Results 2,941-2,960 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Labour Party is objecting to all of the sections of the Bill because basically we object to the Bill in its entirety. I had proposed an amendment that the section should not be included in the Bill. I realise that the interpretation section is not the most important one in the Bill. Nevertheless I wish to object formally to the section.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: Obviously the Ceann Comhairle has declared out of order two of my amendments, one of which relates to section 1 and the other one which is related. They have been disallowed because they are in conflict with the principle of the Bill. However, I was simply seeking to retain cards for the people who already have them. I would have thought the principle of the Bill was broader than simply...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: Again, on the basis that we oppose this entire Bill, I oppose section 3. It keeps the cards for people who have them until 2 March 2009. We have no objection to people holding onto their medical cards until 2 March 2009, but we object to having them taken from them after that. On that basis, I oppose section 3.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: On a point of order, as I can only make one contribution on this before the Minister replies, I want to raise the same issue about two of my amendments that were ruled out of order.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: Can I come in again before the Minister replies or is it after?

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will allow Deputy Barrett finish. If there was going to be a suspension, I wanted to have the opportunity to express my views on my amendments which were ruled out of order.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: I presume we will not complete dealing with section 3 until after the adjournment.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: Will we return to that section?

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: In that case I will not address the issues in the section at this stage. Regarding the issues we are adjourning for, I support what Deputy Barrett says. I am not a Member for as long as he is but I have never heard of an amendment being ruled out of order because it is declaratory. The letter I got from the Ceann Comhairle states that my amendments are ruled out of order because they are in...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: Technically, we are addressing section 3 because the Ceann Comhairle's office has decided that the various amendments proposed to section 3 are out of order. I do not concur with the decision that amendments Nos. 1 and 3 in my name are out of order. The reason they were ruled out of order was that they were in conflict with the principle of the Bill. Nowhere specifically states what is the...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: The difficulty legislators face is that different words are used in the Bill — either in the Long Title or explanatory memorandum — and in the rulings made from the Chair. The Ceann Comhairle refers to the principle of the Bill. While the text states the purpose and Title of the legislation, it does not state a principle. As a result, we are now in a position in which the...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: What is proposed by Deputy Shatter was what I suggested when I spoke previously. The difficulty is that the language used by the Office of the Ceann Comhairle in saying the principle of the Bill is being offended or that we are in conflict with the principle of the Bill is using a word which does not appear anywhere in the Bill as presented to us. I have no problem with raising the matter...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: I intend to press my opposition to section 3 to a vote because it is the substantial part of the Bill as it is the section which amends the Health Act 1970 by delineating certain categories of people over 70 who will no longer be allowed to have a medical card. It will take the medical card away from over 70s unless they happen to comply with the means test. It not only includes income but...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: I do not propose to go back over all the issues again but I do want to raise one issue the Minister mentioned, which is the use of the term "gross" when referring to incomes, as opposed to "net". Section 3 specifically states: "so long as the person's gross income does not exceed the relevant gross income limit under section 45A". In response to a specific point I made about somebody who...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: I was going to ask that question. I do not understand why that is the cut-off point. This is an improvement to the Bill as published for a small section of the population for three years. To that extent we will not oppose this because we would make the Bill worse than it will be at the end. If the spouse dies before 1 January, if someone loses a husband or wife over the Christmas period...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: With regard to the Minister's response to Deputy Reilly's question on income guidelines for somebody who applies in the old-fashioned way rather than based on the limits of €700 and €1,400, this would not be done under the Bill but through the administration of the HSE systems. Prior to this, we operated under the HSE income guidelines of June 2006 because no increase has been made since...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will not delay the House unduly on this issue but I wish to register my opposition to this section, as I am doing with all the other sections. We have had a reasonable opportunity to discuss the content of section 4 in the context of the Minister's amendments and Deputy Reilly's amendment. Nevertheless, I formally oppose the section.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: This is a reasonable amendment. It allows HIQA to make recommendations in exceptional circumstances. It is harsh that somebody who is terminally ill and has many medical costs might not be given a medical card because the section of the HSE has consumed its budget. There should be some type of independent assessor in that situation. The Minister responded earlier today on the issue of...

Written Answers — House Repossessions: House Repossessions (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 10: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the establishment of a fund or other mechanism to prevent a huge increase in house repossessions over the 2009 to 2010 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45358/08]

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (11 Dec 2008)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 53: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the establishment of a fund to lend directly to small and medium enterprises, ensuring that they can access credit and working capital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45357/08]