Results 2,361-2,380 of 2,629 for speaker:Tim O'Malley

Written Answers — Suicide Prevention: Suicide Prevention (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: Since taking up office in late September, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children has not yet had the opportunity to meet either the Northern Ireland or the British Ministers for Health. However, in the area of suicide prevention, I am informed that the position in Northern Ireland and Britain has been taken into account in the formulation of the strategic action plan for suicide...

Written Answers — Suicide Prevention: Suicide Prevention (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: Since the publication of the report of the national task force on suicide in 1998, my Department has given special attention to resourcing suicide prevention initiatives. A cumulative total of more than €17.5 million has now been provided towards suicide prevention programmes and for research. This funding supports the work of the various agencies involved in this area including the health...

Written Answers — Health Board Staff: Health Board Staff (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: A Health Service Executive project team examined the cost of implementing the mainstreaming of FÁS community employment scheme workers engaged in the delivery of health-related services to permanent positions financed by the health boards. The implementation of the project team's report is being discussed by my Department with the Department of Finance in the context of the budget for 2005.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: The matter of access to public buildings and the provision of lifts which would facilitate access for people with disabilities is not a matter for the Department of Health and Children. The National Disability Authority established under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will have responsibility, under proposed measures in the Disability Bill 2004, for the...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: Responsibility for the provision of services for persons, including children, with intellectual disability and those with autism in the Mayo area is a matter, in the first instance, for the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the health board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply directly to him.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: Responsibility for the provision of services, including care plans, for persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism in the Dublin 9 area is a matter, in the first instance, for the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply directly...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: Correspondence has been received from the group referred to by the Deputy on the relocation of the Central Mental Hospital. In responding to the group's concerns, it has been explained that proposals for the development of a new Central Mental Hospital are under consideration in my Department. The majority of admissions to the Central Mental Hospital come from within the prison service....

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I have been informed by the South Western Area Health Board that, despite the availability of funding and repeated and exhaustive efforts in Ireland and internationally, the board was unable to recruit adequate consultant cover for Courthall, the facility referred to by the Deputy. In the context of the overall strategic plans for the child and adolescent psychiatric services in the board's...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: It is the policy of my Department to transfer persons with an intellectual disability or autism from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements to more appropriate care settings. It is also policy to provide enhanced levels of service for persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism who are accommodated in psychiatric hospitals, those accommodated in...

Written Answers — Mental Hospitals Report: Mental Hospitals Report (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: The report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals for the year ending 31 December 2003 was published on 8 September 2004. I welcome the publication of this report and acknowledge the important role the inspector has played for several years in providing an accurate and detailed account of services in the mental health sector throughout the country. In his 2003 report, the Inspector of Mental...

Written Answers — Suicide Incidence: Suicide Incidence (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I am aware of the work of the organisation referred to by the Deputy. I am informed that the Mid-Western Health Board provides support and funding for key bereavement support initiatives in north Tipperary. This includes the Living Links organisation and Suicide Understanding and Support, or SUAS, which provide support for those bereaved by suicide. The Mid-Western Health Board provided...

Written Answers — Suicide Incidence: Suicide Incidence (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. It is acknowledged that the issue of suicide prevention, especially among young people, requires action in a number of different areas and across a broad range of services and Departments. The issue will be addressed in the context of the preparation of the strategic action plan for suicide reduction which is currently underway. The...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: The working group on home supports and personal assistants first met in January 2002. The membership of the working group is as follows: Allen Dunne, Disability Federation of Ireland; Anne Winslow, Irish Wheelchair Association; David Fennell, Cheshire Foundation; Margaret Gillard, Rehab Group; Michael Corbett, Disability Federation of Ireland; Joan Bradley, Post Polio Support Group; Mo Flynn,...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (23 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I listened to every word.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: As I understand it, it has not been suggested that practitioners describing themselves as "physical therapists" are seeking to mislead the public. Rather a situation has arisen over a long period whereby a significant number of persons are currently practising in this State and earning a livelihood providing services to the public using the title "physical therapist", which in other countries...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I would be willing to consult the representatives of physiotherapists and physical therapists in an effort to come up with another title for physical therapists. I fully understand what everyone has said about the confusion in this country compared with other countries where the two qualifications are synonymous. The titles are not synonymous in Ireland because there are different educational...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I thank Senator Ryan and other speakers for drawing attention to this important area, including counsellors and psychotherapists. I agree that many of those who practise as counsellors and therapists do an excellent job but, unfortunately, that cannot be said for all of them. There is a big problem there. Given my responsibility for mental health, I have met many of these groups. I agree that...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: My understanding is that most professionals have become regulated through a process of discussion with all the groups involved to try to reach a consensus. I have met many counsellors' and psychotherapists' groups and have asked them to come up with proposals which we can consider. I want to do what the Senator has suggested but it would be extremely difficult to do so at the moment. One...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I am delighted we have had this discussion. I agree with what has been said and will follow up on what Senator Ryan has said. I agree these people need to be regulated and I will do everything to drive forward the message to them.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Tim O'Malley: Changing the words could have the effect of excluding people. Substituting "or" with "and" would inappropriately restrict the definition of a health or social care profession. By leaving the word "or" in place a health or social care profession can be a profession in which a person exercises skill or judgment relating to the diagnosis, treatment or care of those who are injured, sick,...