Results 281-300 of 1,253 for speaker:John Crown

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

John Crown: I have great pleasure in seconding this visionary proposal by Senator White. I hope it will be agreed to by the House and, if not, that it will spark a far-reaching debate. I refer to members of the Cabinet who will be in their 65th year if this Government runs it course. Some of them will be 65 years while others will be in their 65th year. For instance, if they were working in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2012)

John Crown: Will the Leader bring to the attention of the Minister for Health that, with respect to the calls for a public inquiry into the sad and tragic loss of Savita Halappanavar, there is a mechanism in place for a public inquiry. It will happen. It is an inquest and it is statutory, sworn and has the power to compel witnesses. That inquest should take place as quickly as possible, before any...

Seanad: Request to move Adjournment of Seanad under Standing Order 30 (28 Nov 2012)

John Crown: I request an urgent statement from the Minister for Health to clarify the position regarding the availability of beds in the cystic fibrosis unit in St. Vincent's Hospital in view of the fact that despite the new unit being open, cystic fibrosis patients are still being admitted to unsuitable, non-isolated rooms and wards.

Seanad: Request to move Adjournment of Seanad under Standing Order 30 (28 Nov 2012)

John Crown: I accept the ruling. It is my intention to raise this on the Order of Business and request a debate because of the extremely disappointing fact-----

Seanad: Request to move Adjournment of Seanad under Standing Order 30 (28 Nov 2012)

John Crown: -----that patients are still being admitted to unsuitable, non-isolated beds despite the new unit being open.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2012)

John Crown: I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Health to clarify the situation regarding the brand new cystic fibrosis unit in St Vincent's University Hospital, the first designated cystic fibrosis unit for a nation with the world's highest incidence of this lethal genetic disorder. Over several years, when plans were being made to build a cystic fibrosis unit in the new block at St Vincent's...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Nov 2012)

John Crown: On a point of order, will the Leader clarify which public relations company has issued this statement on behalf of the hospital?

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

John Crown: The argument is somewhat repetitive of the argument on amendment No. 4. I would like to point out that our country disproportionately relies on foreign direct investment in the export sector and on the employment practices of multinational companies. Many multinational companies have clauses stating that persons who become bankrupt, engaged with bankruptcy services or enter into...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

John Crown: Several colleagues have alluded to the issue already but I want the Leader to seek clarification from the Minister for Health regarding reports of contacts between high-level members of the pharmaceutical sector and the Government in terms of developing policy on drug prices and what the State is prepared to pay. By way of information for those Senators who are not aware, although they may...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

John Crown: Several colleagues have alluded to the issue already but I want the Leader to seek clarification from the Minister for Health regarding reports of contacts between high-level members of the pharmaceutical sector and the Government in terms of developing policy on drug prices and what the State is prepared to pay. By way of information for those Senators who are not aware, although they may...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2012)

John Crown: I want to draw the attention of the Members of the House to an article in the front of today's Irish Examiner entitled, "HSE to restrict 20 most common surgeries", which states that access to hip replacements and skin operations will be restricted. I would be insistent that the Leader would ask the Minister to clarify for us, preferably in this House, exactly what is this change in policy....

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2012)

John Crown: This is a far-reaching change in policy. Let me add parenthetically, not apropos of this, that as someone who has been a frequent trenchant critic of the role the Provisional IRA and its Sinn Féin wing had in propagating the Northern Ireland conflict for 30-odd years beyond the Sunningdale Agreement because they thought they could be dumb enough to bomb the majority living in Northern...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

John Crown: I welcome the Minister. I will broadly support the Bill while taking on board all of the reservations raised by Senator Barrett. The only hopeful way to consider this legislation is to view it strictly as an interim measure until the big bang of major reform into a universal, single-tier insurance-based health care system occurs. I hope it occurs yesterday. The Minister has committed to...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

John Crown: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

John Crown: With respect, what is proposed today is to remove the right of the general practitioner to send the child. The Minister would not send the child to the surgeon inappropriately because------

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cystic Fibrosis Unit: Discussion (13 Dec 2012)

John Crown: My understanding is that the international guidelines are clear on this matter. For a cohort of approximately 340 adult cystic fibrosis patients there should be 34 beds. That is what is needed and any departure from 34 beds is a departure from international guidelines. The figure of 34 beds was agreed, but 24 designated beds were delivered and an additional 14 single inpatient rooms were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cystic Fibrosis Unit: Discussion (13 Dec 2012)

John Crown: I have a quick follow-up question. I am sorry to put Professor Gallagher on the spot. Professor Gallagher and I are old friends and colleagues and I have limitless respect for what he has achieved with the CF patients and, more broadly, in upscaling the quality of respiratory medicine in this country. Does he believe, as is being billed to us, that 20 designated beds plus competitive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cystic Fibrosis Unit: Discussion (13 Dec 2012)

John Crown: Does Professor Gallagher feel pressurised to transfer some of those 20% back?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cystic Fibrosis Unit: Discussion (13 Dec 2012)

John Crown: I do not share this confidence either. We could have a severe winter, bad flu or an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug. These events happen and need to be planned for. I am not convinced we have heard any real cogent credible plan which ring-fences the number of beds needed for people with cystic fibrosis. This has been a very waffly exercise. I have not been served so much waffle since...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

John Crown: I know the Minister is not an uncaring, unthoughtful or unkind person. However, the specific cuts to the carer's respite grant will come across as unkind and I believe they were not well thought through. I know it will be irritating to hear criticism from some folks who, to varying degrees, have been responsible for the predicament in which the Minister finds herself. It is difficult to...