Results 1,401-1,420 of 2,792 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: In answer to colleagues' questions, Mr. Breslin twice said that, because of the risk of a surge capacity, the HSE needed to maintain that capacity. Let me take his answer through to its logical conclusion. If the HSE needs to maintain the surge capacity and there is no vaccine or treatment, while the pandemic risk remains the same in terms of surge, am I correct that means we permanently...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: Can Mr. Breslin reassure people that he is not envisaging a situation which effectively amounts to the abolition of private health insurance?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: For a short period. Effectively, if we keep the hospital system the way it is, it is a rebate. I want to conclude-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I appreciate it is by agreement but their subscribers, who were paying their hard-earned money into private health insurance for many years, have also got views on this. I refer to a secondary area. Apologise for having to be so blunt but I have a second question that is primarily for the Chief Medical Officer on advice in the area. When we were initially on this committee, we were told...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I accept that. While it is valid now, has Dr. Holohan any idea of when that will be lifted or when it will be considered?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: We will need a couple of minutes in private session at the start of the next hearing because the way the timing has worked out is unsatisfactory. I appreciate the Chairman's efforts, but it is absolutely unsatisfactory.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: One party enjoyed 17 minutes of questioning. That cannot be allowed to happen.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: May I just ask one question in that regard in light of today? If we bundle the two together, will it be two hours or four hours? Will we have the same witness issues? Will it be two separate sessions?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: Could we focus on the nursing homes in the first session next week and deal with direct provision and congregated settings in the second session?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: In light of the end of the last session, how corrective will we be with timing in this afternoon's session? There was a discrepancy of more than five minutes between the time given to our party grouping and that given to another grouping. We have to have balance. That was very unfortunate.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: The Deputy will be here himself shortly.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I will speak for five minutes. I would appreciate a little latitude, if the Chairman can provide it.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I would like to continue with Dr. McGuinness. It is important that we tease out this point. My understanding of the point Dr. McGuinness was making is that this primarily was led on a health grounds intervention within the meat factory inspection process. Is it correct that the HSA was involved in that process but the reason that the inspection process per se did not take place is because...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: Is the correct interpretation that there was an intervention in those plants on that taking place?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: Can Dr. McGuinness quantify for me again - I just want to make sure - the approximate total number of inspections carried out by the HSA on a yearly basis?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: There are actually 10,000. I know one can break figures down whichever way one wants, but there are approximately 10,000 inspections. Do I understand from what Dr. McGuinness was saying that, as an organisation, the HSA is in discussion with Government and that Dr. McGuinness is proactively looking to increase the capacity within the HSA to carry out inspections?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I will ask one specific question on that. Is the HSA open - my understand is it is not - to re-employing recently retired inspectors as a priority as part of that process? Obviously, it is a highly-qualified job. There is a great deal of knowledge required to do it well. We are talking about people who are in a position to step back into a role. Is the HSA actively looking, as part of...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: In light of both the way this country operates and the nature of the inspection process, I presume that the primary obligation to ensure a safe workplace is on the employer. We obviously need a robust inspection regime and I am glad to hear that the Health and Safety Authority is committed to strengthening that. However, we need to be conscious of the fact that the Return to Work Safely...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I thank Mr. Parlon.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: 739. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects private hospitals to reopen for standard medical procedures for patients with private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6199/20]