Results 721-740 of 18,442 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (22 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) under which the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) is being implemented. The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment is the...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (22 Apr 2008)

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

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (22 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the National Childcare Investment Programme, €5.8 million has been allocated to dedicated out of schools services to date, of which €1.35 million is designated for RAPID and CLÁR areas. An additional €157 million has been allocated for larger integrated childcare services many of which also provide out of school places. Of these, €52 million is for services within RAPID and...

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: It is a pleasure to make the concluding contribution to the Second Stage debate of this important Bill. When the Minister for Foreign Affairs introduced the Bill on 2 April, he correctly reminded the House that the reform treaty is important for Ireland and for Europe. The Government considers the treaty to be a logical step for the EU in an increasingly globalised world. Ratification of...

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, who is unavoidably absent due to other Department business. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to this House the current position. Over recent years, the Health Service Executive has reviewed the pharmaceutical...

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Community pharmacy contractors are required under the terms of their contract to give three months' notice of their intention to withdraw. This is a serious obligation to ensure continuity of dispensing services to patients. The HSE has written to each of the contractors concerned, seeking formal confirmation of their intentions and pointing out that three months' notice of cessation of...

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: It should be allowed complete its work——

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: It should be allowed complete its work in just a few weeks' time. In the meantime and while that work is still under way, a withdrawal of services by pharmacists is not a response that is fair to patients who, for good reasons, have——

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Could we have the common decency to listen? In the meantime and while that work is still under way, a withdrawal of services by pharmacists is not a response that is fair to patients who, for good reasons, have developed a trust and confidence in their community pharmacist to supply the medicines they need.

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Threats of withdrawal from the community pharmacy contract in this context are surely not in anyone's interest. The Minister has repeatedly stated she does not wish to see any patient inconvenienced in any way. She believes that if community pharmacists reflect on the position and the fully independent——

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Will the Deputies show some common courtesy for just one second?

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister, Deputy Harney, believes that if community pharmacists reflect on the position and the fully independent and impartial engagement by the Dorgan group——

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: ——they will choose responsibly to fulfil their professional obligations to their patients.

Health Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy O'Connor for raising this important issue, to which I will reply on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. One of the key challenges facing the Health Service Executive is the need to ensure that services are planned and provided in line with the clinical need of patients. A number of experimental initiatives were put in place by the HSE with a view to...

Summer Works Scheme. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who is unavoidably absent. I thank Deputy Tom Hayes for raising it because it provides me with the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position in respect of the 2008 summer works scheme. Modernising facilities in our 3,200...

Dublin Bay Development Plan. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Yes.

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senator Buttimer for raising this Adjournment matter which I will take on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. Improving the delivery of accident and emergency services continues to be a top priority for the Government and the Health Service Executive. At national level, significant additional resources have been provided to address the...

Seanad: Arts Funding (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senator Keaveney for raising this important matter which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Séamus Brennan, who is unavoidably absent. Education in the arts is a lifelong learning experience involving a range of different people interacting with the arts in a variety of education settings. Primary and post primary schools are key...

Seanad: Mine Disaster (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who unfortunately, due to other business, cannot be here this evening. The matter raised by Senator Ó Domhnaill concerns a tragic incident which occurred almost 65 years ago. I will briefly give the details of the tragedy as they appear in the documentation file in...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (24 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. As the...