Results 681-700 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English
- Order of Business. (30 May 2006)
Damien English: In the same circumstances.
- Order of Business. (30 May 2006)
Damien English: I am asking about if he was convicted, that is the question.
- Order of Business. (30 May 2006)
Damien English: It is okay, the Taoiseach has clarified the matter. It is a charge, not a conviction.
- Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)
Damien English: I compliment my colleague, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, for introducing this Bill. It is a simple and straightforward Bill to which I cannot find any objection, though I have no doubt the Government will find something and will reintroduce it in six months' time under a different name. I ask the Government not to do that because people are questioning the whole justice system this week, especially...
- Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)
Damien English: It depends on what the sentence is for. We will not bring sport into the discussion. There should be standards that are easy to follow. Victims need to know if justice is being done. The victim of a crime should be able to tap into the system and see the sentences other perpetrators of similar crimes received, so as to determine the norm. The Bill provides for a tool, a register. It...
- Order of Business. (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: Someone else is being blamed, as usual.
- Order of Business. (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: They were two weeks ago.
- Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: It was interesting to read the speech of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power. He claimed the Government's policy is to help older people stay at home. He spoke, both at the beginning and end of his speech, of how great the Government is and how much it is doing. This is in a week when I have received 15 telephone calls from people because their...
- Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: I encountered someone who has been battling for the past three months to get two hours of home help per week, not per day, after coming out of hospital. She received a letter stating she could have home help only for the first three weeks after leaving hospital. It was not that they would reassess it, but that it would end and she would have no help. This woman is in her 80s and it has been...
- Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: However, the grants have not increased in line with inflation. Most councils have, in fact, cut the grants available. In 2002 and 2003 letters were sent to applicants informing them no funding was available for the provision of grants.
- Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: It is totally crazy. I accept there has been a slight improvement in the situation, in that some funding has been made available, but that will not be adequate to deal with the backlog of applications.
- Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: Exactly, we are coming near an election and the provision of an extra â¬2 million here and there will make nice headlines. It sounds good but does not make a big impact on the ground. The average cost of building work, such as putting in a bathroom, is â¬40,000. The cost is no longer â¬20,000, it is at least â¬40,000 or â¬50,000. I am being conservative with the figures. We must examine...
- Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: It can take two or three years to get a decision on an application. If somebody has had an accident or stroke and wants to live at home again or with relatives when he or she leaves hospital, he or she should not have to wait two years to be told a grant of â¬20,000 will be provided. If there is a delay in processing applications, surely people can be allowed to carry out the building work...
- Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: Provision has been made in the planning legislation for child care facilities, community facilities, green spaces, open spaces and so on, yet there is no obligation to provide facilities for the elderly. Planning has moved on from the stage of one application per field to local area plans and the development of 100 acres at a time â strategic development zones or SDZs. These involve...
- Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: Many elderly people live in houses in the country which are worth over â¬300,000 and yet we have decided that anything above this figure should be assessed. Where did these figures come from? Can we not produce figures which reflect reality? The sum of â¬300,000 is sufficient to purchase a site in most areas. I accept that prices are different in other areas of the country, such as the...
- Written Answers — Organ Donation: Organ Donation (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: Question 8: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself that the level of donor organ retrieval in acute hospitals here is working at optimal levels or if she has some concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21248/06]
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Jun 2006)
Damien English: Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the projected overruns of the budgets of each acute hospital here; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that patient care could be compromised in any of these hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21249/06]
- Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)
Damien English: The Minister should defend himself.
- Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)
Damien English: The Minister should stop digging.
- Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)
Damien English: The Taoiseach said it was grand.