Results 4,061-4,080 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator. Vaccines are one of the most successful health interventions of all time. They have saved thousands of lives in this country and have helped make diseases like polio and smallpox, which previously caused devastation to families and communities, largely a thing of the past. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and one woman dies of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising what is an important issue — increasing access to contraception. The Government understands the need to promote women's health and equality and, as such, the new programme for Government includes a commitment to expand access to free contraception for women aged between 17 and 25, as outlined by the Senator. The Senator has made me aware of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I appreciate the Senator's concern about this very complex issue. The working group highlighted that the majority of people in Ireland can and do access contraception without difficulty. Contraception use in Ireland is high and stable. This is a fact that we welcome but there are issues we need to address. At the same time, the Government is supportive of the need to expand access to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Cards (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Conway for his kind remarks. It is great to be back here in the Seanad. I am delighted to see Senator Wall here. I serve with his dad in the Oireachtas so it is great to see him back here as well. Before addressing the medical card limits for the over-70s, which both Senators have raised today, it is important to acknowledge the difficult year that older persons in our...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Cards (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: Senator Conway mentioned savings being achieved and obviously that has not occurred, due to Covid. As was said, currently 75% of people aged 70 and over have a medical card and if the potential beneficiaries of this measure - an estimated 56,000 people - materialise then an increase in the income thresholds will result in over 88% of this cohort now being eligible for a medical card. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Alcohol Pricing (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I want to begin by welcoming the raising of this very important topic by Deputy Ó Cuív. The programme for Government promises to honour our long-standing commitment to the introduction of minimum unit pricing of alcohol products in consultation with Northern Ireland. As Minister of State with responsibility for this issue, I want to assure the House from the outset that there is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Alcohol Pricing (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: Early analysis of the introduction of minimum unit pricing in Scotland shows that the policy is successful in targeting harmful drinking. Scotland introduced minimum pricing in May 2018. Subsequent to its introduction, alcohol consumption figures there were at their lowest rate for 25 years. We have an alcohol issue in this country. Alcohol consumption in Ireland almost trebled over the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. In preparing for and responding to Covid-19 and to fully align with public health guidance as recommended by NPHET, the HSE and its partner service providers put in place a range of measures. These included the prioritisation of vital residential and home support services, while curtailing or closing certain services, such as day services...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Minister acknowledges the significant contribution of health and social care professionals to the Covid response, in particular, the urgent requirement for testing in the community services. I am aware that in the Department of Health, many of the various teams are still working on Covid. The HSE has put a plan in place to stabilise the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: There are, however, a significant number of measures being put in place to manage such competing priorities, for example, a national requirement campaign for dedicated testing and tracing resources. We expect that such measures coming in place will assist in our ability to meet both Covid and non-Covid service demands. HR in community operations has been in dialogue with trade union...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: The Covid-19 pandemic has created a time of uncertainty and anxiety for everyone and particularly for those who are affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The restructuring of services, social distancing measures and self-isolation can be particularly difficult for those who are trying to remain drug or alcohol free and for those who are in recovery. The Government...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in local communities. They ensure that a coordinated approach is taken across all sectors to address substance misuse based on the identified needs and priorities in their areas. The Department of Health and the HSE provide total annual funding of €28 million to task forces for local...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: The Covid-19 pandemic has created uncertainty and anxiety for everyone and particularly for those affected by drug and alcohol addiction. At the onset of Covid-29, the Department and the HSE developed harm reduction posters for people with substance use issues. Key harm reduction messages were included in both posters to keep people as safe as possible during Covid-19 and reminding...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 926 to 929, inclusive, and 931 together. The Covid-19 pandemic has created a time of uncertainty and anxiety for everyone and particularly for those who are affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The restructuring of services, social distancing measures and self-isolation can be particularly difficult for those who are trying to remain...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: The Covid-19 pandemic has created a time of uncertainty and anxiety for everyone and particularly for those who are affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The restructuring of services, social distancing measures and self-isolation can be particularly difficult for those who are trying to remain drug or alcohol free and for those who are in recovery. The Government plan...

Roadmap for Living with Covid-19: Statements (1 Oct 2020)

Frank Feighan: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, on a point of information, which figures is the Deputy looking for? Those on mental health or those on Covid?

Roadmap for Living with Covid-19: Statements (1 Oct 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy.

Roadmap for Living with Covid-19: Statements (1 Oct 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputies throughout the House for their contributions in this vital debate on the Government's response to Covid-19, including the plan for living with Covid-19, Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021. Our overall goal is to reopen our society and economy as safely as possible. This is a challenge facing governments the world over. We have seen the statistics from the WHO in recent...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Protected Disclosures (6 Oct 2020)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 778 to 780, inclusive, together. 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: Addiction Treatment Services (6 Oct 2020)

Frank Feighan: The Government’s strategic response to addressing drug and alcohol problems in Ireland is set out in Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery – a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025. The Drugs Policy and Social Inclusion Unit is responsible for drugs policy in the Department of Health. The unit has the following roles: - to coordinate the implementation...