Results 3,241-3,260 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (10 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: Question 483: To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the key fit-out and refurbishment projects undertaken over the past three years in hospitals here; if there are any significant upcoming projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33160/12]

Written Answers — Hospital Equipment: Hospital Equipment (10 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: Question 484: To ask the Minister for Health if there are any guidelines from the Health Service Executive in relation to fit-out of its hospitals and the tendering process for such contracts; if there has been a change in the approach and nature of the materials and products used in hospital fit outs and refurbishments in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33161/12]

Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: He should go back to wonderland.

Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: The Taoiseach has redefined the word "estimate".

Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: Or even interrogate him.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: I will confine my remarks to the motion before the House this evening and will await the personal statement from the Minister later in the House. The Minister was attending a Council meeting in Cyprus last night, and he was entitled and obliged to be there. At that time I argued that the 2012 budget and the health Estimate in particular was aspirational at best or completely dishonest at...

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: I refer to the interim board, which the Minister indicated he would replace in a short time. We are still awaiting that legislation to deal with the governance of the HSE. The Minister has argued this was a top priority but if it takes more than 16 months to achieve a top priority, I hate to think of what is down the priority list.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: We should stick to the motion. It is evident that the people opposite who spoke tonight have not read the motion before the House because it relates specifically to the budget presented last year in this House. Those opposite can blame us for anything they like but they cannot blame us for presenting figures to the House last December-----

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: -----when the Government knew full well they would not stand the test of time in the delivery of services. The promised legislation-----

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: We should stick to debating the motion.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: We were running a budget deficit of €280 million five months into the budget of the Minister for Finance.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: There are two choices facing the Minister, the interim board of the HSE and the Department. More important, the results of those choices will be felt by the many people relying on health services every day. Mr. Magee, the CEO of the HSE, stated quite clearly that there will be massive cutbacks to services in order to address the budget deficit, which is projected to reach over €500...

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: He may not be lecturing the Minister but he is not being listened to anyway.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: We have a budget deficit that is completely out of control.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: The only way it can be reined in is by massive cuts to services, as was pointed out by Mr. Magee on 29 June this year. Those opposite should not delude themselves that they can in some way eliminate €500 million by magic.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: It cannot be done.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: We will wait for Tweedledum and Tweedledee later. I will confine my remarks to the motion before the House this evening. I will give the Minister the due respect he deserves when he makes his personal statement this evening and clarifies the issues about which people are concerned. The governance issue has been raised. Price-referencing, generic substitution and agency staff are issues...

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: The Minister must give a commitment in the House this evening that there will be no diminution of services to the public to address the Minister's failure to oversee his budget. That is the purpose of this debate. We can talk about abstract figures but there are two choices facing the Minister. We are in July and the budget deficit is running out of control. We have yet to see any form of...

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: I attended a meeting of the health committee where Mr. Magee was quite clear about the difficulties. The communication between the chief executive and the Minister does not seem to be what it should be. The Minister has said he will take a hands-on approach but those lines do not seem to be as open and effective as they should be in a normal working environment.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Billy Kelleher: I thank all the Members who contributed to the debate. It is disappointing the Minister did not use the opportunity to give a clear commitment he will address the budget deficit without attacking the front line services over which everybody on the Government side shed crocodile tears this evening and yesterday. What matters is putting money where their mouths are. On this occasion it is...