Results 1,061-1,080 of 1,371 for speaker:Máire Hoctor

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: It is no harm to remind the Senator. Senator O'Toole asked whether it would be fairer to give the free medical card to people over 80. I would respond by asking whether it is not fairer to allow 95% of people over 70 to retain their medical cards. The Senator suggested the automatic entitlement of persons over 70 to the medical card should be replaced by an automatic entitlement for persons...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Perhaps the Senator will provide us with the source of that information. It is in the interests of everyone that such information is made known and I would be delighted if she would do that. I will address the question of the availability of health services for non-medical card holders. Senator Donohoe expressed the concern that persons aged 70 and over who lose a medical card may not then...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: It was a marvellous work of art to get the best possible figures and to provide——-

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: ——- for capital spending and developments in the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science for next year.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I support the accurate information as delivered by my party colleague, Senator Geraldine Feeney, today. The wording was absolutely correct, where she said she had met one person from Sligo who said that she was up for the craic on the day of the protest. I reiterate what she said and make clear——

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I am only talking about one person and the Senator stated clearly what she had to say. She was quite happy——-

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I have one final comment. Figures were given for the number of people who attended on the day of the protest.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: We were led to believe by the media that 15,000, 10,000 or 5,000 attended, but to be honest, I do not know how many attended. I was happy to represent the Government——

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: This is very important legislation, yet there was only one person in the Visitors Gallery all morning. Go raibh maith agaibh.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I am satisfied that section 1 should remain part of the Bill. The aforementioned decision yesterday was made by the Ceann Comhairle and not by the Department of Health and Children.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I wish to clarify my reference to the one person who remained in the Visitors Gallery this morning. We all know that the Visitors Gallery is open to all members of the public.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I just want to say that it was a clear indication to me that, from the day of the protest to today, which was an important day for legislation, the revised income thresholds have been duly recognised by the public, as was the fact that 95% of people over 70 retain their medical cards.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Amendment No. 1 refers to a new capitation rate introduced in October last. The new capitation rate, recommended by Mr. Eddie Sullivan, is not due to commence until 1 January next. Second, the matter referred to here is of an administrative nature and does not warrant a report to the Oireachtas. I do not propose to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: There will not be a difficulty in providing Senator Fitzgerald with that information, should she request it.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I do not propose to accept this amendment. The matters to which it refers are not specifically related to the Bill and I do not consider that such a sweeping obligation should be imposed on the Minister. While it is standard practice to release reports when called upon to do so, I am conscious that the information contained therein may have implications for sensitive commercial practices....

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I do not propose to accept this amendment. The form of words used in the Bill to describe cohabiting couples is the standard form used in many Acts of the Oireachtas. To amend the language of the Bill in the manner proposed could have implications for other legislation referring to cohabiting couples. I cannot indicate what these implications might be, but for that reason the safest course...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I understand that the civil union Bill will impact on a range of legislation.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Senator White is correct that the legislation to which she referred makes provision for cohabiting same sex couples. However, the fair deal scheme is different in that it is concerned with the assets of a couple.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Long-term residential care could impose an extreme burden on the finances of a same sex couple but that is not the case in respect of applications for medical cards. For that reason, I do not propose to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Máire Hoctor: We are not here to debate the fair deal legislation. The Senator is speaking about two entirely different pieces of legislation and there is no reason we cannot have differences in the approach. I will not accept the amendment.