Results 1-20 of 1,067,116 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Colm Brophy OR speaker:Catherine Martin OR speaker:Seán Fleming OR speaker:Pat Buckley OR speaker:Bernard Durkan) in 'Committee meetings'

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

Colm Brophy: On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Paul Lynam, deputy director general, and Mr. Aidan Finnegan, director of policy and advocacy from the British Irish Chamber of Commerce. I welcome Mr. Patrick Donohoe, chief corporate affairs officer from Lakeland Dairies; and Ms Carol Lynch, partner, BDO, Customs and International Trade Services. They are all very welcome and I thank them for...

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

Colm Brophy: I thank Mr. Lynam for his opening statement. A number of members have indicated to me that they wish to ask questions. The first person to indicate was Senator Chambers.

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

Colm Brophy: If there are no additional questions, I will move on to Deputy Howlin.

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

Colm Brophy: Does Deputy Ó Murchú wish to speak?

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

Colm Brophy: I want to come in on that. It is a particular matter that I want to address. One thing I will put to the witnesses upfront is that they will continue to have the support of this committee, the Irish Government and everybody else. It is really important to recognise, however, that we are probably entering a very different phase of thinking by the European Union. What is happening is very...

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

Colm Brophy: The irony of that is that the countries that did that deal with the EU accepted some of the principles that are very problematic for a British Government to accept. That is the crux of it. Hopefully, it will be resolved. It has to be resolved. It is going to be a very interesting point as to how the British Government moves. There is also the Commission and its new mandate is starting....

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

Colm Brophy: That brings us to the conclusion of our engagement here today. I thank the witnesses for coming in. It is part of an ongoing engagement which will continue at our next meeting. I thank Carol Lynch, Patrick Donohoe, Paul Lynam and Aidan Finnegan for their contributions today. It was a very worthwhile exchange.

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

Colm Brophy: I thank Mr Lynam. The committee now stands adjourned.

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

Colm Brophy: I am absolutely sure Deputy Howlin would be number two on the list after Boris. They should have mentioned that to him. Who wants to pick up the answers?

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...