Results 2,221-2,240 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (1 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I must be honest, in that what I am going to say will probably not satisfy them, but I will convey their concerns when they finish their contributions. I welcome the opportunity to speak about the services at Letterkenny University Hospital. The hospital provides medical oncology services to patients and has two consultant medical oncologist posts. One of these posts is currently vacant and,...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (1 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I do not mind. I note what the two Deputies have said. With the greatest of respect to them, their knowledge of the area they speak about is far greater than mine. Although it might be against my will, I agree with them that I would not like anybody to have to travel more than 200 miles for a service. While a relevant point has been raised, the Minister also raised a relevant point in...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (1 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I have made a note of it. I will pass on the suggestion to the Minister.

Topical Issue Debate: National Children's Hospital (1 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise for the fact the Minister cannot be here to take this Topical Issue but I am glad to take it because it is in my constituency and I have been involved for a long time in respect of the location of the project in St. James's Hospital. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am pleased to take this opportunity to update the House about the new children's hospital. The...

Topical Issue Debate: National Children's Hospital (1 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will.

Topical Issue Debate: National Children's Hospital (1 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Hopefully, there will be no unnecessary deaths. The children this hospital will most the benefit are very sick children who must endure very cramped conditions in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. These conditions go back 30 or 40 years. For the first time in this country, there is a commitment by this Government and the previous one to build a national children's hospital. I...

Topical Issue Debate: National Children's Hospital (1 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will finish because I do not want to end up arguing with anybody in the Chamber because that is not my way of doing politics but I assure the Deputy that there has been wide consultation during the past two years with every community group, every family with a sick child, every neighbourhood and all the staff and different services on the campus. I attended the oral hearing, which lasted...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commencement of Legislation (1 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2016 was passed by the Oireachtas on the 27th July 2016. Controlling the substances in the Act was part one of a two-step process and Regulations and various Orders are also required to allow legitimate users (e.g. patients with a prescription, health professionals) to possess the substances. Drafting of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations and Orders is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (1 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Topical Issue Debate: Maternity Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise for arriving late and delaying proceedings. Unfortunately, the Minister, Deputy Harris, cannot be here. I thank Deputy Smyth for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to update the House on the position on foetal anomaly scanning at Cavan General Hospital. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is advised that while the provision of routine foetal anomaly scanning for all...

Topical Issue Debate: Maternity Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I acknowledge the concerns the Deputy has raised. As I stated, despite every effort being made, the hospital has not been successful to date in recruiting the necessary specialist required to provide a routine 20-week anomaly scan service. I will certainly bring back the Deputy's concerns about this. I will also bring back her concerns in regard to the Minister meeting the Whelan family....

Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. At the outset I would like to assure the House that the Government is committed to enhancing primary health care services, including GP services. The development of primary care is central to the Government’s objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost-effective health service and to reduce the numbers coming into hospitals....

Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: There has been an increase in home care packages. I am a Dublin Deputy but I recognise that the GP service in rural Ireland is in crisis and needs to be supported in more ways. The Deputy referred to emigration but a lot of young people, whether nurses or GPs, want to travel and experience other types of hospital care across the world. It would be unfair to prevent young people from...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Misuse of Drugs (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2016 was passed by the Oireachtas on the 27 July 2016. Controlling the substances in the Act was part one of a two-step process and Regulations and various Orders are also required to allow legitimate users (e.g. patients with a prescription, health professionals) to possess the substances. It is expected that various sections of the 2016 Act can be...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospitals Car Park Charges (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As the Senator can see, I am not the Minister, Deputy Harris. I am here on his behalf since he could not be here. Over the past decade, parking charges have introduced into many hospitals. It is important to note that these parking charges are part of the series of measures which ensure the operational cost of providing parking services does not cause an adverse impact on their budget. As...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospitals Car Park Charges (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I have taken note of some of the Senator's concerns. I, too, have concerns about the charges in hospitals. However, there are some hospitals that have a maximum price. I can only refer to Tallaght hospital, which charges €10 for 24 hours, while St. James's Hospital charges €15 and hospitals in Cork and Limerick charge €15. A sum of €1,200 is an exorbitant...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Minister apologises for not being here. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this matter. A number of projects have been identified by the University of Limerick hospital group for further development. These include a proposal for a 96-bed ward block at University Hospital Limerick, UHL, on the Dooradoyle campus and a 90-bed replacement ward block at St. John's Hospital in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will reply quickly to Senator Byrne. I will raise the capital funding and the mid-term review with the Minister. I will repeat the Senator's point that the 90 replacement beds should be put into service over a certain amount of time. I will add to what the Senator said in the beginning. This Government has given the largest ever budget for health care. There are people still waiting on...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: That is fine. The Senator's contribution will tell me where she is coming from.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Senator and apologise to her for the absence of the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee. I have been asked to take this matter and I am happy to do so. From 2012 to 2016, approximately €115 million was added to the Health Service Executive, HSE, mental health budget, which totalled €826 million in 2016. This represents an increase of €41 million, or 5.2%,...