Results 241-260 of 309 for speaker:Keith Swanick

Seanad: Mental Healthcare in South-East Region: Statements (20 Jun 2018)

Keith Swanick: Dr. John Hillery recently resigned as a consultant psychiatrist in the HSE after nearly 30 years working in mental health and intellectual disability services. He was not due retire from his post until 2022. He did so in protest over the treatment of staff and patients within the State’s mental health services. Last week Dr. Kieran Moore, a specialist consultant paediatric...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Keith Swanick: We have all been enjoying the unprecedented good weather recently. I want to mention the unsung heroes who once again keep us safe on a day-to-day basis. Just as it was during the bad weather we witnessed some months ago, the emergency services have been handling several weather-related crises of late. The fire services are dealing with unprecedented gorse and grass fires. The Irish Coast...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Business of Joint Committee
Hospital Services: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Keith Swanick: Is it all right if Deputy O'Connell and I ask questions before the answers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Business of Joint Committee
Hospital Services: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Keith Swanick: I will be very brief. In my professional experience it is important to highlight the good work done by many of the staff in the appointments sections of our hospitals on a daily basis. They are often on the receiving end of the wrath of patients and GPs who ring up looking for appointments. I think it needs to be put on the public record that they do a fantastic job. The situation...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2018: Second Stage (5 Jul 2018)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I am very happy to support this Bill, which will provide for eligibility for GP services without charge to be extended to all those in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit. Carer’s allowance is a payment to people on low incomes looking after a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness,...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2018: Second Stage (5 Jul 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State for that.

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2018)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to the House and thank her for taking Report and Final Stages of this Bill prior to the summer recess. I also thank my co-signatories of the Bill, Senator Diarmuid Wilson who is with me here today, and also Senators Robbie Gallagher and Mark Daly. As we are all aware, the first meeting of Dáil Éireann took place in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: Recent information from Galway City Council demonstrates that more than 150 lifesaving buoys are stolen from Galway city every year. We know it is not a problem unique to Galway and Cork City Council has a similar problem. It had to replace 300 lifebuoys last year due to theft or damage. This forces the State to replace these lifebuoys at great cost. In 2015, a 15 year old boy, Caolan...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister for coming along and I congratulate Ms Magahy on her new role. I will speak initially about primary care. I welcome the Minister's comments on the funding of primary care, particularly multi-annual funding. Does the Minister see any possible rowing back on the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, cuts applied to general practice? I agree with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: With a small amount of funding, much progress could be made on a day-to-day basis providing higher quality of care to patients. That is basically what it is all about. As we know, general practitioners on a daily basis often carry out nursing duties. Many of my GP colleagues around the country would agree with me in saying that even a small 10% refund of the FEMPI cuts could facilitate the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: More use could be made of the district hospital network, which includes some very remote hospitals. Services such as pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation could be carried out at such hospitals, which would mean that patients would not have to travel for an hour or an hour and a half to a main acute hospital. The provision of such services would facilitate the preservation of our district...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address the issue of chronic pain, which I deal with on a day-to-day basis in my practice. More than 500,000 people in Ireland suffer from chronic pain, which is pain that lasts longer than three months. The prevalence of chronic pain is approximately 35% of the population. As we know, it increases with age and manual labour. Lower...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: It is deeply disappointing to learn there are no plans to open a pain management clinic at Mayo University Hospital. While I acknowledge the Minister of State's comments on the expansion of the NTPF, what will inevitably happen is these people will still have to travel to Sligo or Galway to access the service. It is unfair to people who have chronic pain. There are 140,000 people living in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I also wish to comment on World Mental Health Day. This year's theme is young people and mental health in a changing world. Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, but most cases go undetected and untreated. As I have seen in my own practice, parents often chalk mental health issues down to puberty or hormones, but if left untreated and without supports, those who experience...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: Second Stage (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister. Fianna Fáil supports this Bill, which restores the HSE board. The 2012 decision to abolish the board was a clear mistake which was contrary to good corporate governance. The establishment of a board was also recommended in the Sláintecare report, which pointed out that good leadership and governance are critical functions of any health system. The...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I will be brief. I welcome the passage of this landmark legislation. I congratulate the Minister. I have no problems with any of the amendments brought forward tonight. I compliment Senator Black on her steadfastness through the whole process. The Minister confirmed a point to my colleague on 3 October in the Dáil regarding section 22. He gave a commitment to liaise with retailers...

Seanad: Mental Health (Capacity To Consent To Treatment) Bill 2018: Second Stage (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister of State. As my colleague, Senator Devine said, today is World Mental Health Day. I commend her for bringing forward this very timely Bill. This year's theme is young people and mental health in a changing world. Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14. Suicide is the second highest cause of death among 15 to 29 year olds worldwide but most cases go...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I had to step out to deal with a Commencement Matter in the Seanad. I welcome Dr. Scally and his colleagues. I welcome the call for the establishment of a national screening committee. That is an excellent call in terms of the introduction of new programmes and the modifying of existing ones. Does Dr. Scally consider it is acceptable that there is still no manager within the HSE in charge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I agree with Dr. Scally that we do not want to get into the blame game but we need accountability for the 221 ladies who have been affected.