Results 4,181-4,200 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Reform (25 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Doherty for raising the issue. The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 sets out Government policy for promoting inclusion, targeting discrimination, and improving the quality of life and well-being for the LGBTI+ community in Ireland. It is supported by the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020. The strategy commits to ensuring that people can fully and equally...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Reform (25 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: I am committed to supporting the HSE in ensuring that people wishing to transition their gender have timely access to treatment that accords with the best practice. I note the Senator's welcome for the report. I want to see the HSE develop a well-governed and patient-centred healthcare service for adults and children in the transgender community in line with the programme for Government....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Mullen for raising this matter. I would love to see the churches open again. Indeed, I, my wife and my family are looking forward to returning to mass, and I am proud to say that as a politician. The Government's strategy, in line with the public health advice, is disease suppression. Covid-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with each other,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Mullen for being so diplomatic in his response to my reply. The Government recognises the immense sacrifices that are being made by the country in this difficult time. As I mentioned, there has been significant engagement and solidarity from the Catholic Church and other faith communities at all stages through the pandemic to ensure the protection of individuals and...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: I understand negotiations are ongoing. One company was mentioned. There is confusion about the figures. Some have said €650 and others have said it could be down to as little as €160. It is still a lot of money. I understand the departmental officials can meet people such as the Senator to discuss whether there is a way around it.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senators for their contributions on the Bill, which is discussed every year. During the Second Stage debate on Tuesday, I outlined that the objective and basis of Government policy in the area of private health insurance is to ensure that people have access to affordable private health insurance regardless of their age, gender or health status. This means people who are old or...

Seanad: Reopening Ireland (Department of Health): Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to update the House on the Government's response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and to the approach to reopening Ireland. As Senators will be aware, this country has been developing and reframing our response to Covid-19 for almost a year. Our country moved swiftly to establish the mechanisms to respond to the disease and this was undertaken...

Seanad: Reopening Ireland (Department of Health): Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: How much time do I have?

Seanad: Reopening Ireland (Department of Health): Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Warfield. I also thank all the Senators for their contributions to this debate on Covid-19. It is clear that we have a common goal of reopening Ireland safely. While we would like to open Ireland completely at this time, unfortunately, that is not possible. The virus is still circulating in our community and while at large, it poses a very real threat to all of us,...

Seanad: Reopening Ireland (Department of Health): Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: My child got it about a month ago and it seems to be going well but I was not sure about the 20% take-up. We can follow that up. The Acting Chair is on the mental health committee and I praise Senator Black for heading up that committee. It is hugely important and she has done great work on many of those important issues and I wish her well in that committee. The Acting Chair also praised...

Seanad: Reopening Ireland (Department of Health): Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Frank Feighan: I pay tribute to my staff and all the drug and alcohol task forces. There was a collaboration between all the services for people who are homeless, use drugs and so on. It showed the work that was done and I thank the Senator for acknowledging that. I pay tribute to the people in the Department for the work they have done. The Government will review current level 5 measures and consider...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 740 and 744 together. The National Strategy for Women and Girls (NSWG) Strategy Committee, now led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, established a sub-committee on period poverty in 2019, chaired by the Department of Health. In line with the recommendations of Oireachtas motions passed in early 2019, its remit...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 749 and 750 together. Breastfeeding is important for the health of both mother and infant, and this has been highlighted in national health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework and the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026. These both emphasise the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sexually Transmitted Infections (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for his remarks. The national AIDS strategy referred to by the Senator was published in 2000. Its most recent successor is the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, published in 2015. That strategy aims to improve the sexual health and well-being of the population and to reduce negative sexual health outcomes, including unplanned pregnancies and the transmission of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sexually Transmitted Infections (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: Some 23 public STI services nationally provide free STI and HIV testing. HIV testing is also available as part of the national antenatal screening programme, with almost 100% uptake. The HSE sexual health and crisis pregnancy programme funds and collaborates with community partners to expand HIV testing among higher risk population groups such as gay men and migrants in order to identify...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nursing Education (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Doherty for raising this important issue. I recognise the importance of student nurses and midwives completing their essential clinical placements in a safe environment and the potential hardship that might arise for students on placement due to Covid-19, as the Senator outlined, such as maintaining part-time employment, increased travel and additional accommodation costs....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nursing Education (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Doherty for raising this important issue. I reiterate our gratitude and pay tribute to student nurses, midwives and their healthcare colleagues who continue to deliver care right across the system during this unprecedented time. The past nine months have demonstrated, more visibly than at any other time in our recent history, the dedication, skill and commitment of our...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Warfield for raising this issue. I am aware of the petition which has been launched. Sexual health is a priority for the Department of Health. This was evidenced by the publication of the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, the first major strategy to tackle this vital area. We have made good progress with implementation of the strategy since 2015. The Department of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I would like to highlight, in more detail, some of the recent actions of my Department and the HSE with regard to tackling HIV infection. The most significant development in 2019 was the introduction of a national programme of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis which involves the pre-emptive use of anti-retroviral medication to prevent HIV infection within a holistic prevention service which...