Results 1-20 of 1,130,569 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:David Stanton OR speaker:Robert Troy OR speaker:Bernard Durkan OR speaker:Imelda Munster OR speaker:Michael Collins OR speaker:Catherine Murphy OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Roderic O'Gorman OR speaker:Mary Lou McDonald OR speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett OR speaker:Verona Murphy OR speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor OR speaker:Seán Canney OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan OR speaker:Brian Stanley OR speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Marc MacSharry OR speaker:Sorca Clarke OR speaker:Eoin Ó Broin OR speaker:Gerald Nash)

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister, the Ministers of State and the officials for attending. There are just a couple of things that come to mind. It would appear that a better picture is emerging in the context of funding for health service that will lead to improvements for consumers right across the country. That is to be welcomed. How did the underspends to which the Minister referred come about?...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister. The underspends in question, in terms of their description, are misnamed.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: There should be an alteration in the description. The Minister has explained that. It should be done in order prevent people being misled and to enable those who may expect the moneys to be sent in their direction to know that this is or is not a possibility. They have to plan as well. In relation to the State Claims Agency and negligence claims, the total allocation of €485...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Have these been quantified? Have the areas where positive changes can be made with obvious beneficial results from the point of view of patients and in the context of the risk and cost to the health service been flagged? To what extent has a breakdown of the €485 million referred to, including legal fees, been obtained and what were the extent of the legal fees involved, if known?

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: As a result of action taken.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: In terms of a reduction in the number of incidents, how will be able to monitor the extent to which potential catastrophic incidents can arise? What evidence exists which shows that the prevention of incidents is well in hand, as needs to be the case? The follow-on from that is the financial liability. How quickly will we see the effect of and be able to judge the preventative measures...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: All I will say is that this Department specialises in health. Insofar as possible, we need to prevent as many accidents or errors in procedures as possible in every way possible to ensure the money in the health budget is spent on health as opposed to legal fees. I saw something about the OPW. I have had some interaction with the OPW recently. While I cannot find it at the moment, the...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Okay. Is the expenditure normal? Has it been tested? The OPW has had a propensity to slightly exaggerate costs.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Cathaoirleach.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: On this question of a population increase by 2% or 84,000 every year since 2019, this means there has been cumulative population growth of 422,000 between 2019 and 2024. How much of that is indigenous growth and how much of it is due to inward migration?

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: We should have them because it gives a slanted impression. For instance, I do not see the number of people over 75 coming into the country as being in any way of the level referred to here but, by comparison, I see a huge number of young people coming in. I would say the ratio is very different from what these figures suggest. As well as that, I heard on a radio programme this morning...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Cloncurry drug treatment centre in Enfield, which is on the border of my constituency, is a case in point. I invite the Minister of State to visit if he gets a chance. It would be important to the assessment of the need and threat.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on the matter. I am aware of the impact that decisions relating to changes in An Post operations have on communities and individuals, in both rural and urban areas. An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially and, as such, day-to-day operational matters, including decisions relating to the size, distribution, and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (15 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister for his response and his candidness. I think he is getting the same response I got. "None of your business," is what they say, in so many words. They are getting a lot of money. An Post is a great organisation and I agree it is doing great things. It has done great things with e-cards and so on and was marvellous during Covid. This, however, is the one area I think...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am frightened that I might intervene in matters which we, as an Oireachtas, have given An Post a statutory responsibility to fulfil. Risking that, I might well approach the chief executive. I, too, would be interested. It is a really good company that is trusted and well managed and deals with a large volume of transactions across the State. The underlying reality, however, is that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I accept the Deputy's point. The option is there, and it is a matter for the developer and the residents as to whether they want to go down the route of being able to avail of a 40% grant and whichever is the most suitable technology. To be more innovative and consider other measures, my Department is drafting a new heat Bill to establish a regulatory model for district heating,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I am not saying it is not. Rather, we need to examine whether the operation of the grant system suits this. Others who have been involved in the wider idea of district heating systems have said that the support scheme for renewable heat would have to be altered to facilitate real moves. Regardless of whoever is in government when the Bill is enacted, it will be necessary. We all accept...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As I recall, the original plan for the scheme was for wood-fired systems.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Gas only kicked in due to supply difficulties. Another avenue for us to consider this matter would be through revisions of the support scheme for renewable heat, SSRH, but that would have to fit into whatever we do with the heat Bill. I accept the Deputy’s point. We will have to consider this matter further and see how we can deliver district heating in so many guises. It is...