Results 3,561-3,580 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Good morning, we have a quorum so will commence in public session.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Thank you Deputy Cullinane. I call Deputy Boyd Barrett first, to be followed by Deputy Shortall.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Does anybody else want to come in on this? I will respond and then we can go to our witnesses.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: The Deputy has made that point very clearly. The committee agreed that we would invite representatives from the HSE and NPHET, and the Minister who ultimately makes the political decisions in conjunction with Cabinet, which is collectively responsible. We learned that representatives from the HSE could not come initially last week because the winter plan had not been published. They came...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: We cannot have an extended session because of the Covid-----
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: There are committees coming back, but we can discuss after this session whether we need to have a further session next week. In a vote on 30 July, the Dáil agreed that this committee would wind up and the responsibilities would be handed over to sectoral committees. That has been extended by a week because of the delay in witnesses coming in. We need to produce a final report at some...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I learned in the media that representatives from NPHET would be available and I discussed that with the secretariat.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: This was the only time that they were available. As the Deputy knows, we tried to have them available for different sessions for the past two weeks. I accept they are very busy, but they are also sitting here, including Dr. Ronan Glynn. Personally, I would like to ask him questions. I would like to offer the floor to him rather than having him sit and listen to us argue over what I accept...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: It was dictated by the availability of the witnesses and by the availability of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I thank the Deputy; we can do that.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: That is noted. We thank the Minister for attending. I offer him the floor for five minutes to give an opening statement. I will stop him after five minutes. Notwithstanding the discussions we have had, time is of the essence.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I have no problem with members referring to nursing homes provided they are not individual nursing homes.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I call on the Minister to respond in respect of introducing freedom of information fee waivers.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I call on Deputy Devlin.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I will make one point as this is the special committee's last meeting. The Minister mentioned HIQA's work reviewing available evidence and documentation. We have had representatives of HIQA before the committee to discuss the organisation's work in the area of nursing homes but not its work in that area. HIQA's work on nursing homes has been excellent throughout and it should be...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: The Deputy is not puzzled by-----
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: In 30 seconds can Dr. De Gascun outline what is happening in South Korea?
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Dr. Glynn talked about personal responsibility and I think everybody agrees it is important. With the benefit of hindsight, does he think the move towards regulation and enforcement might have been a mistake?
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Okay. Thank you. The next speaker is from Fianna Fáil.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Will these be for countries or regions?