Results 4,001-4,020 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: 258. To ask the Minister for Health the services currently available to those diagnosed with foetal valproate spectrum disorder; the way families can access these services within their communities following a diagnosis; if he will provide an update on discussions between the HSE and his Department to improve access to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62435/22]

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (14 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: As we are running out of time, I will just say we have had a number of discussions on this now through the various Stages, Second and Committee Stages. I have nearly forgotten what the different processes and Stages are at this time of night. There has been a huge amount of discussion on the issues. As I said earlier, the decision support service will be key in all this. If there are...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: We have apologies from Senator Ruane. We have an important and special meeting today, probably our most important meeting of the year. It is our last meeting too, so that is good. The agenda item for consideration today is engagement with the students from Carlow Educate Together regarding young people and our built environment. At this session, we are joined by Mr. Mark O'Brien and...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Mr. O'Brien and the other speakers. Their presentations were excellent. Their focus is on Carlow but most of us here would agree that all the things they talked about are also an issue in other towns. No matter where we are from, the same issues come up for children and young people, particularly there not being enough activities and cycle lanes and people not feeling safe to cycle...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: We do not have time for all the witnesses to answer the questions from each member. I propose that two witnesses answer Deputy Murnane O'Connor's questions, another two respond to Deputy Costello and so on.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: We have all been campaigning for years.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: This is a public meeting, so it is being broadcast. It hopefully gives an added boost. I am lucky to chair this committee because its members are interested in advocating as well as possible for all the changes that we need to see which would impact on young people and in listening to young people.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: I agree with Deputy Cairns's point about common sense. I think we all agree with it. I often find myself saying in the Dáil that there is a lack of common sense. All the suggestions by the witnesses have been so good.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: It is.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: That is an excellent answer.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: Can we get a show of hands on Senator Clonan's question about who would like to be in here one day as a Deputy or Senator? Do not all jump in. We have one maybe - one person who is thinking about it. It is just out of interest. I promise I am not going to force them to do it. I heard one person say maybe, and I hope others will think about politics as a career.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: Yes.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: That is good.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: Yes.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: We, as a committee, will follow up on the points raised. I got to see the presentation twice because I also attended the event in Carlow. Part of it was the local authority but a lot of it comes from the Department. The fact the group came in and made a presentation in a public forum gives us the power to look into the matter further. We have had an excellent meeting today and I believe...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Young People and the Built Environment: Carlow Educate Together (13 Dec 2022)

Kathleen Funchion: If we do not have answers today to very detailed questions the witnesses might have, we can submit those questions to the Department and get a breakdown of figures and so on.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Educational Psychological Service (18 Jan 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, for attending. I am glad this matter was selected because, to a certain extent, I am not surprised when we get representations in regard to waiting times for assessments, access to therapies or even National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, appointments. When I first saw the letter from the school, “NEPS” jumped out at me...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Educational Psychological Service (18 Jan 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister of State. I will talk to the school about contacting NEPS directly and about what I would describe as interim measures in terms of the regional team. I imagine the regional team could be overstretched as well, but I do not know that. It is, however, a common occurrence. In regard to what the Minister of State says about no school being without a NEPS psychologist,...

Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I was not expecting to mention this, but as Deputy Durkan brought up sugar beet I want to agree with his comments. The closure of the sugar factory in Carlow was a huge and devastating loss not just to the Carlow but to the wider constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny and the south-east. We have not recovered from that loss. I want to support his comments on that. Various groups are trying to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Electric Vehicles (19 Jan 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I am assuming that this is Deputy Carroll MacNeill’s first contribution as a Minister of State.