Results 181-200 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 242. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to address the shortage of doctors in St. Finbarr's Hospital, Cork to clear the backlog of patients awaiting procedures such as colonoscopy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28430/19]

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister and his officials for attending this afternoon's meeting. I presume a decision on the effects of Brexit on the Government's budgetary plans will be made in late September. The Minister has said that this decision will be made on the basis of the soundings coming from the EU and the discussions that will have taken place with the new leader of the Conservative Party. Is...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I do not have an issue with the orderly-disorderly approach that is being taken. I think it is the correct way to proceed. Other than taking soundings from the EU and from the new leader of the Conservative Party, what kinds of factors will be taken into consideration when this decision is being made at the end of September? Surely we are looking at other factors which will feed into the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I appreciate that the Minister has given us an analysis, but what will be the real effect of the countercyclical measures that will be applied in the event of a disorderly Brexit? What areas will be most affected?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Yes.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Yes.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is more of a policy question than a financial question, but it is related. In the event of a disorderly Brexit, some sectors of the economy will be impacted more than others. We may see the increases in unemployment in particular sectors of the economy. What steps are we taking to ensure that the people in the sectors of the economy that will be most impacted will have the opportunity...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is the point I am making; to move into those other jobs, people might need to upskill.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have two final questions. Brexit is a major issue and it could have a significant impact. Are there other external factors outside of Brexit that we are keeping an eye on, which could impact on the budgetary position in the coming years?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: On the expenditure reserve of €200 million for the national children's hospital and broadband that has been allocated for 2020, we have no further allocation for the subsequent years. Are we saying that we are going to make that decision on a year-by-year basis or that we have €200 million for 2020 and nothing further will be needed in subsequent years?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance (3 Jul 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: So that is built in already.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I too wish the four Deputies the best of luck. Deputy Kelleher does not have to worry as Deputy Barry and I will have Cork North Central well looked after in his absence. I refer to the cancer care programme and the Government's commitment to the provision of oncology services. The Tánaiste will be well aware of recent media reports on the number of consultant posts which remain...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Tánaiste has said the HSE has a very difficult job to do. That difficult job has now become impossible. They are not my words but the words of Ms O'Connor, the interim director general of the HSE. It has become impossible because of the cost overruns associated with the national children's hospital. Somebody needs to get the story straight. As far back as January and right up to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: The people who are implementing the plan are telling the Government that that is not correct.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I want to raise the same topic. In January, the Taoiseach stated no capital project would be delayed or cut as a result of the cost overrun in the children's hospital. Only last Thursday, in the very seat in which the Tánaiste is sitting, the Minister for Finance reiterated this position during Question Time. He stated no project would be cut or delayed as a result of the cost...

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive Financial Statements 2018
2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Department of Health
Chapter 16 - Control of Private Patient Activity in Acute Public Hospitals (27 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Has the position of the HSE changed since 3 May when the then-acting Director General said the additional impact of the children's hospital from 2020 to 2022 had made what was a very difficult situation almost impossible? Has that improved?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive Financial Statements 2018
2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Department of Health
Chapter 16 - Control of Private Patient Activity in Acute Public Hospitals (27 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: As of today, we cannot say for definite whether projects will be delayed. Is that fair to say?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive Financial Statements 2018
2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Department of Health
Chapter 16 - Control of Private Patient Activity in Acute Public Hospitals (27 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is not a factor in 2019 but for 2020 and 2021, we cannot say yet whether projects will be delayed for financial reasons. That process is still ongoing.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive Financial Statements 2018
2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Department of Health
Chapter 16 - Control of Private Patient Activity in Acute Public Hospitals (27 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am sure other colleagues will come back on this but I want to move to another issue, namely, the issue in Cork University Hospital and oncology. We saw reports last week that 13 consultants have resigned or retired from CUH in the past three years, ten of whom were delivering cancer services. There is a huge concern in the region, given the fact the hospital is a national cancer centre,...

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive Financial Statements 2018
2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Department of Health
Chapter 16 - Control of Private Patient Activity in Acute Public Hospitals (27 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: The latest data I have shows that four of the seven permanent radiation oncology are vacant or temporarily filled. Mr. Reid might confirm that. Also, one medical oncology post remains vacant. We have 25,000 people waiting for an outpatient appointment for oncology in CUH. Can we give any reassurance to those 25,000 people that the posts can be filled in the very near future? Can we start...