Results 2,381-2,400 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am delighted to be in this House to introduce the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017. With the support of Senators I hope it will be possible to have it enacted as soon as possible. As I mentioned in the Lower House, I feel I am part of a relay team. I acknowledge the role of the then Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, and the then Minister of State, now...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I feel inadequate. Listening to the contributions and over recent months I have learnt that there are many people who know about addiction and who have witnessed family members struggling with their addiction. There are many who, sadly, have lost loved ones because of addiction. This Bill brings forward a new beginning for people, particularly chronic users. It is clear from the programme...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: What we must first do is seek the tenders, find a place to locate the centres and base this on the evidence. The HSE and the committee set up through the HSE are mapping the entire centre of Dublin and the location of the facilities, where people are injecting, where they are unfortunately dying on the street and in their homes and the paraphernalia left around. All of this is centred...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Already. That is good. I was not told that before coming to the Chamber.

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I knew it was in the pipeline but I did not think it had happened that quickly. I would be delighted to attend. I wish to refer back to something Senator Devine said about living in an area which down through the years has had its fair share of addiction problems, particularly in respect of young people and the families left behind. Any public representative, whether in Cork, Dublin,...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Many questions were asked, and I will have to decipher some of my handwriting. I thank the Senators who took part in the debate on the Bill. Before I reply to a number of the points that have been raised, I reiterate that the Bill is about reaching out to those people who are chronic drug users and who may also face other problems such as mental heath issues and homelessness. Every person...

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (6 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. I thank Deputy Butler for raising this issue. Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The HSE has statutory responsibility for the provision of services for people with intellectual,...

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (6 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: In respect of the specific case identified by the Deputy, in subsequent correspondence today with officials in the Department of Health and following consultation with the HSE, I am informed of the following. It is the responsibility of the prescribing clinician to ensure that a comprehensive assessment relevant to each service user’s needs is completed prior to prescribing an item of...

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (6 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will bring the remarks made by the Deputy in her opening statement, particularly that the floor hoist offered would not fit into the child's room, to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Harris. I do not think the cost of a piece of equipment should inhibit any child having a proper standard of health service within his or her home. I do not think a cost of €2,700 is a huge...

Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services (6 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I have.

Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services (6 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will read the reply that has been given to me on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, but I do not know whether it will satisfy the Deputies.

Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services (6 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: In the 1970s and 1980s, I had the privilege of bringing children from my own local youth club on holidays to Rathangan on many occasions. As a result, I know Rathangan very well. We were always well accepted by the community even though we were from the inner city. We always gelled with the people there. It was a lovely place to go. Even though it was not a very long drive to Rathangan,...

Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services (6 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I understand the frustration of the Deputies. I am not familiar with the situation. Is the new youth worker from Tusla or is the youth worker leaving on 31 March?

Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services (6 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I come from a community and voluntary background and I know how important it is to provide youth services, in particular youth cafes and clubs. None of that could happen without volunteers. I wish to acknowledge that many people in communities across the country are volunteering, but we cannot leave them on their own. I will relay the message from the Deputies to the Minister of State,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (6 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Programme for a Partnership Government gave a commitment to strengthen the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, SICAP, and to reactivate the RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) Programme. It is anticipated that the re-cast RAPID programme will roll out in 2017. The logistical and other arrangements for that programme are...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will be taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney. A range of measures is being taken under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness to increase housing supply overall, with the aim of creating a functioning and sustainable housing system which can meet housing demand at more affordable prices. The plan is divided into five pillars, with...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Deputy for his contribution and appreciate his concerns. I had a huge interest in the matter as a member of a local authority during the time that affordable housing was being issued. Many young people got their first kickstart into buying a home for themselves that way. These issues are included in the policy of the €5.3 billion that has been allocated by the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Data (11 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 509 together. I think it is very important to monitor trends in the prescription of psychotropic drugs in Ireland including to children and young adults. It is also important to ensure that prescribing policies are evidence based thereby ensuring safe use of these medicines. The Deputy will be aware that all medicines have side effects....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (11 Apr 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (12 Apr 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Government is committed to putting a new National Drugs Strategy in place from 2017 onwards, when the current policy expires. A Steering Committee with an independent chair has been established to advise me on the development of the new National Drugs Strategy. I understand that the Steering Committee is continuing with its deliberations with a view to presenting its final report to me...