Results 13,661-13,680 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Recruitment and Conditions of Employment for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors: Discussion (11 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: My party would do so at any time. I presumed that the opening statement by Mr. O'Brien was going to be followed by others of his colleagues. I join with the Chairman in welcoming the delegation. We are readdressing the issue even though it is a short period since the quarterly meeting. It underscores the high level of concern by the level of the Oireachtas joint committee regarding the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Recruitment and Conditions of Employment for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors: Discussion (11 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The response is dated 6 June and this is 11 June.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Recruitment and Conditions of Employment for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors: Discussion (11 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: No one here doubts the witnesses' competence or good intent. This, however, is a space and place where I do not want to have to address this issue again. I hope that at least we are on the one page in that respect. Mr. Condon talks about a snapshot in time. The numbers he instanced were of 60 out of 90 positions in Letterkenny, and he stated that as of today the number is eight. Is this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Recruitment and Conditions of Employment for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors: Discussion (11 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The critical date is 8 July. We cannot continue to meet on a regular basis but I would like the committee to receive an updated snapshot, given only four weeks remain, to give us a sense of what is happening. This is not for our entertainment. People engage with us on a continuous basis and we want to be in a position to assure them, as the representatives are endeavouring to assure us,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care Facilities and Inspections: Discussion (11 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I welcome the Minister, Mr. Gordon Jeyes and the other officials. What we witnessed on the breach of trust programme was hugely distressing for everyone who watched it. We can only image how distressing it must have been for the children directly affected and for their parents to see this all over again on their screens, assuming they were already apprised of the detail of it. I noted last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care Facilities and Inspections: Discussion (11 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Regarding sanctions and penalties, I am still considering the programme that has triggered today's meeting. Mr. Jeyes spoke about judicial actions in this regard. Without the need for recourse to judicial action, is consideration being given to a more instantaneous response to serious regulatory breaches or repeated such breaches rather than dependence on a protracted judicial process which...

Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Dáil recently unanimously facilitated the passage through Second Stage of the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Bill 2013. It is designed to facilitate access to the courts for all victims of symphysiotomy, a significant number of whom are currently unable to progress their cases because of the Statute of Limitations. This is a cohort of very elderly women. When will Committee...

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister of State has wide skills.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 1:In page 5, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:"(3) Before specifying priorities or performance targets under this section the Minister shall consult with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.".Amendment No. 1 is good to go; it was amendment No. a1 to which the Minister of State referred. I have every confidence she will adopt amendments...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister of State has referred to seeing it from both sides, but the lessons from this side should be brought into the Government experience and they have not been. The lead Minister has totally and absolutely set aside all of what he learned as an Opposition voice and adopted the same approach as his predecessors, whom he condemned consistently from these benches. What are we asking?...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The 2013 service plan was a plan to slash services. That is what it has been. The health committee could have offered better advice, guidance and steering and such efforts can always be rejected. Surely the word "consult" should be embraced. I commend both amendments to the Minister of State.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I welcome the Minister of State's acknowledgment of our persistent-----

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I will restore order. I acknowledge the Minister of State's recognition of the important contributions made by Opposition Deputies on a variety of issues, including the cochlear implant issue. We look forward to the provision of funding for its introduction in the 2014 programme, as that is hugely important. This is about consultation. I could cite many other instances in which we hope to...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 2:In page 6, line 26, after “Act” to insert the following:“, one of whom shall be a Director of Mental Health”.I note this is being taken as a stand-alone amendment. I would have foreseen it being taken in the context of amendment No. 4 but, as amendments Nos. 3 and 4 are being grouped together, I will speak just to amendment No. 2 at this...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: In any other situation, I would accept the view that one would not be making a special case, but I make no apology at all for being that particular in regard to mental health. It requires every support and assistance to catch up after decades of abject neglect. I do not attribute that only to those in government over the years as I think it is a reflection of society that there was not an...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Perhaps the Minister of State will acknowledge that the Bill is quite specific in regard to what it requires.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The focus of this amendment is the designation of the role of director of mental health. I know an appointment has taken place since the amendments were tabled and wish the appointee good luck in his new role. However, the core issue is one that I and others, particularly those concerned with mental health reform, share and wish the Minister to consider at this time. There is a difference...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I ask if the Minister could clarify something that is not a small matter. I pointed out the difficulty at times in understanding - perhaps the use of language is part of the problem. In my view, language has to be clear and understandable so that we know exactly what we are dealing with because otherwise we are talking at cross purposes. I made reference to page six of the Bill,...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I will not persist in addressing the matter. Certainly, I will have an opportunity to address some of the salient points in the next grouping, which includes amendments Nos. 3 and 4. I am not happy to withdraw the amendment, however. I welcome wholeheartedly and without hesitation that a director of mental health appointment has been confirmed, which is hugely important. The other steps,...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I record my support for amendment No. 3.