Results 33,781-33,800 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: If the Deputy knew anything about the staff who work in Crumlin children's hospital-----
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: -----she would not make such cheap comments about Crumlin and the care and attention the staff there give to the children and the parents of children with this difficult condition that affects them as they grow up over a number of years. I am not sure how familiar the Deputy is with Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and the scoliosis unit, but she should hang her head in shame-----
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: -----for suggesting it did less than looking after the children in it. We have some of the finest paediatric nurses, doctors and consultants in Crumlin who are dealing with children with scoliosis.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: In a specific reply to a specific part of the Deputy's query about additional resources, I have said that as a result of the initiative under way, some 100 extra scoliosis operations were carried out last year. That was a 51% increase on the figure for the previous year. I also said a further 33 patients had been transferred to the Blackrock Clinic and the Royal National Orthopaedic...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: Work is under way on a new theatre in Crumlin hospital that is specifically being provided to assist in the treatment of scoliosis. Its construction is due to be completed in April this year. In addition, we are providing for the appointment of two consultant orthopaedic surgeons, an anaesthetist and support staff. Just because the Deputy has read up on the issue and been listening to...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: I am a mother and, like everybody who has children, I have plenty of experience of children who have experienced various illnesses at different times in their lives. There is no parent - the Deputy is also a parent herself - whose heart does not go out to these parents. However, we are providing extra staff and an additional theatre. We are calling on resources available in the private...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: Those children will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: They are being dealt with. There have been 100 additional operations. I do not think the Deputy actually knows much about scoliosis as a condition or the times at which such patients can be operated on.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: I thank the Deputy for that commentary on County Donegal where he mentioned many people depended on social transfers. That is the reason, as Minister for Social Protection, I was delighted to be able to restore the Christmas bonus, particularly for older and retired persons in the county who relied on their State contributory or non-contributory pension. I was delighted to increase the...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: I also had the opportunity to attend a number of tourism fairs and the commentary from County Donegal is that the marketing of the county, particularly to people in America and Europe, including the United Kingdom, has been highly successful. I am sure Deputy Thomas Pringle saw this during the summer. Also, because of the strength of sterling and the dollar, taking a holiday in County...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: With regard to education and schools, from the day the Government was elected we agreed we would have a relentless focus on unemployment.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: For that purpose, we set out rebuilding the schools of this country.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: Around Donegal we have invested in school refurbishments and new schools. Not only that but we hope to be in a position to phase out prefabs over the next few years.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: Both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are on a county by county basis specifically seeking the development of local business. I am happy to say there has been a large surge in the formation of new businesses. There are approximately 10,000 people being supported with back to work enterprise allowances and quite a number are in Donegal.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: The Deputy has obviously chosen to see the glass as half-empty but there are many-----
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: -----opportunities for people in Donegal.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: I see their strength, resilience, creativity, energy and vigour, which has seen Donegal thriving, particularly in the tourism area.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: The improvements in social protection, in particular, have been of some assistance, specifically to older and retired people living in Donegal.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: I am glad the Deputy remembers that.
- Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2016)
Joan Burton: With regard to specific measures to support County Donegal, I remind the Deputy that one of the first actions of the Government was to reduce the VAT rate for tourism and similar services from 13.5% to 9%. The Deputy may speak to any hotelier, restaurant owner or hospitality provider in Donegal and they will tell him that. Before the budget, they lobbied intensively to ensure the reduction...