Results 1,161-1,180 of 3,644 for speaker:Mark Ward

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I call Ms Fiona Coyle from Mental Health Reform to make her opening remarks.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: My concern is that the current review of authorised officers will take in the current need for authorised officers. When this legislation comes into place, there will be additional needs and a greater need for authorised officers. It is incumbent on this review to take into consideration the Bill before us. That is my tuppence worth. I have a couple of other questions. There was talk...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I might have three more questions but I will ask two for now. There has been a lot of talk around the assisted decision-making (capacity) (amendment) Bill and the Bill before us. In June, I introduced a Bill providing for the capacity to consent for 16- and 17-year-olds because I could see the gap in legislation on that. The amendment Bill is set to provide 16- and 17-year-olds with the...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: Does anyone else want to come in on that?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: That gives us the benefit of the cross-departmental approach that we are looking to take in many areas of mental health. The issue of people in different Departments working in silos was referred to and the pilot crisis de-escalation team that is due to start in Limerick in the new year. It is really important the Department of Health is involved as well as the Department of Justice in...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: Do members have any supplementary questions before I return to the witnesses? I will ask the witnesses to make closing remarks.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I thank the witnesses for their very helpful contributions. As usual, these meetings are a mine of information. I will read the transcript during the week to make sure I do not miss anything. I again thank the witnesses for their contributions. I thank members as well.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Poverty: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I was an early school leaver, and I know the challenges out there. I come from a family of early school leavers, and this was not by choice but more because of need. I am showing my age but even getting to do the intermediate certificate was an achievement for someone in my family in getting that far. That is not to say anything about my parents, who did their best. They were early school...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Poverty: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: They are directed to the National One Parent Family Alliance, An Cosán and the National Women's Council.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Poverty: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I appreciate the opportunity to speak to the witnesses. I do not know the Owenacurra centre or east Cork but I do know that people have rights. Deputy Buckley has filled me in on what went on in the past. There seems to have been a failure on the part of the HSE and successive Governments to properly resource the centre and this is coming home to roost now. It reminds me of a saying that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I am sorry to interrupt but, without breaking confidentiality, have all 15 residents nominated a family member?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: Have all 15 residents got family support?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I have another question for Dr. O'Brien who said that the numbers requiring continuing care are declining, from her perspective. She also said that while there is increasing demand for mental health services, there will be a decrease in the demand for the likes of the Owenacurra centre, a 24-7 mental health facility. At this very moment in time, however, only 5.4% of the overall health...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I live in the real world as well. The reality is there will be a need for a 24-hour service encompassing a community mental health facility in east Cork. With the closing of Owenacurra, it means the service will be gone for the people of east Cork. A number of members have said that is not good enough. It is heartbreaking. I again read testimonies yesterday of the residents living there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: Absolutely. I go back to my very first point, which is that some of these matters were raised in numerous reports over the years. These were either not looked into or taken seriously enough, or else there was not the will from the HSE at that stage to close Owenacurra. There is definitely a need to have a retrospective and independent inquiry to find out what the failures from the HSE were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: We could go back to other reports by the Mental Health Commission and use the same arguments to close down other facilities. Deputy Hourigan's point earlier about weaponising the report of the Mental Health Commission is valid.

Gender-based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (19 Jan 2022)

Mark Ward: I also want to add my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ashling Murphy and the wider community. I also offer my condolences of the families and friends of any woman who has lost her life at the hands of a man. As others have said, 244 women have died violently since 1996. The death of Ashling Murphy has brought to the fore the everyday sexism, violence, harassment and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 Jan 2022)

Mark Ward: 544. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to each local authority for the local authority home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1779/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (19 Jan 2022)

Mark Ward: 732. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the proposed school in the new development of the Grange and Kilcarberry, Dublin on the Nangor Road will now not go ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63389/21]