Results 661-680 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I have grave difficulty with the amendment. To answer Senator O'Rourke's question——

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Until two weeks ago I did not know what a physical therapist did and I am glad to know somebody as experienced as Senator O'Rourke did not know either. Now I know what they are and do and seem to hear about them every hour of the day. Physical therapists are a separate entity. As far as I know they get a pass degree but some go on and do postgraduate studies. They are in existence for the...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: The Minister of State is acutely aware that he is part of a coalition Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am sure he would not like to see it called a Fianna Fáil Government without acknowledgement of the Progressive Democrats. The physical therapists would feel the same way. They have a different system of operation. They do different work and the education and training is different. The work of both physiotherapists and physical therapists is important. Many of the top sports stars use...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I recently pointed out that one could not claim back health insurance expenses from BUPA or the VHI for attending physical therapists. As far as I know the new insurance company, the name of which I have forgotten——

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I thank Senator O'Rourke. It appears that Vivas does make payment for attendance at physical therapists so it is only a matter of time before BUPA and the VHI also cover this, which is a significant step. Physical therapists already have a registration board in operation. I met a lady who is involved in it.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am not sure of the extent of it but they do have a registration board to which one has to apply to become a member.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I accept that. It is an internal system of registration. They made the point that business is good and that in 15 years in operation no negligence case has been taken against them. As far as I know the Minister did not dispute this point the last day, which speaks for itself. The fact that business is good shows there is a need for it. People are going back to them for treatment. A...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 25: In page 47, line 42, subsection (5), to delete "€2,500" and substitute "€3,000". The amount of money involved here is quite small and should be increased. The fine should also be index linked. I subsequently discovered Deputy Jim O'Keeffe has initiated a Private Members' Bill on this area.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Yes. I raised the matter of fireworks on the Order of Business and I am currently working on a Bill in that area. I believe the maximum fine in one area in this regard is £5. This shows how quickly legislation goes out of date. It would make sense to index link fines in all legislation.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: This is a very important section, particularly subsections (5) and (7), which allows the Minister of the day to add other parties to the list of registration boards. In that context, physical therapists in particular would ideally prefer to be designated separately and have their own registration board. Is it wise to provide for this at this stage? Given that it has taken 20 years for the...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have already spoken about this matter in a general debate on communications. This issue will be a hot potato in the years ahead. As we move forward we will be able to receive e-mails, texts, photographs and so on by wireless technology. We will nonetheless pay a price in another respect. In order to do this, we need to have the proper...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I wish to take up his last point about the ComReg website, which I have visited and found to have good and bad aspects. It is good that it can be searched on the basis of a map of Ireland or by typing in key words. If one wants to check if there is a nursing home in County Donegal with a base station, one can do so by searching through the County...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I concur with the requests for a debate on the NRA and road safety. We should include in the debate the option of making crash barriers removable in sections. Such a facility would mean that if a crash takes place, at least traffic could be diverted, avoiding a massive build-up of traffic stretching for miles, as witnessed over the past few weekends. Crash barriers should be removable in...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: They have been abandoned.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Why did the former Minister, Deputy McCreevy, not consult with the unions?

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: The Government did not do its homework.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: With one fifth of the required staff available. Who does the Senator think he is kidding?

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Were the PDs involved?

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I wish to share my time with Senator Brian Hayes.