Results 1,941-1,960 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Planning Issues. (4 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy should have carried out reforms while he was there.

Special Educational Needs. (4 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to clarify the position in relation to the matter raised by him. An important feature of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 was the setting up of the National...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (4 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which was introduced in January of this year. Pre-school services participating in the ECCE scheme were required to make a return to my Office by the end of January 2010, giving details of qualifying children attending. When processing of these returns is finalised,...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (9 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (9 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I regret that due to industrial action I am not in a position to provide a substantive response to your Parliamentary Question. However, the HSE have informed me of one incident of the death of a child in care in Louth. A review and report have been completed on this case, and the report has been sent to HIQA, the HSE's National Director and the Review Group. It is my intention to refer this...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I welcome the opportunity to deal with the issue that has arisen with regard to the reading of X-rays at Tallaght hospital. Patients have a right to expect the best possible standards of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care in hospital and the Government is committed to ensuring this is achieved consistently, across all hospitals. In the case of X-rays, best practice is that they should...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: Deputy O'Sullivan rightly began her contribution by concentrating on the reassurance we can give to patients listening to this debate or hearing reports of it. The information I have to hand is that when HIQA began to involve itself in this issue, it was satisfied that the risk stratification process had been contemplated in a manner in which the reviews of these X-rays would take place...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy's knowledge of the history of this House is greater than mine. However, I can assure him that nobody is in any doubt in terms of the competence of the newly appointed CEO at Tallaght hospital to deal with this issue. Equally, the Minister for Health and Children had absolute confidence that Professor Conlon would discharge his responsibilities, namely, that the practice had...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I cannot say that that information was represented to her at that time. I cannot inform the House of the exact nature of the conversation that took place. Deputy O'Sullivan also asked the number of public and private patients involved. I do not have that information either. I must, without being overly political on a serious issue about which people are concerned, take the Deputy to task...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Minister has also introduced extraordinary reforms in respect of cancer care, which I do not believe anybody disputes and on which HIQA reportedly very positively. Deputy O'Sullivan is entitled to her political opinion but I dispute it strongly. The Minister has been a reforming Minister-----

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The reforms she has introduced are beginning to bear fruit for the health service.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The exact details of who knew what and when will be explored by the investigation announced by the HSE. I do not wish to anticipate the outcome of that inquiry. I can say that HIQA was first informed of the matter on 24 April 2009. On the manner of the issue coming into the public domain, it is good that these matters do come into the public domain. However, the sequence within which they...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: -----there are limited resources in every aspect of the public service. One hopes that expedition of this matter will not adversely affect other services. It is a matter of huge national concern and it must be addressed in the quickest timeframe possible. As I stated earlier, the matter is being addressed this afternoon by Dr. Barry White.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am afraid it will have to do because that is what is happening right now.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: They are the facts, Deputy Morgan. The Deputy is afraid of them.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The answer I have given is the correct factual response.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: We are in a national Parliament and I can do no more than give the correct factual information. If the Deputy does not find that adequate, that is a matter for him.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The truth is that the timeframe for completion-----

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: It is important that we clarify that the process was to be completed at the end of May. Given the matter is now in the public domain and there is now a heightened fear and, naturally so, steps are being taken to shorten that period. We are now in the middle of March. This process will now be completed in the next few weeks. We would like to do it tomorrow. To date 3,000 reviews a week...