Results 2,301-2,320 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Topical Issue Debate: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (2 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: On behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I should point out that the Valuation Office came within the aegis of the Department of Justice and Equality with effect from 1 January 2016. Under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015, the Commissioner of Valuation who is independent in carrying out his functions has sole...

Topical Issue Debate: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (2 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I do not have the specific answers to the Deputy's questions but I will inform the Minister in question and ask him to get back to the Deputy. This is the first national re-evaluation to take place in over 150 years so it is important that the process is completed as soon as possible. A number of small businesses in my constituency have seen rates go up by €3,000 or €4,000 and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Accommodation (2 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Before I read the reply, I want to reassure the Senators that when I take Commencement matters, I make it my business to go back to the Minister and speak to him personally.I am sorry if Senator Murnane O'Connor has not received a response.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Accommodation (2 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will follow up on the matter. I will set out the response on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, I wish to thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the Carlow ambulance base. As the Senator is aware, there have been difficulties recently with a prefabricated building...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (2 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, I thank Senator Lombard for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this important matter. Meningococcal disease is a vaccine-preventable disease which has a high mortality rate if untreated. It is statutorily notifiable in Ireland under the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2016. However, this does not require reporting of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (2 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I acknowledge again the Senator's concerns around the catch-up programme for 1.2 million children. As a mother and a grandmother, I am very conscious of the fact that when the word meningitis is mentioned, people have real fears. All of us around Leinster House, whether public representatives or staff, have been touched through our families because, unfortunately, people have contracted...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Redundancy Payments (2 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: First, I want to address Senator Gavan's remarks on our previous engagement. I assure the Senator that any time I take a Commencement matter, I always make sure to go back to the Minister on a personal basis. I went back to the Minister on a personal basis and relayed Senator Gavan's concerns regarding the Commencement matter that day. I was in contact again this morning and have been...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Redundancy Payments (2 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, who cannot be present. Under the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2013, eligible employees who lose employment as a result of redundancy are entitled to two weeks' statutory redundancy payment for every year of service, plus a bonus week. In the first instance, it is the responsibility of the employer...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Redundancy Payments (2 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: If the Senator wants to send me the details, I will bring them to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, as it would be of help to have them. Alternatively, he can bring them to the Department. I will raise his concerns with the Minister.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Injecting Facilities (7 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Government approved the publication of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017 on 7th February 2017. It is important to note that the Bill will not establish the location of the supervised injecting facility. However, it is envisaged that the first such facility would be established in Dublin city centre, where there is a significant, recognised problem of public...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Process (7 Mar 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: Mental Health Services Provision (7 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: In line with Action 1.15 of Rebuilding Ireland, €2m in funding was made available in 2016 from the mental health budget for enhanced care and case management programmes to link homeless people with complex needs within the Dublin region into mental health and addiction services. This allocation will continue in 2017. In addition, the HSE Service Plan 2017 has earmarked a further...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Funding (8 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: In the 2017 budget, an additional €3m has been provided for a number of measures aimed at improving the health outcomes of those affected by addiction issues. The increased funding will support the development of a pilot supervised injection facility in Dublin city centre, the wider availability of alternative opiate substitution treatments for those who are not suited to methadone,...

Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: This is a long-awaited and important Bill. I feel I am in a relay race as part of a relay team. Previous Ministers of State before me have all passed on the baton of the supervised injection facility. I acknowledge the work done by those previous Ministers of State. I also acknowledge the work of the Ana Liffey drugs project through Tony Duffin, who was the first person to mention the...

Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injection Facilities) Bill 2017: Referral to Select Committee (9 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Health pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1).

Topical Issue Debate: Gaelscoil Issues (9 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Bruton. I thank Deputy Rock for raising the matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the current position relating to Gaelscoil Cholmcille. For the Deputy's information, I will outline the background to the establishment of Gaelscoil Cholmcille. It is recognised by the Department as a co-educational...

Topical Issue Debate: Gaelscoil Issues (9 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Again, I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position regarding Gaelscoil Cholmcille. I understand perfectly well where the Deputy is coming from and the real need to give parents choices in the education of their children. Because Gaelscoileanna all across the country have become very popular in the past number of years, particularly in the Dublin region, there is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (21 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The budget allocation for the twenty four Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces from the Drugs Initiative of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive in each of the years referred to by the Deputy is set out in the table: LDATF 2012 2013 2014 DOH 2014 HSE 2015 DOH 2015 HSE 2016 DOH 2016 HSE 2017 DOH 2017 HSE Ballyfermot €1,569,489...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Staff Recruitment (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Minister apologises that he cannot be here this morning. On his behalf, I thank Senator Devine for raising the issue, which gives me an opportunity to update the House on the matter. Sarcomas are rare cancers with about 220 cases occurring annually in Ireland. Services for patients with sarcoma are currently provided in St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin and in Cork University...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Staff Recruitment (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I do not have that information to hand. I will pass on Senator Devine's concerns to the Minister and inform him that she is seeking to meet him. However, I cannot give her any commitment as to whether or not the Minister can meet her. That is up to him, not me.