Results 9,341-9,360 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (17 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: 102. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to address the availability and affordability of regulated childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53712/13]

Other Questions: Ambulance Service Response Times (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: 6. To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in the Health Service Executive West region since the introduction of standardised ambulance response times; the steps being taken to improve ambulance response times in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53981/13]

Other Questions: Ambulance Service Response Times (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: Fewer than one in two ambulances in the west are meeting the HIQA target at the scene of a life-threatening incident. The west has the only three HSE-identified ambulance black spots in the country. It seems no provision will be made in the HSE service plan to provide manpower to address the staff shortages at those locations in the coming year.

Other Questions: Ambulance Service Response Times (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister for his response. The review is welcome. The problem is that this is kicking the can down the road. At present, in the west, 13 ambulance shifts a month are being taken off the road because there are not the staff to man those ambulances. We have the only three HSE-identified ambulance black spots in the west at Tuam, at Mulranny and at Loughglynn, County Roscommon....

Other Questions: Ambulance Service Response Times (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: Will the Minister look into one other matter for me? Within the past month, on one particular day, all of the Roscommon ambulances were parked outside Galway University Hospital, along with those that provide cover in Roscommon - the Ballinasloe, Castlebar and Loughrea ambulances. Every single one of them was parked outside Galway University Hospital on one day in the past month. In light...

Other Questions: Ambulance Service Response Times (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: I am concerned that the geographic area is left without cover.

Topical Issue Debate: HSE Investigations (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: The Minister for State will be aware that in recent weeks worrying facts have come to light regarding the sale of used orthodontic braces by a dentist employed by the HSE in Merlin Park, Galway. These braces which should have been incinerated were sold to private practices. The HSE became aware of this fact in 2009 and it was exposed in the Connacht Tribune recently. Four years later,...

Topical Issue Debate: HSE Investigations (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister of State for her reply but she did not address the core issue underlying the matter, namely, the potential risk of infection for the children involved in the debacle. Everyone has said checks and balances will be put in place but what is being done about the potential risk of infection for the children who were involved? The HSE is failing to deal with public health and...

Topical Issue Debate: HSE Investigations (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: I accept the Minister of State’s response but the difficulty is that the matter came to the attention of the HSE four years ago and the answers should be available. That is at the heart of the scandal and that is why I do not have confidence in the individuals carrying out the investigation.

Topical Issue Debate: HSE Investigations (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: I accept that.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Stroke Programme (18 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: 22. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to increase thrombolysis rates for stroke patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53982/13]

Other Questions: Haulage Industry Regulation (19 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: 6. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will implement the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to introduce a point to point licence for oversized HGVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54131/13]

Other Questions: Haulage Industry Regulation (19 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: The ban on oversized HGVs has huge implications for the agriculture sector. For example, it reduces the capacity for live exports by one fifth and the transport of fodder from the south east of the country to the west by approximately one third. It also increases vehicle movements on many substandard national secondary roads by up to 70%. I would like the Minister to review this issue.

Other Questions: Haulage Industry Regulation (19 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: The Minister will be aware that there are flexibilities in the transport rules for the agriculture sector. Is he aware, as I know his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring is, of a company in County Mayo, McHale, which produces balers? Because that company produces bales that are 6 in. bigger than the standard 4 ft bale, it is not possible because of transport rules for it...

Other Questions: Haulage Industry Regulation (19 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: My understanding from Irish Rail is that the vast majority of bridge strikes are due to oversized construction transport, rather than point-to-point transport. I ask the Minister to do one thing which, if possible, would assist everyone in this situation. Currently, if someone is transporting something that is oversized, let us say from Rosslare to Ballinasloe, one must go through seven...

Water Services (No.2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: It normally reverts to the Opposition side, does it not?

Water Services (No.2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: Yes, but there is an Opposition Member in the House. Correct me if I am wrong.

Water Services (No.2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: Correct me if I am wrong, but I understand the order is Government-Opposition-Government-Opposition. I have no difficulty with it.

Water Services (No.2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: I have the weight of the Opposition on my shoulders. As I said to the Minister of State privately, I am not going to give him a clear run on this issue. I have strong views about water. In my county currently, one in every four people cannot drink the water from the tap. I believe, therefore, that I would be abdicating my responsibility as a public representative if I did not come into...

Water Services (No.2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Denis Naughten: This is not what is written in the legislation. It is not mentioned that it is specifically for that purpose, and I have a difficulty with it. I agree there is a need for co-ordination. I fully accept this because I know of the difficulty in my area. Within 15 miles we have three separate water authorities. With joined-up thinking the level of investment required would be significantly...