Results 2,001-2,020 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Order of Business. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy asked about the 1990 Act and the regulations of 1993. They are being examined in the context of the Bill I mentioned earlier. The amendments will be made in that legislation. Those issues, including the reviews, will be dealt with in the health Bill providing for the establishment of a health information and quality authority and social services inspectorate.

Order of Business. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The energy Bill is due this session. The heads of the Bord Gáis Éireann Bill are expected later this year and the legislation will be ready next year. The broadcasting authority Bill, to establish a broadcasting authority of Ireland, is being drafted and will be ready next year. The natural gas Bill will be ready next year.

Order of Business. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am here to answer questions so the Deputy need not be lonely.

Order of Business. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We will try to arrange it for this session.

Order of Business. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We will try.

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. The following is the text of the relevant agreement with the ICTU in relation to the development of airport capacity: Both the Government and the trade unions are committed to the ongoing development of the transport infrastructure together with the promotion of a high standard of quality secure employment in the industry. Accordingly,...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: This Government takes the issues relating to the elderly most seriously, including carers, home help, housing, respite care and many other areas. We have shown our concern by our actions throughout our term in office and we will show it again in dealing with this case. As I said yesterday, what happened at Leas Cross nursing home was unacceptable and was an insult to the residents and their...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The HSE is already doing it. It will be made up of teams of medical, nursing and environmental inspectors. As Deputy Kenny pointed out, there are inspections taking place in health board areas already. The strongest inspectorate, because it is a dedicated unit, is in the former Northern Health Board area, where the Leas Cross home is located. The inspectorate had been dealing with the home...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputies listened to me, they might learn. When they come back——

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: When inspectors come back on subsequent visits, they do not give notice. They come back to inspect the wards and medical facilities but there is little point in them turning up to check all the other issues when there is nobody there. This is the reason why they operate the system they do.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The HSE also meets the nursing home association and works with it to improve standards. The HSE works with public nursing homes to ensure standards in them are improved because we readily admit there are problems to be rectified. The Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and the 1993 regulations are being reviewed.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny could at least get his facts right as the report was launched by the organisation. I said yesterday that the conditions in Leas Cross Nursing Home are unacceptable and I have said it again today. The agreement reached yesterday between the Health Service Executive and the nursing home to bring about much needed improvement will be paid for by the nursing home and not the State....

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Kenny asked two questions at the outset and said I gave a cynical answer when I answered both questions. He asked me whether legislation would be introduced before the summer and I said it would not but would be introduced in the autumn. I said that the proposed inspectorate will cover all areas. He asked me why advance notice of inspections is given to nursing homes and I explained...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: When inspectors return for subsequent visits to look at patients and organisation, they do not give notice. If they are not satisfied, under existing legislative powers, inspectors do not try to close units but try to get them to conform to the highest standards, as they do in public nursing homes.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Staffing levels in public nursing homes are composed of both medical and clinical care and inspectors try to enforce those. If they believe either from an infrastructural or medical perspective, a nursing home is not up to the proper standards, they have no alternative but to move to close it.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In the first instance, inspectors try to get the management, staff and administration to rectify the faults that have been reported.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In many cases, the nursing home is the home for the individual so the HSE attempts to ensure homes have the highest standards so people are not disrupted. If the home does not comply with the HSE's stipulations, the HSE moves to close the home.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is how it operates, if the House is interested. The Government is trying to strengthen provision.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children announced some time ago that both the 1990 legislation and the 1993 regulations were being reviewed. They are being reviewed as part of the process that leads to this legislation, as I answered yesterday. Obviously, the reason they are being reviewed is they are not considered adequate. The HSE is only in existence since 1 January but prior...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation is being prepared. It is legislation which will include inspectorates for a range of areas, not just nursing homes. That is under way. I do not have details or knowledge about the case to which the Deputy referred but I imagine there are other cases too. The reality is that while there is an inspectorate, it should fully cover medical, nursing and environmental inspectors. It...