Results 181-200 of 2,569 for speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the expert witnesses. If a patient is suicidal and suffering from mental illness, will she be legally competent to give permission for an abortion in accordance with head 4 of the Bill? Where a patient is suicidal, would the provision of full-time care, which includes close observation, reduce the risk of self-destruction to a significantly low level? If a patient has stated...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: First, I want to express my gratitude to those present for attending the hearings this morning. I have just a few questions. If a patient has stated that she is suicidal but is not suffering from mental illness, what other course is available to a doctor under head 4 other than to grant permission for an abortion? What criteria will be used to make an objective judgment in the case of a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the witness and thank them for appearing before the committee. If a patient is suicidal and suffering from mental illness would that person be legally compelled to give permission for an abortion in accordance with head 4? When a patient is suicidal will the provision of full-time care, which includes close observation, reduce the risk of self-destruction to a significantly low...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (20 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome our guests and thank them for attending. I wish to pose three questions. Will doctors and nurses who, under head 4 of the Bill, wish to have no part in abortions - either directly or indirectly - be significantly protected in the context of their professions and livelihoods? Will doctors and nurses who, under head 4, wish to have no part in abortions - either directly or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: First, I thank the witnesses for their attendance and presentations. I have a few questions for them. In the event of a later stage termination being carried out under head 4 at 24 weeks where there is a known high risk of disability and where the child is born disabled as a result, will the State, the HSE or the doctors be liable if the child or either parent subsequently takes a civil...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Heads of Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013: Public Hearings (Resumed) (21 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank those present for the presentation and making themselves available today. The Supreme Court X case decision facilitates the introduction of abortion legislation but is there anything in the Constitution that makes the introduction of such legislation an obligation? Does the definition of "reasonable opinion" in head 1 give significant weight to the duty of care towards the unborn...

Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: When does the Tánaiste expect the publication of the family law Bill, which is to make provision for pension adjustments in the context of separation agreements and certain other reforms in family law, and the criminal procedure Bill, which is to provide for the reform of pre-trial processes?

Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Second Stage (22 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: This Bill aims to develop a comprehensive statutory framework for the conduct of inquiries by the Oireachtas. It arises as a result of the Abbeylara judgment, the rejected 2011 referendum and surrounding commentary, a report by the Committee of Public Accounts on the preliminary framework for the Oireachtas inquiry into the domestic banking crisis, as well as the Callely case which awaits a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Yesterday, together with other Members of the Oireachtas, members of the joint committee had a meeting with the Happy New Ear campaign on cochlear implantation. At present, the number of such implantations stands at 90 patients per year and the annual budget in Beaumont Hospital for this service, inclusive of implants, is more than €4 million. Last year, 48 adults and 42 children...

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The Bill provides for amendments to the social welfare code arising from budget 2013 and the related policy matters. It also amends the Pensions Act 1990, providing for the restructuring of the Pensions Board. Budget 2013 announced a number of measures to broaden the income base for PRSI in order to ensure the stability of the Social Insurance Fund so that it can continue to pay the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Student Access to Higher Education: Discussion (30 May 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the witnesses. I am amazed, if not shocked, at the number of people from Northern Ireland who do not avail of the opportunity to attend institutes of technology along the Border. If the witnesses need any help, there will be no problem whatsoever. I come from Dundalk and I know Mr. Cummins pretty well. The Dundalk Institute of Technology, DKIT, is looking to give university...

Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: When can we expect the publication of the adoption (tracing and information) Bill which is to provide for an information and tracing service to applicants seeking information about adoption?

Finance (Local Property Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [Private Members]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: A property tax is necessary to restore our public finances. We cannot continue to spend more money than we raise in taxes. We are borrowing approximately €1 billion per month and we still have to reduce the general Government deficit to below 3% of GDP by 2015. A property tax is a responsible way to reduce this deficit. The OECD commission on taxation and the ESRI agree that a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank the witnesses for an excellent presentation. In the past 12 months we have heard what they said in their contributions, but we need action. We all agree there is an urgent need for obesity treatment services for both adults and children who are overweight or obese. The programme at Temple Street children's hospital and the Up4It programme are a great start but we need to find ways...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Ms Grace O'Malley made a comment that teenagers do not listen to their parents. However, teenagers do look at them and parents can set a good example. I acknowledge that when children are aged between 13 and 21 or whatever, they go through a stage of rebellion. However, if one looks at them in later years, they will have carbon-copied what their parents have done. Consequently, it is...

Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: When does the Minister expect the publication of the horse racing Ireland (amendment) Bill, which is to amend and extend the Irish Horse Racing Industry Act 1994 and the Horse and Greyhound Act 2001 and related matters?

Order of Business (20 Jun 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: When can we expect publication of the radiological protection (amendment) Bill to ensure Irish legislation is compatible with the terms of the Convention for the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Facilities so that Ireland can ratify the convention?

Order of Business (26 Jun 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: When can we expect the publication of the public health (alcohol) Bill to provide for the inclusion of health advice and warnings on alcoholic drink containers such as bottles and cans and on promotional material, including advice on the dangers of consuming alcohol during pregnancy? The Bill will also provide for a minimum price at which alcohol can be sold and for certain matters in regard...

Prison Development (Confirmation of Resolutions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Jun 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The resolution approving the development of a prison on a portion of the site used as Cork Prison was passed by the Dáil and the Seanad on 18 June 2013. This Bill seeks to confirm the resolutions. Cork Prison dates from 1849 and was originally built as a garrison prison for the adjoining army barracks, now Collins Barracks. The conditions in the prison have been described as...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2013)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I have never in my life had so much mental anguish and torment over a decision. The past six months, especially the past three months, have been particularly difficult while I have debated the decision I must make. I have taken the view that before making a decision, it is incumbent upon me to educate myself as best I can about all sides and opinions. I firmly believe that the more...