Results 1-20 of 1,068,374 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Darren O'Rourke OR speaker:Bernard Durkan OR speaker:Brian Stanley OR speaker:David Cullinane OR speaker:Bernard Durkan9) in 'Committee meetings'
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
Brendan Howlin: I welcome the witnesses. It is almost with a sense of foreboding that we re-enter the horror story of the washout of Brexit, something which seems to have occupied not just this committee but also so much of all of our thinking for years in a very unproductive way. It is simply about trying to make the best of the situation for Ireland and, in my view, the United Kingdom. The outworking of...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
Brendan Howlin: When Mr. Donohoe says "not comfortable", are they legally able to be comfortable?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
Brendan Howlin: So it is not a matter of being comfortable. It is that they cannot deal with it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
Brendan Howlin: What about what went before?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
Brendan Howlin: Constituency events are increasingly-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The Windsor Framework and Related Matters: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
Brendan Howlin: I understand the difference between dynamic alignment and mutual acceptable standards. Is it envisaged that an agreement would be that the European Union would accept UK veterinary standards or, more problematically, that it would accept EU standards and dynamic alignment adjusting for ever?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
David Cullinane: I welcome all the witnesses. There is a lot of smoke and mirrors in relation to the pay and numbers strategy and the embargo that we just had for the best part of a year, including what we call it. We call it a recruitment embargo and the HSE wants to call it a temporary freeze. We have had all this messing for the best part of a year. What we can say for a fact is that there has been a...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
David Cullinane: Okay, I have that point-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
David Cullinane: I have that point, and it is a valid point. I want to come back to the central point that has been made by all of the witnesses here, which is the suppressing of posts. I am looking at Ms Ní Sheaghdha's own opening statement. Some 2,000 nursing and midwifery posts have effectively been abolished. For listeners, people watching and those worried about what is happening in hospitals,...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
David Cullinane: I just want to be clear on the numbers. When Ms Ní Sheaghdha says 2,000 nursing and midwifery posts have effectively been abolished, were they posts advertised and funded by the HSE, or are they posts where line managers would have identified a need?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
David Cullinane: Okay. I want to come on to SIPTU with regard to other non-nursing grades. Does SIPTU have a number as to how many of those grades would have been abolished, in effect, as well?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
David Cullinane: What I am seeing from Mr. Ginley's opening statement is that the HSE refused to share data with any union as to how many funded and approved vacancies have been suppressed. Mr. Ginley is looking for that information but has not been given it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
David Cullinane: I want to offer the remaining time I have to Ms Kelleher who is, we are told, a radiation therapist. Ms Kelleher might be able to give us a sense - Mr. Ginley spoke in his opening statement about equipment not being utilised and the shortage of radiation therapists - of what effect the embargo has had on her grade and on the service that her professionals and colleagues provide. I will give...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Staffing Levels in HSE: Discussion (2 Oct 2024)
David Cullinane: Through the Chair, I ask that if the unions are telling us they have sought data and they have not got it, maybe we can use our own offices here to request that information from the HSE regarding suppressed posts, unfilled posts and all of the information that the unions have not got. There has not been any engagement. What the witnesses are telling us is that unilateral decisions were made...
- 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?