Results 1-20 of 1,079,441 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:John Lahart OR speaker:Catherine Connolly OR speaker:Bernard Durkan OR speaker:Fergus O'Dowd OR speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor OR speaker:Pearse Doherty OR speaker:Marian Harkin) in 'Committee meetings'

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the witnesses for their commitment and work to date. It has been very much part of what is happening and the whole framework. I thank them for their ongoing assistance, for example, to us with today's meeting. Deputy Howlin spoke of the sense of dread when the word "Brexit" was mentioned. I remember as a Member of the European Parliament watching it being played out there and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: Exports from here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: Can I ask one brief question? Ms Lynch said very clearly that we need a new agreement. Within the context of the Windsor Framework, is that possible?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: Yes, I understand. I should have said that. Is that possible? How would that work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: Would it have no impact?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: It would, of course. However, will the Windsor Framework not create any barriers or challenges to that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: There is a connection but not really. It is just that there is a grace period.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome our guests. Recruitment and retention has been an issue in recent years for nursing and all other staff. What are the main features of the difficulties that are being created there? Is it lower pay or lack of accommodation or is there some other reason that we should know about? It is absolutely essential that we have adequate staffing at all levels throughout the health service...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: A question arises. Does Ms Ní Sheaghdha believe that whatever is required should be recruited regardless of budgetary restraints?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: There has to be some level within which you operate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: How do we compare with staffing levels in adjoining jurisdictions, for instance the UK, France or Germany? We are in the European Union. We are always extolled to comply with regulations that prevail in the European Union. How do we compare with our next-door neighbours when it comes to the payment of staff and salaries in general?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: We cannot compete with the sunshine countries in terms of climate but we should be able to compete generally in terms of salaries for staff. It is suggested, for instance, that there are 12.8 practising nurses per 1,000 head of population, which is one of the highest ratios in the European Union. I do not know whether that is true or false. Is it correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: That is debatable because it depends on who you talk to. We get criticism on that, too, and we have to try to answer the criticisms. When staff levels were increased - recruitment of 6,000 was approved and it went to 8,000 – what were the most sensitive areas to which those staff could be detailed? Were there areas that were more sensitive than others? Were there posts that need...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Why?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: It is immediately obvious to some people within the service. There are some who claim within the service that is the way they see it. I agree with the assessment in respect of HSE staff but they have traditionally been over-employed in the health services. That is going back 20 years. There was always the reliance on agency staff and they became greater than the cause. Then those numbers...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: If I can make one last point, I agree the population has grown but so has the budget. The budget for health has grown way ahead of what the population was in 1957, for example. The population has doubled since then but the health budget has doubled as well, and trebled.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: That is the argument that is put to us.

Financial Resolution No. 4: Stamp Duties (1 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: 10 o’clock I thank the Deputies for their contributions. We share a common interest in changing the market here and this is why we are raising the stamp duty. There were already significant reductions in the instances of bulk buying of apartments on the market and this will further reduce that. Any ones that are going are probably an example of legacy developments. This...

Financial Resolution No. 4: Stamp Duties (1 Oct 2024)

Question put: "That Financial Resolution No. 4 be agreed to". The Dáil divided: Tá, 87; Níl, 52; Staon, 0. Tellers: Tá, Deputies Hildegarde Naughton and Cormac Devlin; Níl, Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Denise Mitchell.