Results 1,781-1,800 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jun 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Looking for revenue from those on the GMS is hitting the worst off. That is the point. Some people will pay the €10, and it might well be the elderly who will be hit most frequently. The elderly often have a very complex range of medication. I do not know if the Minister has the figures but it is not unusual for elderly people to be on a great deal of complex medication into older age...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jun 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will make a final point. The health data for life expectancy and illnesses show clearly that those who are least well off financially, those dependent on social welfare and those with medical cards, make up the most vulnerable group which this legislation is targeting. The Minister states the evidence is mixed. I refer to the international evidence on the impact of a prescription levy;...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jun 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Can the Minister outline the date for this Act coming into operation?

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jun 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will the content of these discussions concern the administration of the scheme? In that respect, the Minister mentioned the need for some adaptation to the computer system in operation at present. How extensive are the required changes? Can the Minister provide any information on this?

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: She should talk to the Cabinet.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Some 700 nursing staff have been removed this year from the psychiatric services.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is not true. The Leader is speaking nonsense.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Leader would say black is white and white is black.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Leader would say black is white and white is black.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: What about the subordinated bondholders?

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has cut services this year.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Second Stage (1 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister to the House. This legislation, which changes the governance of St. Luke's Hospital, has evoked a strong reaction from the thousands of individuals and their families who have used the services in St. Luke's. That is clearly because of the quality of service those families and individuals have received in St. Luke's. It has led to incredible fund-raising of €26...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I note the historic legislation on equality passed in the Dáil last night, the Civil Partnership Bill. I welcome the all-party agreement evident during the course of the debate and the fine work done on the Bill. I congratulate the Minister for Justice and Law Reform and all involved for the manner with which they dealt with the legislation. Will the Leader outline how the legislation...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, before section 6, to insert the following new section: "6.—From the commencement of this Act any review of services, including those of any land and buildings, at Saint Luke's Hospital, must be laid before the Dáil and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children by the Minister for approval.". We had a long discussion on Second Stage. The key...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State for his response. The Minister, Deputy Harney, recently addressed the Seanad on her vision for the health service. As I told her then, I agree with her vision but have difficulties with the practicalities of its delivery. It is clear from today's discussion that we support the principle of designated centres but the timing and state of development of these...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I regret that the Minister of State did not accept the amendment. Our amendment would have ensured there was further opportunity to analyse the state of the cancer services by 2014. It would have been a very good safeguard. I welcome today's announcement on Galway. However, it comes on the back of hearing of the absolutely appalling experiences that Mrs. Coburn and her sister had there....

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 12 June 2009 the HSE insisted that cost cutting measures would not impact on cancer treatment services, yet the general manager of UCHG warned it that enforced cutbacks would prevent the hospital from functioning as one of the eight cancer care centres of excellence. Again, there is a contradiction. The HSE makes a point about quality of care, yet the person charged with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Today is a historic day as the civil partnership Bill will be introduced into this House, having been passed in the Dáil. It is, as we know, on the cusp of becoming law. The full and positive impact of this long-overdue legislation was summed up for me by a young man I met in the House after the Bill was passed in the Dáil, a young man in his early 20s who, unprompted, said to me: "This...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----that of the disability cutbacks.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Many Members will have seen the headlines in the Irish Examiner, The Irish Times and the Irish Independent today about the lives of those with an intellectual disability whose respite care will be cut.