Results 6,341-6,360 of 12,432 for speaker:Louise O'Reilly

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I fully appreciate the constraints on us and all the rest of that. I am looking for an additional risk assessment. In the event that we have another session, we should also hear from representatives and childcare workers. That would be important. Everyone is cognisant of the fact that we are limited in terms of time and space. It would be helpful.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: Yes. I assume the Chairman is taking a note of those who went over to ensure that time is given to the rest of us.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I welcome our witnesses. We thank their members for all of the work they have done and the work they continue to do in this extremely trying time. I received an email from a nurse on 18 June in which she stated: I have just been notified that the crèche will not take my child back. I am a full-time nurse who has gone over and above in the last few months. I now face the decision of...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I am sorry to cut across. Is it correct that they are not testing and trace healthcare workers to the extent that they should be? Should that be an important element as we roll out non-Covid related healthcare?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: It is not happening, however.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: That is exactly what it is. It is a hazard of the job. On 26 March in this Chamber, we stood and applauded front-line healthcare workers. I have been contacted by healthcare workers who believed that it was something of an empty gesture because what followed were no firm commitments on childcare. I note from Ms Ní Sheaghdha's submission that one of her members stated childcare was...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: The Government announced a plan on 18 May. In the run-up to that and all through April, the Taoiseach said the Government was ready to "push the button", which is the phrase he used, on childcare. Is it correct to say there were no feasible childcare arrangements in place at that time?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: They are, and the waiting lists have not gone away. When work resumes to tackle the waiting lists, which I believe are hovering close to 1 million people, every single healthcare worker will be absolutely needed. Am I right in saying there is a link and that low staffing levels inhibit infection control measures?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: So they are working all night and looking after their kids all day-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: -----and keep that up. Nobody can keep that up. This is absolutely disrespectful and it is impossible to work all night and look after kids all day. It is a long time since I had to look after kids at home but it is a hard job to do that all day, particularly for people who are not getting any support at all. For them then to go into dangerous and potentially infectious and hazardous...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: It is very wrong for a worker to feel that one must leave kids at home to be able to, or to be forced to, go to work. It is absolutely disgraceful. I joined others standing here in the Chamber in applauding the front-line healthcare workers. I felt at the time it was the right thing to do. I have been contacted by large numbers of front-line healthcare workers who at the time, as Ms...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I agree that they will have a serious impact.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I am sharing my time with Deputies Gould and Quinlivan, both of whom are to have four minutes. I will cede three of my seven minutes to the Minister because I want to use some of my time to hear a response. I believe the Ceann Comhairle said we are entitled to a response, but maybe not an answer. I feel like I have just stumbled in to some kind of job interview process. I do not know...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I thank the witnesses for the information they have given us. My first question is for Dr. Henry. We are very constrained by time so many of the answers I am seeking are either one word or one number, if he does not mind. The experts are telling us that testing and tracing need not necessarily be perfect under lockdown but it must get much better and should be perfect as we exit lockdown....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: It is 2.1 days in the community. Does that include the instruction to all contacts to quarantine?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: Does it include a test for all contacts?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: Are 100% contacted within that 1.76 days?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: It is the median. That figure is not being hit in the community. Am I correct that it is much higher in the community at 2.1 or 2.2?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: It is 2.1 in the community. That is two days. We are still a wee bit off there. Has the target of 100,000 tests per week ever been met?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: Is Dr. Henry confident that the service could scale up to hit that target?