Results 1,201-1,220 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It effectively means people who are already in nursing homes will have to move into the scheme because, assuming increased costs, the current subvention will not then cover the costs of their care. People will have to move into the scheme, given that the Minister of State said there will be no increases, even if costs go up.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister of State might return to the issue on Report Stage and see whether clarity can be provided on that aspect of the Bill.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 33: In page 49, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following subsection: "(2) The Minister shall by regulations establish an arbitration scheme for resolving disputes which may arise under subsection (1).". I am suggesting here that the Minister should by regulation establish an arbitration system to resolve disputes which may arise under subsection (1). The Bill, as...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 41 provides that arrangements are made to publish the cost of approved nursing homes with no corresponding provision in respect of public nursing homes, which is an interesting point. What is the cost of public nursing homes and how do they compare? I ask the Minister of State to consider, in the interests of transparency, publication of the cost of public provision. Section...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is not very likely.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The implication of the Minister of State's reply to amendment No. 33 is that an arbitration system should never be developed in case people decide to use it. The point of such a system, however, is that people can use it. That is the reason arbitration is used for labour relations and other areas. It is basic justice to allow arbitration in disputes. I do not think one should assume that...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister said there will be publication of the cost of a bed in public nursing homes. Section 41(1)(b)(ii) refers to arrangements to publish the cost of a bed in approved nursing homes but there is no corresponding provision in the legislation in respect of public nursing homes. Is that not correct?

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister is saying that the cost of the public bed will be made known but she is making arrangements for the private nursing home to publish the cost. She is saying it will be provided but there is an imbalance in that one is in the legislation and the other is not, as things stand in the published legislation.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: By way of what?

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Would the Minister explain that?

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: In that case it makes perfect sense to put it into the legislation. In terms of relying on a Minister to ask the HSE to provide information, we have seen the difficulties that has led to in a range of areas in the past number of years where information has been very slow coming from the HSE. It has been very difficult to get accurate information and the health committee has frequently tried...

Seanad: SCHEDULE 1. (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 36: In page 64, lines 38 to 47 and in page 65, lines 1 to 3, to delete paragraph 7.

Seanad: SCHEDULE 1. (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Bradford has pointed out the anomaly and injustice. The Bill as drafted has serious implications for farmers and small business owners. While nobody will end up paying more than the cost of care they receive, the deferred charge in the case of the principal private residence is capped at 15%, 5% for three years, but there is no cap on the deferred charge and other fixed assets such...

Seanad: SCHEDULE 1. (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree with Senator Bradford. The Government has taken a very small step to address the serious issue of farm families confronted with having to pay for nursing home care. Such families could be exposed to huge costs and forced to sell the family farm to pay for nursing home care. A person who spends three years in a nursing home costing €800 per week will pay more than €124,000,...

Seanad: SCHEDULE 1. (17 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 37: In page 65, lines 4 to 16, to delete paragraph 8. Question, "That the words proposed to be deleted stand", put and declared carried.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that time be given for a debate as to how front-line services in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, have been affected by cutbacks. This morning I spent a couple of hours in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, as I also did last week. I went there this morning with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, which had a...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is disgraceful.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (23 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I raised concerns yesterday about the cutbacks affecting Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. There is a danger that the hospital will fall behind international norms for the treatment of various illnesses affecting children because of the cutbacks, not the quality of the service provided or the commitment of the staff. The cutbacks mean there will be longer waiting lists which mean...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have asked the Government for report after report on these issues and the Minister to attend the House to discuss them, but we have not been briefed. No wonder the public has lost faith in the Government. If we do not have briefings as elected Members of this House and the Dáil, how can the public have faith in the processes and the way the Government is running the country? I propose...