Results 1,601-1,620 of 2,967 for speaker:Séamus Healy

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: I am asking the question.

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: There are 1,281 excess winter deaths and the majority of those deaths arise from cold-related conditions, such as respiratory illnesses. Crucially that research found that this death rate is among the highest in Europe and even higher than in Scandinavian countries which are much colder in winter than is Ireland. These are absolutely shocking findings that were researched and peer reviewed,...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: In view of those findings, will the Government now reverse the cuts to the fuel allowance, particularly its duration which was cut by six weeks? Will it reverse the cuts to the energy units of the household benefits package implemented by this Government?

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: The austerity policies introduced by the Fianna Fáil Party and continued by the current Government, despite a commitment given during the general election campaign not to do so, are hitting individuals and families on low and fixed incomes very hard. A survey on income and living conditions carried out by the Central Statistics Office in February 2013 found that one quarter of the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: The Government cut free electricity units in the 2013 budget and increased carbon tax on solid fuel, which will also double next year. Elderly people and those on low incomes are caught in a pincer movement as they seek to deal with increased prices and taxes and Government cuts in benefits and allowances. As a result, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is spending €6 million per...

Leaders' Questions (24 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: This is unacceptable. Government policies are damaging the fabric of society. Surely the Government must abandon its approach to the elderly and those on fixed incomes by reversing the cuts to fuel and energy allowances introduced since it took office in 2011.

Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: The Tánaiste should deal with the specific cases.

Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: When will the Government stop terrorising the sick and elderly across this country? The Government's austerity budget of this year has targeted the withdrawal of 40,000 existing medical cards from the sick and elderly across the country. That policy is being implemented on the Government's behalf by the Health Service Executive. It is not possible for me to overstate the fact that the sick...

Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: Will the Tánaiste immediately instruct the Health Service Executive to desist from punishing and hounding the elderly? It has always been the case - I will finish with this - that persons with medical conditions that require urgent or ongoing medical treatment have qualified for discretionary medical cards. That practice has now stopped. Persons with cancer diagnoses and with, for...

Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: The Tánaiste almost boasts that the number of medical cards have increased. So they have, but, of course, that is far from an achievement. That is, in fact, an indictment of the Government. It is an indictment of the austerity policies that have driven employees out of work, that have driven incomes down and that have put applicants under medical card limits that are most stringent...

Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: I also want to ask the Tánaiste when the medical card income limits will be reviewed and increased. Whether or not he knows it, they have not been increased since 2006. In fact, some of these limits - including that pertaining to travel to work, which is discriminatory towards those living in rural areas where no public transport is available - have worsened over the past 12 months. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Work Programme, Disability Services and Related Issues: Discussion with HIQA (12 Sep 2013)

Séamus Healy: I have one question for HIQA about resources, which is raised in the final page of the authority's submission. We are all aware of the environment in which the health service is operating. Hospitals and health care facilities have lost up to 25% of their budgets in recent years as well as hundreds of members of staff. As Deputy Ó Caoláin has said, some of the reports by HIQA,...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Private Members]: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jul 2013)

Séamus Healy: I commend Deputy Wallace on bringing forward this important legislation. The Bill will, no doubt, be voted down later on this evening by the Government. However, it puts in place a template for best international practice, which will be acted upon in the not too distant future. It is worthwhile reminding ourselves that many of the provisions in the Bill before us have been recommended in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Young People in Detention: Discussion with the Ombudsman for Children. (17 Jul 2013)

Séamus Healy: I thank the Ombudsman for Children for her attendance and her presentation. Perhaps Ms Logan will confirm an impression that I have. For 16, 17 and 18 year olds, the key factors are the culture of the institution and its staff, education and access to related services. We are not there yet, but are we heading in the correct direction and is the timeframe in question acceptable? Do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cochlear Ear Implants: Discussion (16 Jul 2013)

Séamus Healy: How many new cases arise each year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cochlear Ear Implants: Discussion (16 Jul 2013)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the delegates and thank Shay Kearns for his presentation. As others have said, there is cross-party support for the case they are making. It is important that the budget funding for next year is allocated. I too would like to hear their response to the continuing problem of bilateral treatment. Could they outline the failure rate of the implants? Is it the case that implants...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (16 Jul 2013)

Séamus Healy: 719. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will commit to an immediate full and independent cost/benefit analysis to the State of its current wind energy strategy taking into account energy supply to both the Irish grid and for export, in view of the scale of current and planned wind farm developments; if he will ensure that such a study will examine all...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (16 Jul 2013)

Séamus Healy: 1105. To ask the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Health Service Executive to carry out a disability impact assessment on public toilets leased by local authorities and if he will provide the cost of leasing contracts for superloo toilets to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34969/13]

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Séamus Healy: Amendment No. 153 seeks to exclude the criminalisation of the pregnant woman. It seeks to differentiate the pregnant woman from any others involved in assisting her. The proposal to criminalise the pregnant woman and to make her subject to a 14-year prison sentence is inhumane, barbaric and anachronistic. It is indefensible and should be removed from the legislation. The 14-year sentence...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Séamus Healy: Amendment No. 103 deals with the amount of time given to the review committee to carry out its deliberations and reach a decision. The Bill currently provides for a figure of seven days. When we add the three days provided for establishing the committee, the period comes to ten days. As Deputy Catherine Murphy pointed out, these provisions will apply in cases which require urgency in...