Results 2,461-2,480 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

Seanad: Hospital Infections: Motion (14 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: I agree that patients who are suspected of having MRSA should be screened in isolation when they are first admitted to hospitals. Staff who have been in contact with patients who have tested positive for MRSA should also be screened and appropriate steps should be taken thereafter. Proper cleaning techniques should be introduced by the management of hospitals. The points which have been...

Seanad: Hospital Infections: Motion (14 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: The man's lackadaisical approach — he said the HSE intended to deal with this now and that then — did not reassure me that he was doing very much about the issue. I understand there is a way of detecting the presence of MRSA in hospitals. A piece of equipment can be used to ascertain the level and extent of the infection within a hospital. We should use this debate to remind the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: The Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, is having a full review carried out of the medical cards system. Fewer than 60,000 doctor-only medical cards have been issued despite provision being made for 200,000 of them. I encourage people to apply for the doctor-only medical card. At present, 1.2 million people, including children, are covered for full medical care under the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the guidelines governing medical cards.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Browne, to the House and wish him well in his portfolio. I had the honour of serving in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in 1982 before it was broken up and Telecom Éireann and An Post were formed. I was later appointed my party's spokesperson on posts and telegraphs. I welcome...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: Senators are required to be reserved while in the Chair.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: The 1982-87 coalition Government gave away our rights to satellite broadcasting to Atlantic Satellites, a £1 shelf company. This happened in advance of the advent of satellite broadcasting at its current levels. Ireland was allocated a slot over the Indian Ocean which was a footprint into all of Europe, including Britain and Ireland. Nobody seems to be able to locate the relevant file in...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: Before Sky got off the ground, we had an opportunity to have our own footprint over Europe, yet we blew it. We threw it away and I regret that very much. It is possibly a historical point of view but these were important allocations to our country. We are currently at the cutting edge of the communications sector in which a large number of jobs are being created. The roll-out of broadband...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: Will the Leader arrange a debate on the position of An Post in view of the leaked statement that up to 500 rural post offices will be closed under a rationalisation programme?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: Nevertheless, I seek a full debate on this issue as opposed to an Adjournment debate. A former chairman of An Post, Senator Quinn, is a Member of this House, as is a former Minister with responsibility in this area. I am a former Minister of State at the Department of Post and Telegraphs. The presence of Members with such experience will facilitate a detailed debate on what is a serious...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: No. They called it off.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: The Senator should make his comments through the Chair.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: If time is available before the Easter recess, I ask the Leader to have a discussion on the work of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body, of which she is a member and of which I am a sub-member, in particular the issue of free travel for pensioners from Britain when they return home here. From 2 April free travel will be available throughout the island of Ireland thanks to the work of...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: Some 430,000 Irish people over 65 years of age will be entitled to travel free up to Northern Ireland and those from Northern Ireland will be able to travel free to the South. It will represent a great joining of people. It is a very commendable day in the history of the State to have free travel between North and South. It is a step forward and I commend the Minister for Social and Family...

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006: Second Stage (21 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: I welcome legislation that will help improve the rights of the consumer. This Bill legislates for a single electricity market on the island of Ireland and anticipates that the consequence of this will be a greater sharing of resources, more competition and ultimately a drop in prices. The basis for this Bill has been in place since 2000 and this legislation will formalise it. The Leader of...

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006: Second Stage (21 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: I welcome his response. It is difficult to keep up with all the various radio programmes on both local and national radio. I heard Mr. O'Connor's statement in which he compared the regime here to the one in Texas. He claimed it took some 72 months to be allowed to feed into the national grid using the method of electricity generation he operates. In regard to energy conservation, most...

Seanad: Health Service Reform: Statements (21 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: May I also have time to speak?

Seanad: Health Service Reform: Statements (21 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: I welcome the Minister of State. It is proposed to refurbish St. Catherine's Ward in the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon, a public institution with 200 beds which is doing tremendous work. This refurbishment will bring about a much needed development. It is also proposed to provide an Alzheimer's unit in the hospital. It is an excellent facility and one I hope the Minister of State can...

Seanad: Health Service Reform: Statements (21 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: I would recommend that this be brought about. I also welcomed the fact that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, officially opened the CT scanner at Roscommon County Hospital. Again, this is a step in the right direction where the proper diagnostic equipment is on site and available. Through the efforts of Deputy Finneran, a group from Roscommon met the Minister for Health and Children...

Seanad: Health Service Reform: Statements (21 Feb 2007)

Terry Leyden: The Minister is considering the proposal. This is a very worthwhile organisation which has established that approximately 6,000 lives per year could be saved if these defibrillators were provided in areas where they are accessible. I thank the Minister for organising the meeting and commend the organisation, particularly Eunice Langley, who is the secretary and founder and all the members...