Results 641-660 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Child Care: Motion. (2 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the Deputy. The equality for women measure is designed to tackle barriers to equality for women, including attitudinal, structural and institutional barriers. A programme is under way in that regard. Tax benefits, welfare payments and employment and training initiatives aim to reduce the number of working people who are poor and eliminate inactivity, unemployment and poverty traps....

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (2 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I assume the Deputy is referring to young homeless people presenting to Garda stations. I have been advised by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and health boards that it is extremely rare that children or young people are accommodated in Garda stations due to a lack of appropriate health board accommodation. Where children present to Garda stations, the relevant health board social work...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (2 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Responsibility in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy rests with the South Western Area Health Board and Eastern Regional Health Authority. Accordingly, my Department has asked the chief executive officer of the authority to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Following an invitation, an official from my Department met with officials from the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 17 November. The meeting, which was extremely positive, was used to exchange information and documents and to explore any advantages to having further meetings. A further meeting has been tentatively arranged for early in 2005.

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (24 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am glad Senator Kitt has raised this matter on the Adjournment. I am aware of his constant interest in the improvement of ambulance and medical services in Tuam and the surrounding area. The Western Health Board's emergency and patient transport ambulance service provides a service to over 353,000 people. The emergency ambulance service is provided from ten stations throughout the board's...

Seanad: Rural Transport Services. (24 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The rural transport initiative, or RTI, has been under way since 2002 and is funded by the Department of Transport. Under the scheme, funding is provided for 34 rural community organisations around the country to address the transport needs of their areas through the provision of local transport services. Area Development Management Limited, or ADM, manages the RTI on behalf of the Department...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will not take a note of it.

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will note that one.

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Dr. Browne was a member of Fianna Fáil.

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the Deputies for their contributions on this important legislation. The Tánaiste pointed out in her opening speech that the legislation provides for the complete reform of the organisation and management structures of our health services — the first substantial and fundamental reform for more than three decades. We do not accept that the legislation is being rushed through the...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There will be no change in the format of replies to parliamentary questions, as Deputy Ring seemed to fear.

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I emphasise the Tánaiste's commitment and mine to ensure, as part of this reform process, the new executive provides speedy responses to the queries of public representatives. I have raised Deputy Ring's question to illustrate the nature of the difference that the Health Service Executive will make. Consider, for example, the current situation of a Deputy who has the privilege of being...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The advisory panels are critically important as they will allow local communities and other groups to be involved in shaping a client-centred service. Such advisory panels were recommended in the health strategy, which also recommended that they should be set up on a more structured basis. A number of Deputies raised the issue of the membership of the board of the HSE. As the Tánaiste...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As already stated, the main reason we are proposing this legislation, and indeed the whole reform programme, is to ensure better outcomes for patients. We can only do this if quality is embedded at every level in the delivery of the services received by patients. The Health Information and Quality Authority will play a vitally important role in setting standards for the delivery of quality...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have dealt with Deputy McManus's question.

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes, it can be dealt with on Committee State as it is a committee point. A contention was made that this Bill would not provide for extra services. The Bill is concerned with reform of the organisation and management structures of the health service. Regarding extra services, only last week the Tánaiste announced an increase of €950 million for health in the Estimates, bringing total...

Seanad: Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand why Senators Tuffy and Cummins tabled these amendments. The issue was discussed at length on Second Stage in the other House and, indeed, in committee when the Minister undertook to go back to the Department of Finance to see whether he could elicit a more sympathetic response to it. There are some arguments, in principle, against it. One is that additional layers of bureaucracy...

Seanad: Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: One can resume joined-up Government. It has happened in the past in terms of the Tallaght strategy.

Seanad: Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The initial case came before the courts in 1996 and continued some time after the enactment of the legislation. The bureau has had funds for some seven years but those funds are only now coming into operation. Senator Cummins's amendment No. 6 seeks to shorten the time for the distribution of the funds from the CAB to the Exchequer from seven to three years. This would be welcome news for the...

Seanad: Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee Stage. (30 Nov 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In the constitutional scheme of things the Minister for Finance can never be put aside, much as we would all like to do so from time to time. Senator Brian Hayes's contribution was eloquent and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform welcomed his support for a point of view on this matter. The more money the Department can get for various areas the better. Nevertheless, the general...