Results 17,461-17,480 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: This is my last question. There is a constant call for extra expenditure in the health services. Quite an amount of extra money has been provided to them, even in the current year. When a comparison is made with other OECD countries, we are in the top group as to expenditure. Why are we so close to the top in expenditure and also so close to the top in dissatisfaction levels with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: That is happening in any event at present. To follow up, have the witnesses seen any evidence that new or aspiring registrants are impressed with that or do they see it as a reason for taking a new look at the Irish health service?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Are they taking a new look at the Irish health service with a view to becoming employed within the sector?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Yes, because of Sláintecare.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Does Dr. Doyle not think that it might be helpful if they did?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: No, it is not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: It is the report of a specific all-party committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas, which is representative of all shades of political opinion in this country-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: -----and maybe none. There is not much sense in producing a report of that nature, which is deemed to be integral to the running of the health service in future and taking into account all of the issues that we have dealt with and having received complaints about and going to all that trouble if, within the system, those directly involved in the front line say they do not know about it, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I will, I am sure, be allowed to go on for some considerable time. Coming to the end of a discussion it is always different as there are more questions at the end-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I appreciate that. It was said earlier that politics should be taken out of medicine. Where did I hear that before? It has been ever thus, unfortunately. Think back to 2003 and 2004 when the health boards were abolished. The purpose of that exercise, according to the consultants with whom I had regular consultations at the time, was to take politics out of medicine and that it was going...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I would suggest that somewhere along the line, the lines have become blurred. According to some financial experts Ireland has the third or fourth most expensive health service in the OECD countries. That is not speculation or surmise; it is a fact. Previously the question was answered on the basis that presumably we are spending the money in the wrong place. Of course, everybody would say...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Wait a second now. I know the witness is anxious to give replies but tarry a little. We will wait and see. The then Minister for Health, Senator James Reilly, was named as the culprit in 2012. I am not certain as to whether any suggestion was made by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association as to how best that particular situation could be handled. Most of the country was broke,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I cannot compete with Deputy Donnelly who made an offer to alleviate some of the budgetary concerns, but I am sure we will relay to the Minister the association's anxiety to progress matters on an amicable basis and I am sure he will respond in kind. I cannot determine the outcome, but if the two sides are engaged, I am hopeful there would be some outcome. I have a couple of more questions,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: That is why I asked the question. It would be helpful if the consultants could give us some indication of the extra money required. There is a myth which I have heard many times that one can pour money into the system and nothing happens. I do not agree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I am not sure what I can say that I have not already mentioned as regards structures, but I should remind everyone that I was a member of the special health committee that eventually developed Sláintecare. One of the points that I made time and again was about the need to revert to original structures where there was local accountability and, as staff throughout the health services have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Dr. Colleran will tell me that there are certain ancillaries that have to be dealt with, but I am talking about a one-for-one comparison. I would love to know the answer to that question, as I am sure the Chairman would too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: There are some private hospitals advertising the same services to which Dr. Colleran referred. I will not name them because we all know which they are.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Whatever about the bad economics part of it, my question will remain unanswered today. We will have an opportunity at some stage in the not too distant future of meeting some of the people in the private hospitals, at which stage we may be able to revisit the situation with mutual benefits.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (8 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40669/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (8 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 38. To ask the Minister for Finance if arrangements can be made for the late collection of income tax by way of deferred payments in the case of a person (details supplied); if cognisance can be taken of the fact that they are in receipt of a social welfare payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40701/19]