Results 2,101-2,120 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: We are out of time. A question I still have is one to which I do not expect an answer today. It is about whether we can expect the public to lock down again in circumstances where it is a question of assessing our economic response - it is a horrible question - having regard to the fact that 99.5% of the people who died of Covid-19 had underlying conditions or were over 65. The question is...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I welcome our guests from Inclusion Ireland in committee room 1. They are Ms Lorraine Dempsey, chairperson; Mr. Enda Egan, chief executive officer; and Mr. Mark O'Connor, community engagement manager. I wish to advise our guests that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I thank Mr. Egan very much. I will now open the floor to Deputies for questions. I call Deputy Butler. She has ten minutes.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I call Deputy Carroll MacNeill who she has ten minutes.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I completely agree with where the Deputy is going but I remind him that this session is specifically about the response to Covid-19, rather than the broader issue of services for children with additional needs.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I am not seeking to take away from the valid points the Deputy is making in that regard.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: Can I be heard in committee room 1? I take the silence as a "No". Hopefully, we will be able to resolve that. In the meantime, I call Deputy Shanahan. Hopefully, he can be heard in committee room 1.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I am afraid we have to move on to the next speaker. I call Deputy Collins.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: Can Ms Dempsey hear me properly in the committee room?
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: Thank you. I will move to the next speaker. Deputy Michael Collins can speak again later. Deputy Foley has ten minutes.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: Obviously, this period has been very difficult for everybody. Businesses have lost money, but they will be able to make that money back in the future. People have put on weight, but they will be able to lose it. However, some children are not just failing to develop - they are regressing. My daughter was born recently and it is amazing to watch her develop. I cannot imagine what it must...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I do not know what to say in response. As a State, we do need to say something. We need to be aware of the impact that the curtailment of services is having on the most vulnerable and I cannot put it further than that. I thank the witnesses for coming in today and for sharing their experience and knowledge with us.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I have hay fever or an allergy. My question specifically relates to the Department of Education and Skills. What criteria must be met in order to have a full reopening of schools in September? Parents need to know whether they will need a childminder for one, two or five days per week.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I know that, but obviously certain criteria must be met. What are they? We are told that the decision will be based on science and that it will not be a question of reading the tea leaves or of what is politically expedient. What are the criteria?
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: What constitutes adequate PPE? Can children safely be in the one space at the one time? We should know now where we are going on these issues. There is a significant amount of PPE in the country, with a sizeable stock warehoused very close to where I come from in east Clare. Availability of hand sanitiser should not be a difficulty. I am sure it would not be beyond the capability of a...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I presume that advice has been provided. The Department has sought and obtained that advice.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: That is true, but preparations are in place for everybody. As of now, all students will go back to school in September.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: The impression I got from Mr. Tattan's response to Deputy Ó Laoghaire on summer provision is that the Department did not expect to be able to proceed with it and that is one of the reasons more hours are not available. That is concerning. The advice received was not what the Department expected. Suddenly, it was possible for summer provision to be made available. The Department found...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: Although it may have come as a surprise to the Department that it was going to able to provide summer provision and that might explain the difficulties in that regard, the Minister was asked about the programme on several occasions in the House in May and at all times he anticipated that it would be provided.
- Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (27 Jun 2020)
Michael McNamara: I concur with the previous speaker. The constituency I represent needs a Government to deal with the issues we face. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Minister for Health told the House that greater and better use has to be made of Ennis hospital and other tier-two hospitals throughout the mid-west to avoid a catastrophe next winter at University Hospital Limerick. Shannon Airport and...