Results 581-600 of 1,467 for speaker:Geraldine Feeney

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (26 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to the House. I agree with all those who have said this is wonderful legislation. I also agree with Senator Minihan who said we owe foster parents our gratitude. Without them where would the 5,000 foster children the Minister of State mentioned be? I am privileged to know some foster children as well as...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: The Senator does not want it.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I was totally incensed by an article I read in The Irish Times last Friday. It stated an off-licence in a supermarket had sold two bottles of vodka to two 15 year olds on the night on which the junior certificate results were released. The case was heard in court and the off-licence was fined €100. It later came to the attention of the judge that mandatory closure applies in all cases...

Seanad: UN Committee Report on Children in Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to the House. Since our previous debate on this issue, we have already seen substantial change in the area of child protection. Not alone do we have a committee on child protection, of which the Minister of State and I are members, the Taoiseach has announced we will have a referendum in the...

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: The Senator is putting a colour on it.

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome the Minister of State. I smile when I hear Senator Ryan talk about systems failures under the Government. Every time Fianna Fáil is in power there seem to be systems failures. The Senator is right in saying people lie behind such failures, a point he made recently on the Order of Business. If so many Fianna Fáil Governments have been in power, as he says, that is democracy....

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: The Leas-Chathaoirleach will be delighted to know I intend to move away from the party-political arena. In light of the heavy criticism of the Government, it is time somebody informed Senator Ryan that his party was in power at one stage. He may have forgotten that because it was a long time ago. On 1 June 2005, the House heard statements on nursing homes. Early that day, Senator Brian...

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: The same level of complaints does not arise in respect of public nursing homes. I grew up in Tullamore, County Offaly, and my aunt died at Riada House, a State nursing home, in the town. She received care of a level that was second to none. People in Tullamore are queuing up to gain entry to Riada House. Those wishing to gain a place in the home must undergo a means test.

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: If people are means tested, at least we then know they cannot afford to obtain entry to private nursing homes. People are queuing up to gain entry to public nursing homes. The team from the HSE informed us that unannounced inspections are taking place. I agree with the carrying out of such inspections, but I have a slight reservation in respect of them. Inspection teams are made up of...

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: ——and roar about particular matters. People must take a balanced approach and they must consider older people before trying to score political points. I am delighted the health Bill will be published before the end of the year.

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: As the Minister of State indicated, the Bill will create greater confidence with regard to the care being delivered to patients. I hope elderly patients will be included in this regard. Tough lessons must be learned from Leas Cross and we must ensure the type of abuse that occurred there will never happen again. We would not be where we are today were it not for our senior citizens, some of...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I support the calls for an urgent debate on paediatric and adolescent psychiatric services. The "Prime Time Investigates" programme should be congratulated. Like myself, I am sure those who watched last night's programme have all been greatly affected by it. I was lost in total admiration and emotion for the young people who were brave enough to go on the programme to tell their stories....

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2007)

Geraldine Feeney: I would like to address Senator Browne's point regarding tax compliance. I can understand his standpoint and perhaps the new rule might be formulated to avoid that problem. When one sells a home, one must ensure that all local authority charges are paid before one closes the sale. In the case of a nursing home, a tax clearance certificate could be required before the sale is complete.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2007)

Geraldine Feeney: Of course there is a difference.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2007)

Geraldine Feeney: Is that a wish?

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2007)

Geraldine Feeney: I take the point made by the Senator. I believe the people allowed to earn up to €100 per week are people younger than those in receipt of the State pension. These people would be in receipt of a widow's or widowers' pension, although these have new names. I did not believe it applied to people in receipt of the State pension. Perhaps the difference is that if they are earning €100...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2007)

Geraldine Feeney: Now.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2007)

Geraldine Feeney: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Feb 2007)

Geraldine Feeney: I support what Senator Glynn stated. I congratulate the Medical Council on its finding of professional misconduct against the three consultant obstetricians. I was astonished at the one-line statement in this morning's newspapers. The so-called "three wise men" state they are bitterly disappointed with the finding and find it fundamentally wrong. They have no regard or thought for the——

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Feb 2007)

Geraldine Feeney: As somebody who sat on the Neary inquiry, I have first-hand knowledge which I put on the record of the House. This statement rubs salt into festering wounds.