Results 141-160 of 2,674 for long speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...a number of pressing issues and I am mindful of the fact that we had to claw our way out of the previous financial crisis. The IMF was sitting above in Government Buildings on a daily basis for a long time. It seemed to go on interminably. We had to accept what happened and face up to it. There were conflicting views on it but it so happened that the view of the Government of the day...

Select Committee on Health: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...them. Their opinions are only tolerated and not necessarily taken into account. This one will be taken into account as far as I am concerned because I have been given the runaround for as long as that has been possible. The whole thing comes down to the competence of the so-called qualified experts. In family law courts this crops up on a regular basis. It is controlled and continued...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Health and Safety (3 May 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...relation to the transfer of some staff members to Naas, who were concerned for their safety and well-being at Citywest; if the urgent necessity of the transfer is recognised in order to obviate a long drawn-out process, as seems to be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20628/23]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (27 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...'s meeting of the Joint Committee on Health at which I raised a similar issue. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House again this evening to respond to this debate. We had a long battle over the years to ensure that Naas, being where it is in this pivotal location, could strive at all times to achieve the highest possible standards in care, the extent of the care and the...

Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...reasons. These things are part of our heritage and we should not pass it by lightly without recording where it came from and where we came from in the intervening period. When we drive along we can look at various sites, almost all of which are kept very well and are in the custody of the OPW, and we can see that a number require attention. In my constituency the Taghadoe round tower...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Good Friday Agreement (27 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...in the agreement are still alive and necessary and that we must strive to ensure that a vacuum does not develop wherein speculation replaces a very hard-won agreement that was fought for over a long number of years and to which everybody contributed?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Ministers for Finance, and Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (26 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...hardships, and it is true that there are hardships, but while interest rates have gone up considerably, I remember a time when people were charged 20% in respect of their mortgages. That is not so long ago. It is the same with industry and people who were poor and could ill-afford the strike when it came. We got advice afterwards from all quarters. I apologise to any economists inside...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...I want to make, while trying to stay within time, as is my wont, is about Naas General Hospital. I have referred to the latter on a number of occasions at meetings of the committee. I have a long history in this regard. The curtain seems to have come down in recent times. It is kind of a wall of silence. From past experience in the business we are in, I know that to be decision-making...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...the situation to ensure we can provide adequately for the future, otherwise it will fall by the wayside. It will be like the medical card issues and so on to which I referred. It gets put on the long finger. The problem is that we never know how long the finger is. There comes an end to one's patience when one is waiting to measure the long finger. We are on the Minister's side. We...

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...as to where we are going. A common thread runs through this entire issue, namely, drugs. The drugs issue has to be dealt with, yet we are incapable as a society of dealing with it. The longer it goes on, the worse it gets and the more powerful these gangs become. I listened with interest to Deputy Ó Ríordáin's contribution regarding his experiences and what he said is...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...that it is damaging to them and will be damaging to us all. If we can, we should do something by way of illustrating to them the benefits of healthy eating and the economic benefits as well in the long run. I can remember a good few years ago the campaign by the late Dr. Noël Browne on tuberculosis. Back in the 1950s they went around to all the schools and showed a film. It was...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (19 Apr 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...to be made or else the patient should not have been sent abroad in the first place. It is extremely trying for public representatives and Ministers to tell the public that a matter is on the long finger but that they do not know how long the finger is and when a resolution to it will be reached. The time has come to cut to the chase and let people know that they should not have to go to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection (30 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister of State and the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating this debate. The problem is, of course, that the two Departments act independently. As long as this happens, this abuse, controlling and bullying will go on, as will this attempt to disregard children. I know of one case where someone said they had come to the conclusion they did not believe what the child said. That...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection (30 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...the unfortunate women who find themselves in the circumstances to which I refer are in no position to take constitutional cases because they do not have the resources. This will continue as long as it is allowed to do so, just like the previous topic we discussed. I seek an inquiry into the whole system insofar as it relates to Tusla and the family law courts. If this does not happen...

Report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces: Statements (30 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...brought to our attention when people complain about bullying, controlling behaviour or abuse in any shape or form. There is a need to deal with such complaints resolutely and quickly because the longer that behaviour is allowed to go on, the greater the chances that it will continue unabated. I compliment the Tánaiste for resolutely dealing with this matter now. I hope there...

Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion: Cabinet Committees (29 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...and over the past couple of years, a new initiative is required which would give an indication to the general public that help is on the way. I note that last year was the best delivery for a long time. The Government needs to make the case also that local authorities do not build houses and have not done for 30 or 40 years. They are contracted out to builders who are professionals in...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...of assistance and so on but let us compare that with the 1970s when energy supply dried up. We seem to have forgotten that. Supply dried up and we had no energy at all. We could queue for as long as we liked with tin cans to collect motor fuel. The reason for that was some countries in the then European Economic Community did not want to pay the higher prices. A question arose as to...

Safe Staffing Levels in Hospitals: Statements (23 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...wanted to impress on the staff that they needed to be recognised above and beyond anybody else and to ensure that hospital services were able to continue. Of course, there was a siren going for a good long time but, as I have said, it was dealt with. Nobody's health and safety, including that of the nurses and staff or patients, was in any way threatened because of the activities of one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Health Service Executive: Engagement with Chief Executive Officer (22 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ...plan. That is only giving a name to something that is ongoing and has not been dealt with before. We are relying on Mr. Gloster to deal with that. I was told, regarding the housing situation long ago, that the solutions I proposed would take five years to do. Well it will take 20 years if it is never started. There are a couple of other areas with which I will conclude. I have a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Mar 2023)

Bernard Durkan: ..., do not have access to a means whereby they can deliver their children to school, and conscious of the need to ensure high standards of health and safety for young children who may have to travel long distances to school; if the full review of the school transport system now in motion will be concluded before the next school year and the provision for school transport in general can be...