Results 2,881-2,900 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: We need to clarify and delineate the roles and procedures of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and the CPP. Constitutionally, these Houses are run through these committees, which are representative of all groups and parties. The commission has a separate role. It is important it does not encroach into what should remain the sovereign right of the Houses in determining how they do their...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: He was surprised at the salary, far higher than that in the UK, for a 33 hour week. He was also surprised at the number of medical insurance submission forms which he had to sign. He stated, "I was amazed to discover I was expected to submit a bill for my services and that I would be paid for looking after these patients whom I felt I was already paid to look after". Everybody knows I am sick...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: They are putting up the tolls.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: On a point of order, there are only 15 minutes remaining to deal with the Institutes of Technology Bill through no fault of any of the Members who intend to speak on it. This is the position because we started the Order of Business so late. Can I suggest that we could survive without a sos?

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Yes.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The faith of the Attorney General in scientific tests is naive and touching. Science is not as precise as that. If somebody applied for disability benefit and a scientific test was called for to prove he or she was suffering from clinical depression, it could not be done. Neither could a scientific test, such as those the Tánaiste outlined, prove someone was suffering from schizophrenia. A...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: We have established that 12,000 of the 15,000 were infected with a curable form of hepatitis C and are capable of being dealt with in a different way. Although I do not agree with the Tánaiste on much, I have great respect for her. With respect to her, it is a red herring to quote the 12,000 because we are not talking about that issue. The Tánaiste's virologist can tell her about...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The Tánaiste accepts that there are people who will not test positive for any of these tests who have been infected with hepatitis C.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Jaundice is a varying illness and not everybody would get a clinical diagnosis for it. Some people would just deal with it. When I had jaundice as a child the doctor never came near the house because my mother knew what it was and I got better and went on. It was regarded as one of the hazards of life. One might not have a clinical diagnosis which the legislation seeks. Somebody may not show...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: It is possible for somebody to have been infected and not test positive on any of these tests. We must accept that anybody who has been infected would have to have had such a severe level of jaundice that she would have it clinically diagnosed. I am not in a position to argue about that but I am told by people who know that it is not necessarily the case for everyone. I must accept what Dr....

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: What about increased ALT liver function?

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The Tánaiste is almost suggesting that.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I am not quite finished discussing this amendment, a Leas-Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I would like to say more than that. I wish the Tánaiste had been more careful with her words when she referred to "no genuine claimant". She said that 14 weeks after receiving——

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Given that the people in question do not tend to spend 16 weeks in hospital, the Tánaiste has accepted that people could develop jaundice long after they leave hospital. I do not doubt the Tánaiste's bona fides. As I have said on three or four occasions — I do not intend to test the Leas-Chathaoirleach's limitless patience much further on the last day of the session — we have been...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Yes. I will answer that.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Okay.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: That was eight years ago.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The Tánaiste asked me whether——

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The answer is that the scientific study shows that the shortest period of time in which those tests were found not to be positive was three years. One presumes that the blood that will be used for transfusions will be tested. I sincerely hope the blood transfusion service tests the blood products soon after it receives them and does not leave them for three years in storage. According to the...