Results 3,621-3,640 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Beds Closures (19 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: This is a health and safety issue and the ward is being closed for that reason. It is not a cost cutting matter.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Beds Closures (19 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: It is clear that the Deputies need to reflect on some the words that have been said. I am not responsible for the reply I have given, but I stand over it wholeheartedly. I know people who are being cared for in St. Mary's Hospital and the quality of care is exceptional.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (19 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy Adams for raising this issue and for affording me the opportunity to provide further clarification. I understand that the issue here is that Deputy Adams believes that the information provided in a direct reply from the HSE to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 23 January 2019 from his colleague, Deputy O’Reilly, conflicts with a response...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (19 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy Adams, who took the words out of my mouth. I was going to say that I do not know the answer to the questions he posed. That is why I have taken note of them and will bring them to the attention of the Minister and ask him to reply to the Deputy directly. In terms of the written response from the Department, it is apparent that confusion around the status of the project...

National Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (19 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: In concluding, Deputy Eugene Murphy said we all want to do the right thing for everybody, in particular women and their husbands and families, in maternity hospitals and other hospitals. It is important to remember that we have wonderful services in maternity hospitals and many extremely dedicated people from the top down. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, I thank Deputies for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (19 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together. As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (19 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: As the question relates to a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (20 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise for the Minister for Health's absence. I am not sure where he is. I did not know until two hours ago that I would take this matter. When a Topical Issue matter is submitted I suggest that the Ceann Comhairle contact the office of the relevant Minister to ask if he or she will be available to take the matter. I do not know if that is possible but it would give Deputies an...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (20 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy O'Reilly again. I assure the Deputy that the Minister has met regularly the senior management of the HSE and Children's Health Ireland to discuss their short and long-term plans to provide a better service for patients and their families. Nobody wants to see children waiting on a hospital waiting list, particularly children with a severe illness such as scoliosis. I am...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products Availability (20 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue which he has raised on a number of occasions. We were all delighted when it was announced in June that Spinraza would be made available to children. Spinraza is indicated for the treatment of 5q spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, which causes progressive muscle atrophy and weakness. It is a genetic condition that affects the nerves in the spinal cord....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products Availability (20 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: We would all hope into the future that those who suffer from SMA will be able to treated, as everyone who is sick should be. I am not in a position to give Deputy Ó Caoláin an answer on this today. However, I will commit to speaking to the Minister, Deputy Harris, and to trying to influence those who need to be influenced to the effect that all people who have SMA should be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections (20 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: Addressing and preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a priority area under the National Sexual Health Strategy. The €450,00 funding referred to by the Deputy has been provided to support Ireland's participation in an international HIV initiative, Fast Track Cities, and to fund early implementation of relevant actions. The HIV Fast Track Cities initiative is a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (25 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the two Deputies for their contributions. I will come back to some of the issues that were raised in my second contribution. The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, is our whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland for the period from 2017 to 2025. Drug and alcohol task forces at local and regional level play a key role in assessing the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (25 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I acknowledge, as both Deputies said, that there has been a shortfall in funding for the task forces over the years. We are all very clear as to what happened in recent years with funding. We have €1 million. We have started to meet those involved in the services. We have met the co-ordinators and the chairpersons. We are developing a three-strand model for the recently-announced...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (25 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: The national drugs, strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, contains a commitment to deliver an integrated public health approach to drugs and alcohol as a key priority by promoting the use of evidence-based approaches to mobilising community action on alcohol. My Department will develop two new schemes this year to deliver an integrated public health approach to drugs and alcohol,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Data (25 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.

Carers: Motion [Private Members] (26 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I would like to start by expressing the admiration that, l am sure, all Members of this House have for family carers. Every day, tens of thousands of people provide care for parents, children, partners, family members and others. They come from various different walks of life and began their caring responsibilities at different stages of their lives. It is only right that we recognise the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Products (27 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 135, inclusive, together. Period poverty is defined as the inability to afford female sanitary products and is a significant equality and equity concern. Female sanitary products can be either disposable (sanitary towels, tampons and panty liners) or reusable (menstrual cups, cloth menstrual pads and period panties). A motion on period...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Data (27 Jun 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 to 169, inclusive, together. As these are service matters I have referred the Deputy's questions to the HSE for direct reply to him.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Drugs Strategy (2 Jul 2019)

Catherine Byrne: The European drug report presents an overview of the drug situation in Europe, covering drug supply, use and public health problems, as well as drug policy and responses. The drug problem across Europe is of great concern, with the growing problem of cocaine use a particular worry. The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, is our whole-of-Government, multi-annual...