the HSE, given it is not exactly in the Pale in so far as management is concerned? How is that working out? On the provision of Sláintecare and its anticipated impact on the regions, is Ms Day satisfied with the degree to which her region is going to receive instant consideration at all times, whether or not that is successful?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Ms Day referred to those two strains running together in parallel without impacting negatively or otherwise on each other. Some of us, by the way, put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that the regions received fairer consideration in terms of reallocation of funding. Not everybody was in support of that but a number of us on this committee were strongly supportive of it. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: A few years ago, there were severe and acute problems with waiting lists in that area and emergency measures were taken. It was assumed that they had been resolved to some extent and then along came Covid. During that period, were capital funds used for current expenditure purposes and if so, to what extent?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: How much better?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Sufficient funding has been provided, I am informed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I thank Professor Cowan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I ask the witnesses to identify a single issue apart from the need to add additional beds and so on. I remember that we were told some years ago there were 5,000 beds too many in the country and they had to be removed as a matter of urgency in order to concentrate on the specialist work that was to be done. We then heard in recent times there were 5,000 too few beds in the country and they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I have one last question. I thank our witnesses for their information. In terms of matching capacity to demand, is there anything other than what our witnesses told us already that comes to their mind that would make an urgent response to the needs that present now? I refer to, for instance, theatre capacity and availability, use of theatres, closing down of theatres at different times,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ukraine War (20 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 4. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Ukraine. [38168/22]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ukraine War (20 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: To what extent did the Taoiseach see at first hand evidence of the atrocities we hear so much about? What was the reaction of his colleagues with whom he had discussions at a later stage? What is the possibility of introducing some mechanism whereby countries subject to this kind of aggression from Russia - or anywhere else, for that matter - might expect to receive assistance in a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 1. To ask the Taoiseach the extent to which he has had discussions with other European and NATO leaders in regard to EU Security and Defence issues; and if defence and security issues were discussed at a recent dinner in Madrid. [35894/22]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Taoiseach for that comprehensive answer. Has any consideration been given to the threat to neutral countries posed by aggressive nations, having regard to the experience of the Second World War and that more recently of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which that country seems determined to continue until it has suppressed Ukraine?