Results 16,001-16,020 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We are not prepared to accept the Order of Business as presented. We are following on from ministerial questions to the Minister for Health and Children, during which she indicated the service plan for 2009 for the HSE had been laid before the House and was on the green Order Paper for today's business. It is on the green Order Paper but up to a short time before the commencement of this...

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ——on €530 million of cuts in health care delivery——

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ——in 2009. I will finish my point.

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: This is pertinent to the very question the Ceann Comhairle is asking us to accept. No. 8 is a motion on the sitting to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the first sitting of Dáil Éireann. Nobody here should forget that in the Democratic Programme for the First Dáil, the commitment was there to safeguard the health of the people.

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Yet we have a position where we are being asked to accept an Order Paper that does not even accommodate or address in excess of €500 million in proposed cuts in health services over the coming 12 months. It is simply and absolutely unacceptable on top of all of the other cuts and continuous haemorrhage of services that we have witnessed——

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ——throughout this year. This Order Paper fails to address the most important issue of concern to the Irish people today and it must be rejected.

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It certainly is.

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Deputy Jan O'Sullivan for highlighting the fact that the plan is now actually available to Members, which was not the case earlier today. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether the Government will accommodate a debate on the contents of the service plan before the Christmas recess? Will he set aside time this week or make time available next week in order that we might discuss the...

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ——throughout the State?

Private Health Insurance. (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Will the Minster indicate if either her Department or the HSE are currently monitoring the effect of growing unemployment on health funding? I have no doubt she would be in a position to confirm there is an increase in the number of people applying for a medical card. Will she also confirm there is a decrease in the number of people taking out private health insurance? Is she aware if a...

Private Health Insurance. (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We do care.

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the need for the Minister for Health and Children to publish immediately the Health Service Executive's service plan for 2009, which she has approved and which reportedly proposes massive cuts across our public health services, with life-threatening consequences for patients and...

Order of Business (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is not agreed.

Public Service Reform. (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Taoiseach referred to sitting down with the people affected and recognises that this is a crucial aspect in the context of the social partners. However, the task force did not include representation from all the key sectors. There was representation from the private sector but consumers, trade unions and the NGOs were not represented. Given that it has published its action plan, does...

Public Service Reform. (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Does the Taoiseach accept that attempts are being made — even in this House — to scapegoat the public service with regard to the mismanagement of the economy in recent years? Does he agree that the overwhelming majority of people employed in the public service do not have responsibility for the mismanagement of or decline in the economy?

Public Service Reform. (16 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if he has received a report from the group tasked with the implementation of recommendations of the OECD report on reform of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43737/08]

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (11 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 59: To ask the Minister for Finance the meetings or correspondence he has had with a group (details supplied) since the announcement of the Government's credit institution guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45330/08]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (11 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 52: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has assessed the expected impact of the 0.5% VAT increase on consumer spending and VAT revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45331/08]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 193: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the denial of an exceptional needs payment to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [45718/08]

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: This section provides for the deadline for the full implementation of what can only be regarded as the fatal Government decision to axe the automatic card entitlement for the over 70s. I described the Minister's amendments as face-saving arrangements. They are wrongly presented as a climb-down. They are face-saving arrangements and it will take until 2 March 2009 to implement them. We may...