Results 81-100 of 13,774 for at speaker:Bernard Durkan

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I am afraid I have to disagree with my colleagues on this particular area. The Minister of Finance has a duty and a job that is strictly laid down in legislation. We can speculate all we like about the precise amount we have available to us at any given time. That may change from year to year and that has always been the case. Yet, it is the responsibility of the Minister to deal with the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: This is a serious subject. There are two elements that we need to keep in mind. There is no doubt that the Government’s policy is working but the problem is that it is working too slowly by virtue of a whole series of things that are happening. For instance, there are people living in houses where there was no benefit from selling the house and moving on, and no need to do so....

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank Deputy Doherty for identifying the difference between his views on the subject and mine. He did not say who was right, however. That also has to be evaluated. I would claim that I am right and I know a fair bit about this particular subject, having dealt with it at the coalface in an area that has suffered from a very significant amount of development over the past 20 years. We...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council (8 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 39. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the recent special meeting of the European Council. [17774/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (8 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she might authorise the use of a safer pedestrian entrance at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20692/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (8 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 600. To ask the Minister for Health if efforts continue to be made to improve patient safety and best practice to ensure an improved working environment at University Hospital Limerick and to avert the repeat of recent incidents there, with particular reference to addressing the most important and fundamental issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20693/24]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: This is an important group of issues, as regards the climate and nature fund, and we all subscribe to and agree with them. There is, however, some indication that there is a lack of scientific evidence as regards some of the areas on which we spend money or refuse to spend money which are of an environmental or climatic nature. We accept that there is climate change and that it is a serious...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (8 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the witnesses. I am in the awkward position that I have to be here and next door at the same time. It is very difficult to be in two places. Sometimes it is difficult to be in one place at the correct time. We have had extremely good performance in the delivery of health services in some hospitals and not-so-good performance in others. To what extent has there been a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (2 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 224. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she remains satisfied that children’s rights are at present adequately protected in the course of family law proceedings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20124/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (2 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: .... To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which access to various medicines remains equally available to those in this jurisdiction as compared with the rest of the single market in Europe and at a similar price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20152/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Joint Committee (1 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Apologies have been received from the Cathaoirleach. The minutes of the joint committee's meetings of 17 and 24 April were agreed at the committee's previous meetings.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I apologise for interrupting but I have to leave and I need someone else to take over the Chair. This group has presented some very important information to the committee to enable the committee and the House to make its judgment at a later stage. In relation to insurance, I have always had the view that everybody must be involved, that is, the banks, insurers, engineers, the construction...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: At this stage can we identify how long the patients may have to wait on the waiting list and will their opportune moment for dental intervention have expired before they are reached?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Yes. I thank Ms Gallagher. At the beginning of the meeting, there was reference to bringing standards up to the UK levels, even though the UK is a non-EU country. Is it not necessary now to ensure that all standards are brought up to EU levels because of some of the things that happened?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: This is my last question, Chairman. Sepsis is an issue that has affected the health system generally throughout the country. I recall asking a question of a medical professional approximately five or six years ago, to be told it would be rare in this country now. I remember my reply at the time was to ask how many cases there are in the course of a year. The answer was three or four....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (30 Apr 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 637. To ask the Minister for Health what percentage of mental health difficulties are addressed at primary care level, secondary care level and tertiary care level, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18795/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Priorities (25 Apr 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 233. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which satisfactory provision continues to be made for those retiring at 65 years of age; the extent of any recent progress in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18709/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Priorities (25 Apr 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 237. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for determination of appeals has been shortened; the average length of time for processing appeals at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18713/24]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 266. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of the beef herd at present; the extent to which numbers have fluctuated in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18717/24]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Revised) (24 Apr 2024)

Bernard Durkan: -----have the same time as everybody else. I welcome the Taoiseach and his officials to the committee and congratulate him on his recent elevation. I wish him and his officials the best of luck in future. To take things up from where the last conversation ended, the Irish question, which has been referred to over many years, is definitely an issue that falls within the terms of the Good...