Results 13,521-13,540 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 135: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to her letter of 4 February 2010 in relation to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 16 September 2009, when the Health Service Executive's progress report will issue. [12176/10]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is paying the full adult rate of social welfare payments where a young person has expressed interest in undertaking training or education but no place is available; if not, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12046/10]

Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (Resumed). (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I commend the Chair of the committee, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, Deputies Shatter and Howlin and their respective party colleagues and the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, for the commitment to the project entrusted to us by the Houses of the Oireachtas. I wish to record my thanks to Anne-Marie Fahy, the secretary to the committee, and our legal advisers over the past number of years. I...

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I was the Member the Ceann Comhairle intended calling next before the suspension. When the Ceann Comhairle responded to Deputy Jan O'Sullivan that there were options to establish the information she and we collectively seek, he referred to parliamentary questions. On one day this week, I received six replies from the office of the Minister for Health and Children. Each brief reply states:...

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Where and how can we address these concerns as Members of this House? We are elected to carry out particular tasks and the first response of the Ceann Comhairle to Deputy O'Sullivan was to suggest this particular course.

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: As another health spokesperson in this Chamber, I suggest this course is not open to us because the Minister will not respond, nor will she indicate her intention to reply.

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: What will the Ceann Comhairle do?

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Surely one of the functions of the Ceann Comhairle is to defend the rights of Members to have access to critical information as elected representatives.

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That is most unsatisfactory.

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Perhaps Deputy Burton should point her finger at some of her own male colleagues, rather than us.

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I propose that the Dáil sit for one full day in the coming week, either Thursday 18 March or Friday 19 March, to accommodate the return of as many Ministers and Ministers of State from wherever they may be over the St. Patrick's Day period. It is imperative that the Minister for Health and Children is recalled to face the serious crisis presenting in our health service, a crisis built on...

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I am stating clearly that we require a full investigation to establish all of the facts, to assuage people's fears by addressing the failures within the current system and to restore confidence by taking the appropriate steps to ensure this never happens again. There are core questions in this issue, the Minister's accountability being one, but there is also the accountability of those we...

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I have not gone beyond it, this is a hugely important matter. If they are not reading the X-rays and ignoring referral letters-----

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: With respect, I am an elected Member of this House.

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I am also a spokesperson on this issue and I insist on my right to explain why I am opposed to the Order of Business.

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I am stating clearly that we need to know what is at the base of the systems failure within the Tallaght experience and if the same exists in other hospital sites, that the difficulties are being addressed and that steps are being taken to ensure this does not recur. It is now beholden on any Opposition party that is providing pairs for Government Ministers, specifically in the case of the...

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: No, the Minister should be here. She has lost any right for corresponding support and I call on Opposition parties to withdraw any pairing arrangements during the Minister's absence from this Chamber and this country at this time.

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Are there terms of reference for any investigation?

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The proposition before us now is to rise until Tuesday week next, 23 March. Will the Tánaiste consider what I have already put to the House, that is, we come back here for one day at the end of next week? I have no issue with and I wish well those Ministers who are going on various supportive visits, trade-related I would hope, that would be of benefit to the people at home and the Irish...

Order of Business (11 Mar 2010)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Without sight of the terms of reference we have no way of knowing if all our questions are indeed being addressed. Will the Tánaiste finally clarify if steps are being taken to establish whether these problems arise and apply at other hospital sites throughout the State? All of these points are pertinent to this matter.