Results 2,001-2,020 of 2,967 for speaker:Séamus Healy

Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012: Second Stage (9 Oct 2012)

Séamus Healy: I thought the other speakers strayed as well, if that is the case. The question of austerity is an important one. One of the reasons I say the Minister should consider withdrawing this Bill is that today the IMF accepted at last what many of us have been saying for some time, that austerity is not working. According to both the Irish Examiner and the Financial Times today, and in its own...

Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012: Second Stage (9 Oct 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012. I ask the Minister to withdraw it, as it effectively enshrines permanent austerity in this country. The Bill’s proposals and measures, if implemented, will continue to destroy the domestic economy, increase unemployment and emigration levels and put pressure on low and middle income families - the coping...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Oct 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the guests. This is a very important subject, which is really a ticking time bomb. It concerns health and life expectancy as well as complications down the road. There are huge costs involved in dealing initially with the issue of people being overweight and obese and the complications from that down the road. I welcome the practical way put forward to halt the rise in the...

Addiction Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (3 Oct 2012)

Séamus Healy: I wish to share time with Deputies Tom Fleming, Catherine Murphy, Finian McGrath, Mick Wallace and Mattie McGrath.

Addiction Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (3 Oct 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the opportunity to support this Private Members' motion. I compliment Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, who has an intimate knowledge of this issue, on her preparation of this comprehensive motion. I am disappointed to note the Government has tabled an amendment to the motion. I do not believe this is the type of issue on which the House should divide. It should have been possible to...

Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Oct 2012)

Séamus Healy: I also join the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in congratulating the Minister of State on his appointment and wishing him well for the future.

Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Oct 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this Second Stage debate on the Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2012, which is technical legislation to update and amend the 2005 Act. Like other speakers, I would welcome an explanation from the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, as to the reason only two of the proposed 12 registration boards have been established. The Health...

Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Séamus Healy: The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has committed to proposals for local government reform, which is also set out in the programme for Government. These were to be brought forward before the recess and immediately afterwards it was indicated that there was to be an announcement this week, but I understand that is not now the case. Can the Minister advise what is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (27 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: The figures the Minister has given are completely unacceptable and indicate that what parents have been saying to me and other Deputies is accurate. Does the Minister have in mind any short-time measures which could be activated quickly to ease the backlog? As I said, I have spoken to parents whose children are waiting 18 months for what their GPs have indicated is urgently required...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (27 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: To ask the Minister for Health the extent of the waiting list, numbers and waiting times for in-patient and out-patient ear nose and throat services at Waterford Regional Hospital; and the measures he will take to address this situation. [41228/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (27 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the response from the Minister but he has only dealt with in-patient services. My question deals with both inpatient and outpatient services. The point of my question is the outpatient services. Nearly every day, parents contact me about the waiting lists for outpatient clinics at the hospital. I am informed by parents that an urgent case may have to wait for 18 months for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Role and Functions: Discussion with Irish Medicines Board (27 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: The issue of costs has been raised by previous speakers. It is not entirely clear from what Mr. O'Mahony has said what measures, if any, the board can take in this area. The key issue for the public, particularly those within easy distance of the North or with regular access to European markets, is that the difference in cost between medicines sold in this jurisdiction and elsewhere is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Business of Joint Committee (27 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: I join the Chairman and other members in sending good wishes to Deputy Shortall for the future and thanking her for the work she has done.

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the opportunity to speak on and support the Bill. I compliment the Minister on the introduction of such a balanced wording. I acknowledge the broad support for the amendment proposed in this legislation in the Houses of the Oireachtas and the country generally. That bodes well for the referendum on 10 November when I hope there will be a positive outcome, as I am sure there will...

Magdalene Laundries: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the motion and commend Sinn Féin for tabling it. I am disappointed that the Government has tabled an amendment to the motion. This is not an issue on which the House should divide. Even at this late stage, I appeal to the Minister to withdraw the amendment and to allow this motion to be passed unanimously by the House. We must acknowledge that abuse occurred in Magdalene...

Magdalene Laundries: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the motion and commend Sinn Féin for tabling it. I am disappointed that the Government has tabled an amendment to the motion. This is not an issue on which the House should divide. Even at this late stage, I appeal to the Minister to withdraw the amendment and to allow this motion to be passed unanimously by the House. We must acknowledge that abuse occurred in Magdalene...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the opportunity to speak on and support the Bill. I compliment the Minister on the introduction of such a balanced wording. I acknowledge the broad support for the amendment proposed in this legislation in the Houses of the Oireachtas and the country generally. That bodes well for the referendum on 10 November when I hope there will be a positive outcome, as I am sure there will...

Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill and commend the Minister on introducing it. This is important legislation from the point of view of animal health and welfare, the maintenance and increase of our food exports and the clean green image of Irish food products, thereby ensuring they can be sold on the international market resulting in significant progress being made in the...

Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: The programme for Government promised legislation to make NAMA transparent and accountable and to make it subject to the Freedom of Information Acts. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, has promised this a number of times and may be able to help the Tánaiste in this regard. When will this legislation be brought before the House?

Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Séamus Healy: I thank the Tánaiste.