Results 461-480 of 18,442 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate and affirm my full confidence in my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. For the past six months I have had the privilege of working beside the Minister in the Department of Health and Children. Working on a highly complex brief, I have been struck by her courage and determination and absolute...

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Opposition has chosen the current concerns about breast cancer diagnosis in Portlaoise hospital as a platform for this debate. The one thing that unites us in this House is a profound sympathy for the women who have experienced serious worries and concerns about the way the breast cancer services in Portlaoise dealt with their cases.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: This regrettable incident is the chief target at which the Opposition has aimed its baseless criticisms of the Minister. This Labour Party motion is typical of those speaking out of both sides of their mouths.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: They accept that the Minister cannot be held accountable for mistakes in the reading of individual mammograms and ultrasounds while at the same time laying the blame for every clinical shortcoming at her door. As the Minister said last night, it is utterly unacceptable that the women first heard that there might be a problem with their ultrasound tests on the airwaves.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: This inexcusable breakdown in communication cannot be repeated.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Minister took personal and immediate control of the matter once its extent had been established and instructed her officials to work from last Friday morning over the weekend with the HSE to ensure that clinical reviews and other additional services were fast-tracked.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: This decisive action which is ongoing has been necessary and beneficial. Professor Tom Keane has this week taken up his position as interim director of the National Cancer Control Programme. He is working to ensure the transition to the new centres of excellence and is expected to quickly designate clinical national leaders.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The people of this country need, deserve and are entitled to the services that will be delivered in a multi-disciplinary setting. That will not be achieved without implementation of the transformation programme. The Minister is presiding over the largest and most fundamental reform of the health service, one that has long been identified as necessary. Implementation of these reforms will...

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Jan O'Sullivan referred on the airwaves this afternoon to the delay in publishing Dr. O'Doherty's report. This report was commissioned by the HSE. It has not been published yet because natural justice requires that the people who may be identified and in respect of whom there may be adverse comment or inferences are entitled to see it first and have their views heard.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: This is normal practice, as Members know. The Government wishes to see this report published as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Office has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 150, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which...

Hospital Services. (29 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the opportunity to set out the current position with the reorganisation of cancer services, with particular reference to the midland region. Recent events, particularly with regard to cancer services in the midland region, underscore the absolute need for the HSE national cancer control programme to be implemented without delay. Let us all agree that the development of quality...

Health Service Staff. (29 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Wall for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to outline the current situation with regard to occupational therapy in the Kildare and west Wicklow area. There are close to 130,000 people employed in the delivery of our public health and personal social services, the vast majority of whom provide direct service to patients and clients. Staff costs make up 70%...

Special Educational Needs. (29 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Burton for raising this issue. I will be replying on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin. The House will be aware of the commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, receive an education appropriate to their needs. I therefore welcome the opportunity to discuss the opening of the special classes for...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (29 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (4 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 referred to in the...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (4 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: Adoption in Ireland is regulated by the Adoption Board, which is an independent, statutory body. On foot of the Deputy's question, a report was sought from the Adoption Board on this matter, and the information supplied is as follows. "The Adoption Board, as a quasi-judicial body, is not generally in a position to comment on individual cases currently before the Board for consideration and...