Results 3,321-3,340 of 11,507 for speaker:Mary Butler

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Policy (8 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: Any voluntary patient has the right to leave hospital at any time and/or consent to or refuse treatment. Detention of any person without consent is a serious matter that it can only happen in accordance with the law – in this case, the Mental Health Act 2001. This important Act ensures that the best interests of patients are central to any decision taken. Where a person is in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Waiting Lists (8 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Maternity Services (9 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputies Cronin and Cairns for raising what I agree is a very important issue. I am a mother of three and I fully understand that the current position in maternity hospitals is a serious concern, which I acknowledge is presenting difficulties for expectant mothers and fathers. It is regrettable that in order to protect women, babies, staff and our maternity service as a whole, it...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Maternity Services (9 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: We cannot forget that the virus is still with us. As I said, there were 307 cases yesterday. We must remain vigilant. Failing to do so will increase the exposure of our hospitals to an outbreak and, ultimately, increase the risk to service users and staff alike. Should an outbreak occur in one of our maternity hospitals, it would negatively impact our ability to provide safe, quality care...

Mental Health and Older People: Statements (9 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank Members for the opportunity to update them on developments in my area of responsibility, which covers mental health and services for older people. The protection of the vulnerable continues to be a priority for the Government, especially in these challenging times. We recognise that those with mental health issues and older people are often among the most vulnerable in society. While...

Mental Health and Older People: Statements (9 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank the Dáil again for the opportunity to conclude these statements and I thank everybody for their time and patience tonight. A huge amount of contributions have been made and they were all made in a positive vein, which I welcome. I will do my best to try to answer as many statements as possible if I can do so in the time allowed. I thank Deputy Ward for his constructive...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services Provision (9 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: As this is a service, matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (9 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (10 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: As this is a service, matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (10 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: As this is a service, matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Priority Questions: Health Services (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Cullinane for his question. As we all know, the Minister for Health has been feeling unwell, has been referred for a Covid-19 test and is self-isolating. We all wish him well. I will endeavour to answer the questions posed as fully as possible. If any of my answers are insufficient, written answers can also be provided. In reply to the Deputy's very important question,...

Priority Questions: Health Services (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: The Deputy is correct we are living in unprecedented times. I do not think it is a statement of the obvious to announce €600 million to support people in the winter plan that runs throughout the winter until after Christmas. The Deputy is right when he says bed capacity is the most important thing going forward. The whole purpose of this plan is to try to keep as many people in...

Priority Questions: Health Services (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: I take the Deputy’s point, which is well made, but he has to remember we are living in unprecedented times. We are learning as we go along. When the Covid pandemic hit in March and April, all of our capacity was put into the acute hospital sector because that is what we had learned from seeing what was happening in Europe. Unfortunately, the pandemic bore down hardest on our older...

Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his question. I will be engaging in detail with the Estimates process and seeking additional funding for all mental health services. The challenges of Covid and living with the virus have caused huge problems for those with mental health issues and challenges. In line with the programme for Government, promoting positive mental health and reducing the burden of...

Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: I will refer to the budget first. Budget 2020 saw the Government continue its commitment to mental health by increasing funding by €39 million to €1.026 billion. This represents an increase of over €315 million or 45% since 2012. Admittedly, we have a long way to go, and I am very conscious of that. I have three priorities for Tipperary. My first priority and...

Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: When I visited the emergency department, ED, in South Tipperary General Hospital, I was delighted to meet the team operating there. All mental health patients attending the ED are triaged in accordance with assessed clinical need with the objective of referring them as soon as possible to the HSE mental health service when they are discharged from the ED. The ED has a 24-hour mental health...

Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: This is a very important question because the entire premise of Covid is test, trace and isolate. A comprehensive, reliable and responsive testing and tracing operation is central to our public health strategy. Capacity has been in place since early summer to test 15,000 people a day. While the system came under pressure in recent weeks, overall the system is working well and is proving...

Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: As I said, 71,000 people were tested last week. We have had to ramp up testing considerably in the last four to six weeks because Covid has changed and is changing. It is more prevalent in communities now. In March, April and into May we were testing many people, but we managed to flatten the curve. The lockdown worked. People stayed at home and did not move further than 2 km from their...

Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: Yes.

Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (15 Sep 2020)

Mary Butler: Testing of staff in nursing homes has been ongoing for the past two months and has proven very effective. As regards the meat factory the Deputy mentioned, I have two family members who have worked there for a very long time and they were tested last Thursday. There was a hullabaloo that there was no testing in meat factories last week, but in Dawn Meats in Grannagh over 800 people were...