Results 17,521-17,540 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her and her ministerial colleagues for the work they have done at European level and in the context of Brexit. In particular, I congratulate Commissioner Phil Hogan on his continuation in what will be an important and challenging role for the next five years. This Commission and European Parliament will experience more challenges than have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I have 12 whole minutes. I thank the Chairman for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: As always.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I will ignore the ribald commentary from my colleagues. I seek clarification but am not attempting to have a swipe at the Minister or his officials. Over the years I have repeatedly asked questions about the adequacy of the health budget to meet the challenges faced by the health services in the course of the year. At the beginning of every year I am always told that the budget is adequate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I accept that there are some improvements, but it is not good for morale in the hospital system or the health system, or for the morale of officials in the Department or anyone else involved, for us to be seen falling short of the target for one reason or another, or to do so again for a different reason in a subsequent year. That does not wash with the public or staff. It frustrates the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I will provide an example. There is no maternity cover at all for speech and language teachers. That affects a sensitive group of people who require speech and language therapy as part of their treatment. A teacher dropping out for six months, or less than six months, while no cover whatsoever is provided results in the child's general behaviour taking a downturn. That is not fair to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Before the Chairman moves on, I have been fairly negative but I would like to compliment the Minister and the health services on the recently announced upgrading of Naas General Hospital. It was much appreciated. It is long-awaited and will be enjoyed by the vast number of people who will attend it from the catchment area throughout County Kildare.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Will maternity cover for the speech and language service be addressed in the short term given that there is a recurring difficulty? For some children who require speech and language therapy their condition will worsen as will their quality of life due to a lack of speech and language therapy. Is an insurmountable cost involved if one were to provide cover in those sensitive situations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I will give my information first. The reply received was that there was no maternity cover for speech and language therapists. As a result, the patients or children receiving the therapy can no longer get the therapy for the duration of the maternity leave. To my mind, that seems like a minor issue that can be dealt with relatively easily. Can it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I raised the issue because, as I am sure the Minister understands, a child's therapy is interrupted for a period that results in the setting back of the services available to that child. His or her quality of life is affected because one cannot repeat that phase of a child's life. It is gone. Scoliosis is an issue that I raised initially. Given the severity of scoliosis, the concerns of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I thank Dr. Henry. I also raised the issue of agency staff.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Chairman, is it possible to get a graph of that information?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I hate to be pejorative at any time and especially at this time of the day. I refer to a decision made by this Minister and the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment on 2 January and 3 January this year. It relates to the transposition into Irish law of the EU directive on ionising radiation. That obviously affected the practice of chiropractics. The Minister at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: Has the Minister stimulated them in their urgency to reply?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: I had a note to deal with a drugs rehabilitation programme. The Minister responsible is not present. We might have an update as soon as possible on that one. It is an area that we need to discuss.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: The Citizens' Assembly has facilitated debate on a number of issues over the past number of years and continues to do so. What is the current position in regard to the gender discrimination proposal, which is about to come before the assembly? What is likely to happen in that regard in the future?

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (1 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has identified Departments likely to overrun on capital or current spending; his action in regard to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39519/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (1 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 86. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which public spending cuts previously applied are likely to be reversed in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39518/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Policy Functions (1 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 131. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which the fundamentals in regard to debt borrowing and prudent economics remain an essential part the policy of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39964/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Issues (1 Oct 2019)

Bernard Durkan: 173. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains assured of the ability of the economy to withstand the shock of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39959/19]