Results 10,401-10,420 of 24,340 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: 416. To ask the Minister for Health further to the announcement in budget 2015 of the targeted ending of the public sector recruitment moratorium, the number of additional front-line health care staff expected to be recruited in 2015; the impact recruitment will have on the amount spent on agency staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46178/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: The sole topic for discussion this afternoon is the ambulance service review by Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA. I take this opportunity to welcome to the meeting Mr. Phelim Quinn, chief executive of HIQA; Ms Mary Dunnion, acting director of regulation; and Mr. Marty Whelan, head of communications and stakeholder engagement. At the beginning, on my own behalf and, I am sure,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: May I interrupt Mr. Quinn and say that even though I am four years into the job as Chair, the L-plates still apply. I must read about privilege. My apologies. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Mr. Quinn for his presentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: To be fair to Mr. Quinn, it is not in his remit to grant, provide or procure services.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Can we deal with the ambulance service, rather than going into this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: To be fair to Mr. Quinn, he is here to answer in regard to the report today as opposed to other HSE matters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Be fair, he is not responsible for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Does Senator Burke have a mobile telephone near the microphone?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I will ask Mr. Quinn to respond to the points raised so far because I have other speakers as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: They had no vested interest in terms of their association with the ambulance service here?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Has there ever been a need to consult service users, such as, for example, the family mentioned by Deputy Ó Caoláin or people who have complained about either response times, an ambulance getting lost or whatever? Is that the normal practice?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Are there staff without the appropriate technical knowledge in a leadership position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Surely a leader requires the competency of being able to ask, cajole or bring staff along on a journey of change. The report signifies and highlights how the health service and ambulance service is being transformed. The HSE is not part of Mr. Quinn's remit. How does he think the HSE has allowed this situation to evolve over time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Is it not a source of concern and worry that people could be put into positions of autonomy or leadership when they are not up to the job or have not got the requisite skills or competencies?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: Is that not a bad way to start?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: As Chair of this committee I find it quite troubling that such a situation has been allowed to happen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: I was going to make a proposal at the end of the meeting but I will say it now in light of the Deputy's suggestion. I propose we invite the National Ambulance Service, the HSE and Dublin Fire Brigade in again at the end of this process. That will be the first part of what we will do. I do not want to pre-empt the discussion but I agree with the Deputy's proposal. Three other speakers...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: In saying that, within the structure and culture of the HSE, will the recommendations that Mr. Quinn has promulgated be followed up and acted on? I accept he has not got powers of compellability in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Ambulance Service Review: Health Information and Quality Authority (2 Dec 2014)

Jerry Buttimer: For the person watching at home as we debate this who does not understand some of the jargon, can Ms Dunning explain what is meant by the statement in HIQA's report that there is no clinical audit?