Results 681-700 of 2,674 for speaker:John Moloney

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this case investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (4 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: The Department of Education and Science is responsible for the statutory provision of education in Ireland. There is no requirement under the Disability Act, 2005 to provide speech and language therapy services in primary schools. Under Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, children under five years have been entitled to an assessment of their disability needs since 1 June 2007. In preparation...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (9 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: A report on the review of the operation of the Mental Health Act 2001 was laid before the Oireachtas in May 2007 in accordance with the provisions of Section 75 of the Act. The report recommended a small number of amendments to the Act and also recommended that given that the full provisions of the Act had only been in operation since the 1st November 2006, a more detailed review be...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (9 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: In the 2008 Budget, €50m was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fund a range of additional services under the Multi Annual Investment Programme for people with a disability, including 200,000 additional personal assistant/home support hours. The Health Service Executive will provide a total of 3.2 million hours of personal assistant/home support this year to people with a...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (9 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. Like everybody I fully realise the importance of the issue before us. I am also aware of the background and the response some weeks ago to the budget proposal on the withdrawal of the universal scheme. I would like to make a few points about issues that have come up not just during this debate but in recent weeks. As we are all aware the...

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I do not forget. I am referring to the fact that a few minutes ago one of the Deputies' colleagues made the point that we badly mishandled the introduction of the scheme in 2002.

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: No, absolutely. I make the point that in 2002 it was a very brave decision by a Government that was clearly in different economic times. It was not an election or political stunt. It was an attempt to continue the support of the elderly over the years. I will not go into all the figures that were before the Dáil this evening in respect of income levels and limits and the means test nor...

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I will not interrupt Deputy Bannon when he speaks. I have only a few minutes remaining.

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: With regard to the issue before us, there was a consistent attempt to provide for the elderly in good times but, unfortunately, when the times turned down we were faced with a particular difficulty. I stress again that any party in Government is not in the business of creating unpopularity for itself. That is a given. The reasons for this decision must be examined. It is important to...

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I did and had no difficulty doing so. I support my party in Government.

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I would. I believe the Government's attempt to deal with the issue of medical cards was a brave attempt to ensure that the very scarce resources available in the health services would be spread around those who are most in need of support. Of the 355,000 people aged over 70, this decision did not affect 230,000. I will make a further point, and it is not by way of trying to waffle away...

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I do not say that. The budget was not rushed. There were deliberations for weeks on the budget. I do not even use that as an excuse, far from it. I make the point that on the day of the budget announcement of the medical card issue the belief was created that all cover for people over 70 years of age was to be withdrawn. Nothing could be further from the truth. As I pointed out, the...

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: That would have provided the savings. The policy in that regard was to ensure that by taking from those who did not need that cover, savings of €100 million would be spread around new services within the Department of Health and Children. It is worth noting that the overall reduction to the health Estimate was a figure of approximately €800 million. On the other hand, new services in...

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I am not here for questions.

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I am almost spoiled as most of the questions have already been asked. It is not merely a matter of reducing medical card cover for the sake of it. It is a matter of taking everything into context. There was a huge reduction in tax receipts coupled with the very great demands on the Department of Health and Children for further new services. In that regard I must support the strategy. I...

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: In the argument about care for those aged over 70, people were convinced that not only would they lose their medical cards but, as I heard myself in the church down town, that unless they stood to fight on the medical card removal issue they would also lose their free travel and other benefits. That was never in the debate at all. I hope at this point that advocates for those aged over 70...

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I am not saying that. I am making the point — and I have suggested this to my parliamentary party — that the necessity for the Minister for Finance to come into the House and discuss so many major issues within an hour and a half is something we should all think about. Years ago, as I know from running a pub, the big fear at the time of the budget was that the local publican would go...

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

John Moloney: I am not worried about guillotines or heads rolling or any of that stuff.