Results 401-420 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I appreciate that. However, I want a commitment from the Minister of State to a follow-up review of this issue. It is not good that a significant proportion of our population is being discriminated against and treated differently from the rest of the population.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I appreciate Senator Glynn's intervention. He is the old dog for the hard road and a seasoned campaigner.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: The facts are that on the one hand, the State gives a pensioner money and on the other hand, if an elderly pensioner breaks his or her leg, the State takes the money from him or her after 30 days. For example, a social welfare recipient is given money by the State. However, if that person has to stay in hospital to receive treatment for a period of 30 days, the State does not take back the...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I appreciate that it has been put on the record of the House that no patient in a community hospital will be charged after 30 days if he or she is receiving acute medical treatment, be it for a minor stroke or a broken leg, and that such a person will not be treated differently.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I appreciate that the Minister has put this on the record because, in doing so, he has avoided a major grey area. I appreciate his statement.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: This is new legislation.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I must reply to Senator Glynn. This is new legislation. I am worried about the legal mechanism that will be created with the passage of the Bill. I am concerned that a patient who suffers from an acute illness will be charged after 30 days. If having a worry is baseless-——

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: Is having a worry baseless?

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: My concern is with the period of 30 days. I am glad the Minister has put on the record of the House that any patient receiving acute treatment in any community or district hospital will not be charged after 30 days. I am delighted this will be the case under this new legislation.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I concur with my colleague, Senator Browne. I thank the Minister of State and his officials for their patience and perseverance during the Bill's passage through the House. I assume that it is not an easy job being a departmental official when legislation is going through the Houses very quickly. The Minister of State's staff must be commended on all their work, including the work that will...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2005)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister to the House and the proposed legislation, purely in the context of recent criminal activities and also that of 11 September and the Madrid bombings of 11 March 2004. I could continue with a litany of different types of international terrorism. The lay person accepts that international terrorism is a problem. It is a serious issue that has to be challenged, with a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Joe McHugh: I agree with Senator O'Toole regarding the situation in Northern Ireland. If his prediction that there will be no settlement or any negotiation until 2007 is correct, we will find ourselves in a very frightening vacuum. I echo the call for much more North-South and east-west involvement. We can show the lead in this House on a joint parliamentary basis. I know hindsight is 20-20 vision but...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister back to the House and I intend to recap on some of the points I made yesterday. I did not get a chance to sum up, which was unfortunate, as the Minister was left hanging and-——

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Joe McHugh: ——waiting eagerly for the punchline when I was interrupted by the Leas-Chathaoirleach. To reiterate, the Criminal Justice Bill is important legislation. From an international viewpoint it is necessary and people demand it. Procedures must be put in place for people to feel secure. From the international viewpoint, however, the "Homeland Security" initiative in the United States has a...

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe McHugh: It is good opposition. The Senator will get used to it after a while.

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I commend Deputies Kenny and Perry on raising this matter. It is indicative of an effective Opposition that has been working well in the past two years and a team of people who are getting ready to enter Government. It is a good omen for a team that will be capable and professional, when in Government. As regards the remuneration of moneys owed to...

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe McHugh: Joking aside, there is an issue regarding the symbolic nature of handing over moneys in the form of a pension, assistance or an entitlement to a private or public body. Leaving the Minister of State's spouse or family to one side, I believe it is wrong and there is a serious equality issue to be addressed. As regards access and funding there is need for a comprehensive debate on private and...

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe McHugh: I want to make one last point. The Chairman should allow me some discretion because I found it hard to concentrate on my contribution with the talking that was going on behind me. It is rather difficult to make a contribution when one is being interrupted.

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe McHugh: We must address the fundamentals of investment in nursing homes. At present a developer-led syndicate is driving construction which is opposed to the type of private nursing home that we had for years, which was family led and gave credibility to the sector. However, at present, syndicates of rich, successful businessmen are getting tax-breaks to feed into the construction and operation of...

Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe McHugh: Absolutely. Perhaps somewhere in Boyle, County Roscommon.