Results 2,741-2,760 of 11,491 for speaker:Mary Butler

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ports Policy (21 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. He correctly noted that Rosslare Port is unique, and outlined its history and how it was established. It is a joint venture between Iarnród Éireann, which operates Rosslare Port, and Stena Line, which operates Fishguard Port in Wales. These companies are responsible for the management of their respective ports, with the profits...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ports Policy (21 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: I take the Minister's point that the port's structure dates back over 150 years but, unfortunately, with Brexit looming, the uncertainty around the future of the port must be addressed. I refer to another issue relating to the south east, which I also raised in the Dáil yesterday. The region has the highest unemployment rate in the country, according to the latest data from the Central...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna. The spiralling cost of insurance has been well discussed in this House. Today, I wish to focus on insurance costs for special schools. St. Martin's special school in Waterford is a state-of-the-art school that was opened in June 2018. It has 78 pupils with mild, severe and complex intellectual needs. The school employs two...

Mental Health: Statements (Resumed) (21 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: As the Minister is well aware, the department of psychiatry at University Hospital Waterford, UHW, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in the past month. As a result, confidence in the unit by patients, staff and the general public is at a low ebb. The catchment area for UHW covers Waterford and Wexford. I was appalled when I read the report from the Mental Health Commission...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: Yesterday we had the results of the latest national survey of patients, the national inpatient experience survey, which was carried out in many hospitals. The majority of patients did report positive experiences in hospital; however, several areas needed improvement. Some 450 patients took part in the survey in University Hospital Waterford. Unfortunately, that hospital scored below the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: -----while fantastic staff work under extreme conditions and constant pressure. Will additional measures be put in place to focus on patient dignity, comfort and respect, and transfer of care? According to the figures released, the number of patients waiting for timely discharge of care correlates with the number of people normally waiting in emergency departments.

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Sláinte), 2019: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Health) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: I compliment Deputy Harty on his work in bringing forward this Bill and I welcome the opportunity to speak on it. Fianna Fáil's priority is to put in place permanent and sustainable improvements to our health service. The focus for us must be on what needs to be delivered and what is deliverable. We are committed to a strong public health service where the impact of public expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Waiting Times (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: 88. To ask the Minister for Health the reason to date in 2019 over 1,190 persons over 75 years of age have endured emergency department wait times of more than 24 hours at Waterford University Hospital. [48764/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Commission Reports (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: 122. To ask the Minister for Health the action being taken to ensure that the findings of the Inspector of Mental Health Services report on Waterford department of psychiatry published in October 2019 are acted upon. [48765/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: 269. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48581/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business of Joint Committee (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: I propose we go into private session to deal with some housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: The committee is meeting to continue its pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the employment permits (consolidation and amendment) Bill 2019. Our first session is with representatives from IBEC and will be followed by a session with representatives from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. From IBEC, I welcome Dr. Kara McGann, head of social policy, and Mr. Rhona Murphy,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: Thank you, Dr. McGann. We will take questions from the floor. Deputy Troy is first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: We are straying away from pre-legislative scrutiny of the permits a little bit. The critical skills employment permit, CSEP, currently has a minimum threshold of €30,000 and the worker must hold a degree qualification. A CSEP could also be granted where remuneration is above €60,000. The €30,000 is going to increase to €32,000 and the €60,000 is going to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: If I could interrupt the Deputy for one second, I note that there is a pathway for a worker who enters the country with a critical skills employment permit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: I do not know much about it, but we can delve into it a little bit deeper. There is a pathway for those with a critical skill. That is another thing we can inquire about. The beauty of pre-legislative scrutiny is that we can delve into all those areas.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: That is a very valid point. I would like to raise a further question. The new Bill seeks to introduce a seasonal employment permit. Does IBEC have any thoughts on how long the seasonal employment permit should be valid for? The Department's officials were before the committee two weeks ago. It has not really finalised its position on this. It is open to different viewpoints. In the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: The seasonal employment permit is being introduced to alleviate labour market demands in peat production. I am not sure that sector would call for 18 months. I thought it would be between six and nine months. A lot of seasons are included in 18 months. I am just thinking out loud. It is great to hear Dr. McGann's thoughts on this. Do we need to cover anything else? Would the witnesses...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: I wish to ask another question. Does IBEC support moving the details of the test of the labour market's needs to regulation and adapting the requirements to each sector?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (26 Nov 2019)

Mary Butler: Yes.